Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Editorial: This time, let’s set ethics rules in stone

Once again a task force has begun meeting to set ethical standards for Clark County employees, particularly its elected Board of Commissioners. Ethical lapses in the late 1990s inspired an earlier task force to present recommendations, which were adopted in 1999. This year, however, the task force was reactivated after a former county commissioner lobbied former colleagues within weeks of leaving the board. The rules adopted in 1999 require a year-long "cooling-off" period.

At its first meeting the current task force discovered that another of the 1999 recommendations -- annual ethics training -- was also being ignored. The training eliminates ignorance as an excuse. We hope the current task force removes all ambiguity from previous recommendations and adds enforcement provisions. Once the new recommendations are adopted, we also hope they will be followed, every day, every year, and not become diminished by time.

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