Thursday, May 15, 2003 | 11:36 a.m.
Three of the four local politicians targeted by the FBI search warrants served Wednesday at businesses owned by the Galardi family have had prior ethics problems.
In 2000 the now-defunct Las Vegas city Ethics Review Board found Michael McDonald violated the city code twice in regard to the purchase of the Las Vegas Sportspark complex and a contested Sig Rogich tavern license.
McDonald was accused of trying to promote the city purchase of the Las Vegas Sportspark to help his employer Larry Scheffler get out of a bad investment. He was also accused of trying to block a license for a topless club in a building owned by political consultant Sig Rogich that was not far from a topless club owned by McDonald's friend Rick Rizzolo.
Although the State Ethics Commission found McDonald violated two state ethics laws related to Sportspark, it cleared him of any wrongdoing in the Rogich matter. The commission split on whether to fine McDonald.
McDonald was cleared of any wrongdoing by the State Ethics Commission in an unrelated case involving his 1999 vote to grant Silver State Disposal Services a $1.5 billion contract extension for residential trash hauling. The measure also granted the company, now known as Republic Services, a monopoly until 2021.
Silver State and its related entities previously had donated $36,800 to McDonald's re-election campaign.
A recall effort against McDonald failed when a citizen group failed to get enough signatures to force a special election.
McDonald later was cleared of state law violations by the state attorney general's office for spending $23,319 in campaign money to defend himself against the ethics and criminal charges.
Erin Kenny is under the gun for her alleged involvement in a controversial land-use issue affecting Red Rock Canyon.
She has been criticized for lobbying commissioners on the proposed development restrictions that would affect the old James Hardie Gypsum mine on top of Blue Diamond Hill. The 2,400-acre parcel was purchased by Las Vegas developer Jim Rhodes, who opposes the development restrictions.
Kenny, who now works for Rhodes, has said she did not violate a 1998 county ethics policy that prohibits county officials from lobbying "on any issue which was under consideration by the agency" for one year after leaving elected office.
Kenny said she never considered or voted on the development restrictions, first proposed by former Commission Chairman Herrera in September, so the ethical rule does not apply.
Dario Herrera, who last November lost to Republican Jon Porter for the new 3rd Congressional District seat, was plagued during that campaign by allegations that he had acted unethically.
Herrera was accused of voting for regulations benefiting his wife's clients in the billboard industry and was accused of inappropriately receiving part of a public relations contract from the Las Vegas Housing Authority.
Herrera was cleared of the ethics charge in connection with the billboard issue.
In February 2002 the FBI decided not to pursue an investigation into the Housing Authority's $84,000-a-year public-relations contract awarded to Tribeca Media and Herrera's public relations firm, Herrera Communications Group, after Herrera and Tribeca Media owner Lucie Melchert backed out of the deal.
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