Backstory: Progress and otherwise

By Michael Green

Robert McKimson, one of the great Warner Bros. cartoon directors, once observed, "Sometimes you make progress in the wrong direction."

Lynette Boggs McDonald's appointment to the Clark County Commission is progress in a lot of ways. It also led to progress in the wrong direction.

One sign of progress refers to her color. No one could question her qualifications. Through five years on the Las Vegas City Council, she has survived Michael McDonald, Michael Mack and Janet Moncrief, and exposure to nearby martinis. She has ample business experience.

And she's African-American. For the seven commissioners to include two black women--the other is Yvonne Atkinson Gates--certainly signifies progress considering that critics once called Las Vegas the Mississippi of the West. For four of the seven to be women, including Myrna Williams and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, counters those who think women in Las Vegas work only in topless shows (this leaves room for a joke about Kincaid-Chauncey, but let's resist it).

That her color is even mentioned shows progress in the wrong direction. This both glorifies her appointment as a step in the right direction and diminishes it by inspiring doubts that Gov. Kenny Guinn would have chosen her if she had been white. But the Republican Party isn't terribly inclusive on race, so she's subject to extra attention.

When Boggs McDonald resigned from the board of Station Casinos before Guinn appointed her, that was progress, too. While county commissioners can't be expected to occupy a plastic bubble when they take office, Boggs McDonald would have had more conflicts of interest than the average Bush administration official if she stayed on the casino company board--and Guinn apparently made it a condition of her selection.

But it was a reminder of progress in the wrong direction. Boggs McDonald joined the Station board while on the City Council and recused herself on matters affecting the company. But Station isn't the only locals casino firm. To vote on any gaming matter could have caused a conflict.

While on the council but before joining the casino board, she flew to a Notre Dame football game via a Station Casinos plane. She duly reported it as a contribution--she worked on her House campaign on the trip--but faced an ethics complaint. The Nevada Ethics Commission exonerated her and, from all the evidence at the time, should have done so. But before the complaint, the Review-Journal quoted Boggs McDonald as saying, "The only people on the plane was a bunch of Notre Dame alums, but it was not anything political or city-related." Well, Boggs McDonald may be charming company, but it wouldn't be the first time that friendship had something to do with politics and policy.

A sign of progress is that county commissioners haven't been subtle about their increased happiness and efficiency since the addition of Rory Reid and the now-departing Mark James. That may be--may be?--criticism of their predecessors, Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny, who have problems of their own. It may be a tribute to County Manager Thom Reilly's ability and diplomacy. How Boggs McDonald will fit in with the group will bear watching.

But the notion of a totally objective County Commission isn't progress in the wrong direction; it's merely ridiculous. Whether dealing with a contributor or some schnook unhappy with the traffic signals (that's me), politicians win elections by getting to know people. For example, Bruce Woodbury grew up around here, then belonged to a leading law firm. Other commissioners have long histories here. It seems reasonable to forgive them if they feel warmth toward old friends.

If commissioners or other elected officials recused themselves every time acquaintances appeared before them, they never could vote. Bending over backward to be tougher on them isn't fair, either. At times, commissioners, including those now serving, have crossed the line of ethics or good judgment. But for the most part, politicians are more concerned about ethics than the most cynical believe.

Yet it's hard not to be cynical about another sign of progress in the wrong direction related to Boggs McDonald's appointment.

The R-J editorial page showed progress in welcoming her appointment and that of District Judge Michael Douglas to the Nevada Supreme Court. It clucked that race had little or nothing to do with the selections. But it also praised Boggs McDonald as "a leader of the field when it comes to possessing a strong moral compass," because she stands with the R-J on keeping government employees from serving in the Legislature.

More than five years ago, the R-J disliked her "bigger government policies." She was a Democrat then. A disease called Republican Alzheimer's appears to afflict some editorialists. That's not progress, but it's certainly in the wrong direction.

Correction: Two weeks ago in this space, I said Nevada's "tax structure remains among the most ridiculous in the nation." Assemblyman Bob Beers, a CPA, asked about "the Tax Foundation ranking our per-capita tax burden at 13th of 51?" and referred us all to www.taxfoundation.org/statelocal03.html. I took his advice. The site shows Nevada ranks 41st in per capita tax burden due to state and local taxes. Only when federal taxes are added does Nevada rise to 13th. And it shows Nevada's state and local burden has dropped since 1971, when the site started keeping track. Beers will be happy to know I don't teach math, reading or journalism, but I do occasionally read charts before citing them, and thank him for supporting my point.