By Mark Waite
The importance of the Nevada Commission on Ethics decision in the case of Nye County Assessor Shirley Matson last week was more significant than the $5,000 fine may appear, according to parties that appeared at the two-day hearing in Las Vegas.
Matson was found guilty of two of the four ethics violations. Furthermore, the violations were considered willful.
The ethics commission by a split vote found Matson failed to commit to avoid conflicts with her private interests and used government property to benefit herself.
“Overall I’m pretty happy. The way I took it, it was basically two strikes, one more she’s out. I think honestly as a public official maybe this was a lesson for her and we all can move forward and hopefully other public officials know what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong,” said Stephanie Lopez, who filed the complaint that originated the hearing.
Lopez testified she filed the ethics complaint after Matson sent her a letter requesting a personal property declaration for a business she didn’t own, the day after an incident in the asssessor’s office parking lot involving a recall she was mounting.
Lopez agreed with ethics commission members who thought other county officials should’ve done more to solve the problem.
“I think our county should’ve united and not tolerated such negativity from her. A slap on the hand is basically what they could’ve done. After the ethics commission hearing I heard they could’ve done a whole lot more. Maybe we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we did,” Lopez said.
Matson was publicly reprimanded by Nye County Commissioners on March 25, 2011 for using county computers and the county seal to email disparaging remarks to Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo and others about the ethnic background of construction workers on the new county jail. The reprimand was excluded from the record being considered in the ethics hearing by Matson’s attorney, Brian Pezillo.
Nye County Manager Pam Webster wanted to look forward, not back.
“I put the hand out to help in any way I can to Shirley and she was open and appreciative. So I think that’s the way we have to look, moving forward instead of spending all our time looking backwards,” Webster said.
Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley was the only commissioner to receive a subpoena for the ethics hearing. She was excused from testifying at the outset, but stayed for the entire proceeding.
“People should not underestimate the significance of this. I know that there was disappointment on both sides, but it is what it is. I follow fairly closely what the ethics commission does because I want to see what kinds of situations other elected officials are getting themselves into,” Eastley said.
But Eastley said she was disappointed at statements by the ethics board indicating Nye County officials could’ve done more to intercede in the situation at the assessor’s office. She said commissioners’ hands were tied.
“County commissioners, regardless of what county they serve in, are policy makers. They’re not administrators. Administratively we did everything we could when the issue first arose,” she said.
The county manager or a county commissioner could’ve told Matson to do something, but she didn’t have to listen to them as an elected official, Eastley said.
“What is there in the law that says an elected official has to do what the county manager tells him or her? Any elected official is accountable to the voters,” Eastley said. “We’re responsible for setting overall policy and putting together the budget, that’s it.”
Ironically, one of the ethics board members, Magdalena Groover, who wanted to absolve Matson of any ethics violations, was born in Mexico and had worked for a private investigations firm that handles corporate civil, extradition and immigration matters.
Board member Gregory Gale, who voted for only one of the ethics violations, the use of county material to make Matson’s signs, is a retired auditor for the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Attorney Paul Lamboley, who was an arbitrator for the Transportation Trade Commission and a commissioner on the Interstate Trade Commission, was more critical. Board member Jim Shaw, a retired Washoe County school teacher and administrator who was a Sparks City Council and Washoe County Commissioner, also sat on the board. The fifth member to hear the case was John Carpenter, a former state assemblyman and Elko County Commissioner.
Donna Cox, president of Concerned Citizens for a Safe Community, who was issued a subpoena by Matson to testify but wasn’t required to, left a post on the Internet Monday attacking Lopez for blogging that she was happy Matson was fined, had attorney’s fees and can’t leave her house out of fear.
“Being happy that you all have made a woman live in fear of leaving her home and going to her job says a lot about Lopez and her groupies and not one bit positive either. That is why we’ve got Shirley’s back. Support for her is mounting and sympathy is setting in,” Cox wrote.
Matson said she wouldn’t comment after the hearing upon the advice of her attorney.
“Being happy that you all have made a woman live in fear of leaving her home and going to her job says a lot about Lopez and her groupies and not one bit positive either. That is why we’ve got Shirley’s back. Support for her is mounting and sympathy is setting in,”
This is exactly how you know a pro illegal immigrant group has taken over your town. They want you to live in fear. She is right however, support for her re-election IS mounting, bash her all you want, you just help her get even more support. I was kind of shocked, some who don’t follow local politics, and didn’t even know this was going on, now support Matson. I am not much of a fan of CCSC, but it seems they are right about this one issue.
Lopez did not get what she wanted, so expect more static from her and her buddies. I really like how Lopez controls the conversation with that word “negativity.” To her anyone that does not agree with her is “negativity.” Its a very sneaky weapon, but in the end it fails because people see through it.
Who does the “Concerned Citizens for a Safe Community” really advocate for? This really concerns me now. After Cox’s statement, I’m wondering if this group only advocates for a certain group of biased people with its membership body inclusive of only a certain hue of close-minded people.
Lopez is not alone. She too is supported by a large group of people. Forutunatly its a gorup that believes in our American rights and has the mentallity to treat all people – no matter what their skin is with fairness and justice – not with ignoramous, uncultured biased assumptions.
I have a feeling that Lopez is not supported by as many as she says. That was made VERY obvious by the recall that failed.
I am all for supporting everyone equally, UNLESS they are illegal. Then they have no rights, as they are not US citizens and are not afforded constitutional protection. Those are just facts. Calling people who want our immigration laws enforced uncultured or ignorant wont deter the majority of people in town who are tired of the laws being ignored. Name-calling, demonizing and labeling seems to be what Positive Pahrump does best.
Thankfully illegal immigration is almost nil now due to the economy.
lsemma,
Your insinuations and innuendos that everyone that doesn’t support Lopez is biased against people of any color and that they have ignorant, biased assumptions about people of color is truly way off the mark. Also your point that we took the land from the native americans and that we are illegal is also way off the mark. Back then colonialization was the law of the land. You can’t change a law 200 years later then say all but the native americans have to go back to their country of origin, especially since most of those folks were born in the what is now the USA.
Stryhermt:
Excuses, excuses, this is what many in our population have been conditioned into…very good at hiding behind laws, treaties, in order to give reason to our inhumane nature. However, being that you claim these acts are ancient, you like many others will have an opportunity to redeam yourselves. In fact, history may soon repeat itself right in our back yard. If the Yucca Mountain dump is built, the Shoshone Tribe will once again be removed from what is theirs – possibly annihilated. What will be your excuse then?
Emma
“Evil prevails when good men do nothing” – Edmond Burke
Shoshone’s being annihilated….BS flag!
Trying to find the silver lining in a case like this is different for different people.
You have what appears to be a line drawn in the sand.
The Lopez group, backing illegal immigration and choosing to support one race of people over the rest of us.
You have the opposite side, those that support the constitution and rule of law, and expect the government to enforce the rule of law that protects all Americans and their rights, regardless of race, from those who would disregard our laws and take jobs that should be held by citizens.
The Lopez side felt that they could muscle the ordinary law abiding citizens into supporting the persecution of A fellow citizen, who dared speak up and went to the sheriff with her concerns that the law was being broken. If they were successful then it would be business as usual among the illegals and their supporters.
The efforts by Lopez and her thugs have failed. Shirley Matson made some mistakes and is fined, but her right to speak out has now been defended by an awakened populace. So therein is a silver lining for us all. This is not about the concerned citizens group or any of the rest of us. It’s about Pahrump, Nevada, the United States, and our rule of law.
The good old boys in local politics thought they had cornered and extracted a fellow elected citizen, whose views rankled them and some of their constituents. There are citizens from all walks of life who have be3gan questioning the leadership in the community and county, and are opposing the Californication and illegal immigrant invasion that has gone on under current leadership. One look no further than the primary election candidates to see this as being a fact.
Shirley bumbled her way forward, but her actions have clearly made the average resident who goes about their lives, working, paying bills and taxes, more aware of what forces are around them. When the read names in the paper, they now know and are becoming familiar with who stands up for their American jobs and the law, and who would have it crushed along with those who speak out.
Thanks Shirley.
Dwight, I’m not at all trying to be disrespectful but I prefer you quote accurate truth. I don’t know where you were while we were learning history but if you’re going to go back in history and blame the present adminstration for immigration problems, then you need to go back all the way when it all really started. The truth is discomforting but friction allows us to have a paradghm shift – which is what you need.
Immigration problems started when we whites came on the Pinta, Santa Maria, Nina, and oh yes, the Mayflower. We came, spread our diseases and intentionally massacred and took what did not belong to us. WE WHITES ARE THE TRUE ILLEGALS! Accept it or let’s all get back on our vessels and head to the old land. Could it be that we also have a problem with black skinned people? Hmmmm.
You make a good point. The most common response when I asked people if they heard about this whole ordeal a few months ago was “no I had not heard”, Now it goes something like this “Yes, that positive pahrump group tried to recall and get that that lady fired because she was anti illegal immigration.” They are not happy about it.
It woke a whole lot of people up, Many move here to enjoy the freedom and do not realize that some (like the ones who have to reply to every post on here) work very hard, every day, every hour to plot on how they can take those freedoms away, even the right to free speech. They hate what Pahrump is, and want to remake it in an image suitable to them. Need proof of that? Just look at the comment from “Robert” at the end of this page, STILL bitter about people open carrying guns, like its any of his business.
At least now lots of people know whats going on, and are not happy about this group that runs around recalling and filing charges over what is nothing more than a freedom of speech issue.
Roger, Dwight, Eek,
Why do you continue to refer to the men who were working on the sight as illegals? They are legally here. Your distorted statements above only serve to confirm that you equate all brown skin people with “illegals”. That’s not only wrong but ignorant of you.
The Lopez group are about discriminatory practices against legal people. You folks don’t get it because you don’t want to accept the fact that brown skinned people have legal rights.
P.S. Dwight, what a foolish statement . They don’t take the jobs, the jobs are offered to them. Why do you think visas are being made available to them . It’s the majority of white people who hire them. Rebulicans and Democrats hire them. You folks need to get a reality check.
OY! The CAVE people are out early on there computers this morning, this is their life’s work.
Hahahaha. Really, then if it’s just the “cave” people, then what are you doing on here too?
If you had to work with her everyday, as do the poor employees in her dept.,you would want her out!!!!!
Good work ethics was always to never say anything bad about your boss.
Now, if the workers in Maton’s office can’t keep their mouths shut and are not happy working there, then they should find another job.
Perhaps if the workers had been treated according to policies and procedures and common sense they would have been quiet. Ever hear of the “Whistle Blowers” law Mr. Wallace? An employee has the right to expose wrong doings in the workplace.
and Fern Black
Have you ever heard of QUI TAM?
The Whistleblower Law is a long stretch in this instance. You do not pass GO and collect $200.00
False Claims Mr. Wallace? Documented claims by many! Time will tell.
Really? You gotta be kidding. So when you find out that your boss is a child molester or a sexual harrasser, or loves to stick his/her hands in the taxpayer cookie jar, you’re not suppose to report them? I think not.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is when good men do nothing” by Edmond Burke
I don’t recall Maytson doing any of the above. The debate was does Matson come under the Whistleblower Law. Before answering try looking it up.
No body said she did. These are simply more examples of what many bosses do. And from what you said, your stating that we should not report our bosses. If an employee is being abused, that individual has the right to defend themselves.
By rights maybe I shouldn’t comment because I didn’t follow the case closely. What I did get out of it was this…
Matson was elected and not a member of the good ol boys club. Had some concerns about possible illegal aliens working around her office, sent some emails to the sheriff who is a member of the good ol boys club. I applaud Matson for taking some action on her concerns, worry about her methods.
The emails weren’t politically correct and painted Matson as a racist. Matson probably thought her emails to the sheriff were between her and the sheriff. Sheriff released the emails to the public( an obvious political hit job against someone not in the good ol boys club.) Lopez jumps on the band wagon, probably wanting to be a member of the good ol boys club but shows herself to be a bit racist by her overly angry responses at the emails. One thing to see an obvious wrong but Lopez went on an all out crusade and just went way over the top.
Matson undergoing this massive attack by Lopez, her gorupies and the PVT, local news etc and probably behind the scenes by the good ol boys club and being new to politics did some pretty stupid things which got her into deeper trouble.
Most of the public sees right through what is going on as local politics, doesn’t allow recall effort to go forward.
Nye county good ol boys not getting their recall to get her out of office decide the still need to punish Matson and fine her etc.
Now Matson has been fined, had an ethics hearing and has survived and is still in office. Whether she has learned anything had yet to be seen. Hopefully she becomes a better public servant. Lopez shows her true colors by her hateful posts. I hope she never becomes a public servant as by her actions she is mean, hateful, vengeful racist woman. And good ol boys club sitting back waiting for their next opportunity to get Matson out of office.
That was a fairly accurate accounting of what transpired strykermt.
As far as the poor abused overpaid county government workers go. You work for the public and the public elects who your boss will be. If your feelings are hurt or a few apple carts uprooted at the workplace, and you don’t like it, then leave and don’t let the door hit you on your way out. We still need to trim more county spending, so you will be doing us a favor.
No one seems able to answer this simple question. Why would the “good ol boys” want her out to begin with? Matson is a Republican. And ALL the good ol boys are Republican as well. The good ol boys had NOTHING to do with the recall. And if she wasn’t supposed to win, then who was? Also, Stephanie Lopez did what she was allowed to do BY LAW! And no, I am not one of her followers. I follow no one. I lead. I Have never heard her say anything mean or nasty. If you want mean and nasty, then I suggest you check out the little people with the you know what complexes at CCSC. Ever wonder why they have to carry their guns everywhere? Yes I know it’s their right, but I really don’t think anyone is going to steal your track suit. Talk about failed recalls, look no further than the constant complainers at CCSC.
I didn’t know the county assessor had or needed a political affiliation. You don’t think Lopez’s comments or her actions about being glad that Matson lives in fear of leaving her house is mean and Nasty? what is your definition? Also I don’t recall once anyone saying Lopez was doing something illegal so not sure why you brought that up. As far as being a leader, all I’ve ever seen you do on your posts is spout out liberal or democratic talking points. A leader would post both sides of an issue, make a point for one side and why, then pursue your agenda. Since all I have ever seen you do is put out one side of an issue using other peoples talking points, I wouldn’t say that makes you a leader.
They may be just liberal talking points to you, but to those that can think for themselves it’s called the truth. Also, asking questions is NOT a talking point. Question that you and her other defenders are unable to answer.
Oh, I ain’t defending her crimes. She was wrong on many things and deserved what she got. But she has paid the price and as I said, will hopefully become a better public servant because of it. If not then she will be voted out or fined again. But for Lopez to insinuate she is going to keep going after and is glad she is afraid to leave her house is also wrong, unfortunately not illegal but definitely morally wrong.
Also to imply that someone without your political affiliation can’t think for themselves when you agree that you are just regurgitating democratic talking points is very….how would you say it…hypocritical maybe? I can’t think for myself so help me out.
Let me try to figure this out. Posters on this site such as Robert,lsemma2,Fern Brack,agramma and Lopez moved here from either somewhere in California or Las Vegas. They moved here because they didn’t like it where they came from. Something must have attracted them to move here? Now, why do they want to change this place into the place they ran from? And if they succeed, they will only have to move again once this place becomes much like the place they ran from.
Hi folks!
My family has lived here since the 1960′s. Again, stop assuming. My roots are here! So, stop your bullying. If you don’t like to hear the truth, then stop reading our posts. It’s seems to me that after all you do prefer to hear the “politically correct” mumbo jumbo, want to be sweet talked to instead when it’s on your terms, promised the moon and stars. If this is what you want, then go hide your head in the few sand dunes that remain.
Of course you can’t see Lopez hate. She controls herfacebook page and removes her bad language and hatespeech so myou will not see it. She also can limit who has access to her comments. Her vitriol is a symptom of a more serious personal problem for her.
WOW! So you were there when she was typing it and you saw her remove it? How hateful and slanderous is that. Wow! And we thought big brother was bad! From your post above, you’re the one with the malignant problem…even worse, you call yourself “Truth”…you should change it to Liar.
hers a thought… Lets let Ms. Matson do her job.. the Ethics Committee has spoken. Lets stop keeping ms lopez fueled.