By Mark Waite
Nye County commissioners Tuesday unanimously rejected a Pahrump Town Board recommendation that their chairman, Harley Kulkin, serve as the town board liaison to the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission.
“Considering Mr. Kulkin’s past history on the RPC, I don’t believe it’s in the people’s interest to appoint him,” Commissioner Dan Schinhofen said in making the motion.
Pahrump Town Manager Bill Kohbarger and town board members Tom Waters, Bill Dolan and Bob Adams were in the audience — only Adams got up to speak in Kulkin’s defense.
Adams said Kulkin was dedicated to the town.
“I think he’s going to bring a different outlook to it and also, just as far as precedent goes, the seat is to represent the Pahrump Town Board and the Pahrump Town Board did approve the board assignments on the consent agenda unanimously. That should really be the overbearing consideration,” Adams said.
It would mark the first rejection of the Pahrump Town Board liaison by county commissioners. Kulkin had claimed county commissioners never before ratified the town board’s liaison to the RPC, but the district attorney’s office pointed to a clause in the Nye County Code that requires the approval of county commissioners.
Kulkin didn’t attend the meeting. He threatened to leave the town board liaison seat vacant if he wasn’t appointed. Dolan said outside the commissioner’s meeting that that would be a disservice to the town.
Dolan said he had to discuss with town staff how to proceed.
“As the vice-chairman, they refused the chairman. We have to sit down and decide what if anything the town board is going to do,” Dolan said.
“I’m not upset about it. The county commission decided,” Kohbarger said after the vote. “That’s the elected official’s job.”
Schinhofen, in his motion, was referring to Kulkin’s previous term, when he was appointed in June 2003 but resigned in May 2004.
When contacted by telephone later Tuesday, Kulkin was upset no commissioners called him before the vote. He said it’s time people in Pahrump were educated and said the media should do a better job educating them.
“It’s politics. It’s about keeping an experienced, hands-on guy out of the works,” Kulkin said.
County commissioners held a hearing in May 2004 to address Kulkin’s character, misconduct, physical or mental health. Former Commissioner Henry “Butch” Neth said at the hearing that Kulkin was found to have circumvented parceling laws.
Kulkin was charged with misrepresenting statements by a Douglas County planner and a deputy attorney general, supporting his plans to seek a boundary line adjustment for his own 20-acre parcel in Johnnie while on the RPC.
Two Valley Electric Association supervisors also claimed Kulkin bullied them on a request for a utility easement. He was also accused of circumventing laws regarding the donation of water rights to Nye County.
Former RPC member, the late Sheldon Bass, testified at the time that the deputy attorney general stated an individual would be allowed to represent himself before his board, but advised Kulkin to consult with the local district attorney’s office.
Kulkin said the hearing was “character assassination” and accused people threatened by him of trying to derail his campaign for county commissioner that year.
After the Tuesday meeting, Schinhofen said he wasn’t trying to project an image that he hated Kulkin or the Pahrump Town Board, he only felt Kulkin wasn’t the right person for the job.
Kulkin had to sit in the audience for the last RPC meeting on Jan. 16 when he wasn’t seated. He spoke in favor of just about every agenda item, except a request to rezone a junkyard in Johnnie to commercial.
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- Harley Kulkin
All I can say is thank goodness. Its about time people started to wake up to this guy and his antics.
Ah yes, Only God and Harley understand what we need.
A very wise decision from our Commissioners, thank you!
What are you afraid of, Captain Dan? Is it because Harley is a Democrat? Or is it something else? Is Harley a threat to your attempt to eliminate the Town Board of Pahrump so that the BOCC can also be in charge of Pahrump? Harley may have some ideas that appear to be at the far end of the spectrum, and he can be emotional about it, but at least he has some ideas. Ideas are the basis of discussion. We will not progress as a community unless we are at least willing to discuss our shortcomings, as well as our attributes. Harley and his family have been contributing members of our community for a longer period than most in this town. He is a successful businessman and has raised a family of which he should be proud.
My point is this. I don’t always agree with him, but he is an intelligent man and to shut out his point of view because you have political control and you can is a sad thing. I don’t believe that The RPC would be impacted detrimentally by his membership. The outcome of the discussion is usually better when all points of view are represented at the table.
Thank you commissioners, Harley has a record of violent outbursts and has in the past attempted to use the RPC to his own benefit. It’s either Harley’s way or the highway, and that isn’t the way it should be.
This guy is CORRUPT!!!! just look at his PAST!! Bullying VEA people in past!! and other things. I think this guy needs to be in PRISON. Along with all the other CORRUPT POLITICIANS. He has one agenda, HIMSELF! Not the town good.
Please let me start by saying this: my following comments are in no way an endorsement of Mr. Kulkin. In fact, he is probably not the man for this job.
However, like it or not, THIS Town Board represents US. We elected them. I know that I (and we) do not always agree with their decisions (I’m being polite here). But, they represent us in matters to the County Commission. OUR duly elected representatives have made an appointment to this commission which is planning for our future. These Commissioners have rejected the recommendation of our duly elected representatives. We have lost our ability, as citizens of Pahrump, to determine our own future. Now, it is obviously in the hands of Nye County. I for one, will miss the ability to determine my own future. I thought that was the basis for this great country we live in!
In a large part it’s Kulkins antics that made me vote to disolve the town board. He’s a stupid, out of control and self serving! The end of the electiced town board can not come soon enough.
One more right desision made by our commissioners. I have seen in person how he reacts when you don’t agree with him, I thought he was going to attact me. Harley please leave this town alone, you and Vicky Parker are the reason the town voted to desolve the town board. I thought you were right for the town board till you became Kolbergers puppet. I don’t think we need a multi thousand dollar study to figure this one out.
I could’t be more pleased. Now, the Town Board needs to decide which of the remaining nattering nabobs of negativity they will offer up in his stead.
Hit the road Harley. Find another town to destroy.
I think the BOCC acted wisely based on the reported incidents surrounding his self serving actions regarding his property. Secondly, with the court decision upholding the vote in favor of ending town board rule, the duties that would be performed on behalf of Pahrump can be handled by an appointment by the BOCC, or assigned to a member of the proposed Pahrump advisory board. There seems to be an effort by the current town board to ignore the will of the voters, I understand their angst but if they truly want to represent us, then they should be working towards winding down the town board and town operations, so that all can be melded together with the county. Maybe down the road in a dozen or so years, the voters will decide to try a town board again, but with the revolving door of the same faces appearing on the board and ballots, their needs to be, in my opinion, a cleansing of the local political scene and new blood developed. The current generation of town leaders is not fit to lead as they are incapable of following the direction the citizens choose. This is not their Kingdom, it’s our Kingdom and we spoke loudly in November.
Excellent move County commissioners. Thank you.
The fall from grace is swift and cruel here in Pahrump. Harley won his seat with the strong support of the most vocal, disruptive, disrespectful group of miscontents that every attended TB and BOCC meetings. Harley was the leader. Revered for his loud personal attacks on any elected official. Truth or LIES. Was that only a couple of short years ago?
Now that the chair is in a different place, Harley wants respect. But, sadly, the “followers” are still stuck in attack mode. The cruel “recall” of Commissioner BB has now become a “love fest”.
The discontents only want ONE thing: Entertainment (defined for them as a FIGHT)no matter who or why. Especially, if it is based on fabricated crisis. The best past-time for these lost souls is to yell FIRE in a crowded theatre and demand that you can do nothing, because it is their first amendment rights.
A lesson for all.
Actually, its the positions he takes on policy, as well as his love of spending money on foolish ideas. It has nothing to do with “entertainment”. I think you will find that most people would rather have calm and well run local government, with principled conservative ideas (read: wise use of money).
Once again the good ol’ boys on the commission prove that they are all a bunch of crooked republicans. But then again, I repeat myself. It is also funny that according to this article, Harley was accused by former commissioner Henry Neth. That’s perfect. Someone remind me of who just got convicted of fraud. Also, Dan Schinhofen has absolutely no business in public office. He makes Forest Gump look like Albert Einstein. The people of this town may someday wake up and realize that electing any Republican to any office is a colossal mistake. Oh who am I kidding, just look at the other comments on here. Our only hope for our country and all of mankind is that they all go the way of the dinosaur.