An apology is needed

Monday, Sept. 15, 2008 | 2:09 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons was cleared last week of an ethics complaint accusing him of applying undue political pressure on the Elko County assessor to receive a substantial property tax break on land he owns.

The complaint, filed by Travis Bock, executive director of the state Democratic Party, noted that after buying 40 acres of undeveloped land in Elko County, Gibbons personally visited Assessor Joe Aguirre to inquire about an agricultural exemption for his land. Aguirre didn’t think the land qualified, but then Gibbons hired attorney John Marvel, a member of the Nevada Tax Commission, to push for the exemption.

The Nevada Tax Commission has considerable power over county assessors and hears appeals of assessors’ rulings. Gibbons laughably said he didn’t know Marvel was on the commission, even though Marvel has been a member for 18 years.

Feeling that Marvel had “backed me into a corner,” Aguirre allowed Gibbons’ exemption to go through, and as a result Gibbons will pay only $39.71 a year in property taxes, instead of about $1,900.

A two-member panel of the state Ethics Commission cleared Gibbons of any violations under the state’s weak ethics law. “There are a number of people who owe the governor an apology in this matter,” Gibbons said, singling out Bock.

Gibbons says he was merely exercising the rights afforded to any citizen, but holding the state’s highest elected office, Gibbons is not just any citizen. He holds considerable power, which he certainly displayed.

Was it intimidating to Aguirre when Gibbons showed up in his office unannounced with an entourage? Was it intimidating to Aguirre when Gibbons hired Marvel, who sits on a panel that exercises power over assessors’ offices?

Of course, and it is difficult to believe that Gibbons did not understand that. Either the governor is oblivious to his power or reckless with it. And either way, it is not the governor who is owed an apology. The public is.