Democracy Dies In Darkness: Nevada Democrats Refuse Ethics Reforms

By design, Nevada’s legislative body is exempt from open records requests, further shielding lawmakers from scrutiny or transparency. In 2015, legislators approved a bill cementing their immunity, which shields their calendars, emails and communications from public records requests.

As a result, numerous ethical scandals have plagued legislative Democrats, forcing three state legislators to vacate their reelection campaigns. Despite the “Culture of Corruption,” not one Democratic official or candidate will support reforms that would inspire transparency, trust, and accountability.

For background, as reported extensively by The Globe, are the 2023 lowlights:

Assemblywoman Michele Gorelow (AD-35) was the first Democratic lawmaker who decided not to run for re-election when it was revealed that $250,000 was funneled to Arc of Nevada, a nonprofit where Gorelow accepted a job as a director after she voted for the “Christmas tree bill.” In total, the bill directed $100 million to various Democrat-aligned nonprofits. Gorelow is only one of two employees for the organization. According to financial reports, the largest, single donation to this nonprofit is $50,000, so this $250,000 is five times more than any donation the organization has received since its founding.

Adding to the grift is Gorelow’s Democratic colleague Tracy Brown-May (AD-42) who serves on the board of Arc and voted to approve the appropriation without disclosing her association with the organization. To date, Brown-May is absent in that she has not commented or publicly acknowledged the scandal and deleted her X account. Brown-May is running for reelection.

Assemblyman C.H. Miller (AD-7) also announced he was dropping out of his re-election campaign after it was exposed by the Review-Journal that he failed to disclose that he was hired as the President and CEO of the Urban Chamber of Commerce before he voted to appropriate $100,000 on Chamber’s behalf.

Assemblywoman Bea Duran (AD-11), a Culinary Union activist, announced she was dropping her re-election bid in order “to spend more time with her family” after she came under pressure for voting on a “Christmas Tree” bill that allocated $25 million to the Culinary unknown for an unknown “capital improvement project.”

Senator Marilyn Dondero-Loop (SD-8) suddenly scrubbed any mention of her affiliation with the United Way of Southern Nevada from her legislative bio after the Review Journal exposed that she and the Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno admitted that they “sat down and compared notes to determine which organizations would get money.” Monroe-Moreno further admitted admitted she was “instrumental” in the formation of the Christmas Tree bill and the distribution of funds. The United Way of Southern Nevada received $1.2 million for “public health, education, and improving economic mobility.”

Speaker Steve Yeager voted for a bill to benefit his law firm without disclosing his conflict of interest.

Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui works for a “progressive” public relations firm and doesn’t disclose her clients.

Senate Leader Nicole Cannizzaro sponsored a bill giving $25 million to her unregistered lobbyist husband’s union client without disclosing it.

Assemblywoman Shea Backus served on the board of an organization that defrauded the state of Nevada and didn’t disclose her role until she got caught.

David Colborne of the Nevada Independent did a little digging and found that Assemblywoman Venicia Considine (AD-18) voted in favor of bills that directed over $4,250,000 to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada where she works as the director of Development and Community Relations.

The Review-Journal reported that Democratic Senator Dina Neal (SD-4) was under investigation after a College of Southern Nevada professor claimed she had pressured him to direct federal money toward businesses that didn’t meet grant requirements, including one owned by her friend. Later that month, the Review-Journal reported that North Las Vegas city officials met with law enforcement regarding concerns Neal had used campaign funds to pay a $20,000 lien on her home. Neal has since created a legal defense und and made her X account private.

Due to these ethics scandals, the Las Vegas Review-Journal asked every incumbent and candidate this question:

“Should the Legislature be subject to the open meeting law and the Nevada Public Records Act? Why or why not?”

Not one Democrat incumbent said yes and most refused to respond, with the exception of Shea Backus who said “no.”

Those hoping for answers from Democratic candidates seeking to join the legislature will be equally disappointed. Ryan Hampton, Jennifer Atlas, Sharifa Wahab, and Joe Dalia all refused to answer the question.

“Nevadans are sick of corrupt politicians who profit off public life and put themselves before the people who elected them,” said Better Nevada PAC spokesman John Burke. “Democrats in our legislature won’t change and the candidates they’ve recruited will only continue to service their corrupt status quo. Remember their names. Vote them out.”