Nevada’s former governor Brian Sandoval, currently University of Nevada Reno president, just got caught red-handed lobbying state lawmakers without bothering to register – and the Legislative Counsel Bureau basically gave him a free pass.
The Film Tax Credit Hustle
During November’s special session, Sandoval was spotted all over the legislative building, pushing hard for a film tax credit that would have ballooned from $10 million to $120 million yearly. He testified on behalf of UNR, sure – but here’s the kicker: he’d just been named chairman of Resorts World Las Vegas that very same day the special session was called.
Talk about timing, right? One day you’re running a university, the next you’re heading up the board of a casino company with deep pockets for political contributions. And somehow, nobody’s supposed to notice the potential conflicts?
The Nevada State Education Association filed complaints about Sandoval’s failure to register as a lobbyist within the required two days. State law is crystal clear on this point – if you’re twisting arms in Carson City, you need to register. Period.
A Pattern of Getting Away With It
Sandoval wasn’t alone in this little dance around the rules. Jeremy Aguero, who Governor Joe Lombardo reportedly sent to discredit the non-partisan budget experts warning about the film tax credit’s fiscal dangers, also failed to register.
This is actually Aguero’s third strike in two years – he previously failed to register while pushing bills for Wynn Resorts and the A’s stadium deal.
Clark County Education Association chief John Vellardita joined the party too, lobbying without registration during the same session.
But here’s what really sticks in the craw: LCB Acting Director Roger Wilkerson decided that since these three eventually registered after getting caught, everything’s fine. No sanctions, no consequences, nothing. The law allows for suspension of lobbying privileges, but apparently that’s just window dressing.
The Resorts World Connection Gets Darker
Now, about that Resorts World chairmanship Sandoval just picked up – turns out the company has some serious baggage. Resorts World New York failed to disclose regulatory violations of money laundering in its New York casino application, potentially jeopardizing its bid for a full casino license there.
The New York gaming board called this “lack of transparency as concerning” in their evaluation. Meanwhile, Resorts World Las Vegas paid a $10.5 million fine to Nevada regulators for allowing illegal bookmakers to gamble millions at their casino without proper documentation of income sources.
Federal prosecutors haven’t even finished with Resorts World yet – they’re still expected to impose additional fines. A new RICO lawsuit filed this week accuses the company and former executives of running
“a corrupt racketeering enterprise that operates with complete disregard of basic governance, corporate ethics and the law.”
What Critics Are Saying
The NSEA’s Alex Marks sees this as a broader pattern of “powers that be that believe they’re above the law.”
They argue the LCB’s refusal to enforce the lobbying law violates Nevada statutes requiring transparency and public disclosure.
Michael Flores, a government affairs specialist working for Sandoval, defended his boss by noting he’s never had to register as a lobbyist in previous legislative sessions.
“He’s dedicated his life to public service in Nevada,” Flores insisted.
But that’s exactly the problem – using past public service as a shield while wielding new corporate influence without proper disclosure.
What This Means for Conservatives
This isn’t just about following rules – it’s about the integrity of our political system. When former governors can lobby without registration, when corporate executives can influence legislation without disclosure, and when regulators give them all a pass, we’re watching the swamp protect itself.
Limited government conservatives should be outraged. We believe in transparency, accountability, and following the law – not creating special exemptions for the politically connected. The revolving door between government and gaming interests is spinning so fast it’s making everyone dizzy.
What Happens Next
The Attorney General’s office says they haven’t even received the required report about these violations yet. That’s another law apparently being ignored. Meanwhile, Sandoval continues wearing both his UNR president hat and his Resorts World chairman hat, assuring everyone there’s no conflict.
Nevada conservatives need to demand real enforcement of lobbying laws. Contact your state legislators and ask why former governors get free passes while regular citizens have to follow every rule. Ask why a company facing money laundering investigations gets to have the UNR president as its board chairman.
The rules should apply to everyone – especially those with the most power to influence our government.
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.
