The Latest Example of Government Officials Getting Away Easy
Here we go again. Five Clark County commissioners just got caught breaking Nevada ethics law. And what happened to them? Pretty much nothing.
Five Clark County commissioners agreed they committed a violation by failing to disclose their free tickets when hearing matters regarding the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The tickets were worth $10,900 each. That’s more than most families make in two months.
The commissioners who got these fancy tickets were Jim Gibson, Will McCurdy, Tick Segerblom, Justin Jones, and former commissioner Ross Miller. Each county commissioner accepted a ticket or pass worth $10,900 to all four days of events at the inaugural Formula One race in November 2023.
What They Did Wrong
Here’s what makes this a big deal for conservatives who believe in limited government and accountability. These commissioners took expensive gifts from the very company they were supposed to regulate. Then they voted on issues that affected that same company. But they never told anyone about the gifts when they made those votes.
The Nevada Ethics Commission said commissioners’ failure to disclose accepting tickets when considering items on the County Commission agenda that would affect the Las Vegas Grand Prix broke the law. This is basic stuff. If you get gifts from someone, you have to say so when you make decisions about them.
Think about it this way. If your neighbor gave you $10,000 worth of gifts, then asked you to vote on whether his business could use your street for a race, wouldn’t you tell everyone about those gifts first? Of course you would. It’s common sense.
The Pathetic Punishment
So what happened to these commissioners for breaking the law? They got what the ethics board calls “a non-willful violation of Nevada’s ethics law.” That’s fancy talk for “oops, we didn’t mean to break the law.”
The punishment? An “admonishment” – which is just a formal scolding. No fines. No jail time. No removal from office. Just requirements to establish a county ethics officer and create new policies about attending events. They basically got homework and a stern talking-to for accepting $10,900 gifts each.
This fits a troubling pattern across Nevada. The Nevada Commission on Ethics, meant to be a vital backstop for public trust in government, has become a toothless tiger. When government officials break ethics laws, they get gentle warnings. When regular people break laws, they face real consequences.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For conservatives who believe government should be limited and accountable, this case shows exactly what’s wrong with our system. These commissioners used their power to help a private company. They approved road closures and special permits for Formula One. Then they accepted expensive gifts from that same company.
This is the opposite of limited government. It’s crony capitalism at its worst. Big companies scratch the backs of politicians. Politicians scratch back. And taxpayers get stuck holding the bill.
The commissioners say they had “legitimate government purposes, including ceremonial and educational goals,” for attending Grand Prix events in their public positions. Really? They needed $10,900 tickets to learn how a car race works? They couldn’t figure that out for free?
The Bigger Problem
This isn’t just about Formula One tickets. It’s about a system that lets government officials get away with almost anything. The Commission’s tepid enforcement isn’t due to a lack of legal authority.
Nevada Law empowers the Commission to take corrective actions ranging from formal apologies to $25,000 per incident. They have the power to really punish these violations. They just choose not to.
Even Governor Joe Lombardo recently got caught in an ethics case. He used his sheriff’s badge in campaign materials while running for governor. His punishment? Lombardo admitted to one non-willful violation of the ethics law and agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty. That’s pocket change for a governor.
What Comes Next
Don’t expect much to change. These commissioners will probably keep their jobs. They’ll establish their ethics officer and write new policies. But the next time expensive gifts come around, who knows what will happen?
The Formula One race is coming back to Las Vegas. Will these same commissioners get more free tickets? Will they remember to disclose them this time? Or will we see the same pattern repeat?
What Conservatives Can Do
If you believe in government accountability, this case should make you angry. Here’s what you can do about it:
First, pay attention to local elections. County commissioners have real power over your daily life. They approve budgets, zoning changes, and business permits. Make sure you know who’s running and what they stand for.
Second, demand stronger ethics enforcement. Push for mandatory minimum fines for ethics violations. Make it hurt when officials break the rules.
Third, support transparency groups that track government spending and behavior. These groups shine light on corruption. They need your help to keep watching.
Finally, show up to county commission meetings. Ask tough questions about gifts and conflicts of interest. Government officials behave better when citizens are watching.
The founders never intended for government officials to get rich off public service. They wanted citizen legislators who served their communities and went home. We’ve drifted far from that ideal.
This Formula One ticket scandal is just the latest reminder that our government works better for the connected than for regular people. It’s time to change that.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
