Guinn names Ethics Commission member

CARSON CITY - Las Vegas lawyer Lizzie Hatcher was named Tuesday to the state Ethics Commission, succeeding Bill Bible who quit to become head of Nevada's biggest casino lobbying organization.

In naming Hatcher, Gov. Kenny Guinn, noted her community service includes counseling of children and people with alcohol or drug problems and membership in the NAACP.

Hatcher, 45, will be the first minority member on the reorganized Ethics Commission, whose structure was overhauled by the 1999 Legislature at the governor's request.

The eight-member commission will hold its first meeting under the new structure Thursday and Friday in Carson City and will elect a chairman.

There also are 12 cases, including one involving Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald, on the agenda requesting opinions on the conduct of public officials. Those sessions are closed to the public.

Kenneth Rohrs, executive director of the commission, said the panel also must decide how to handle the late filing of financial disclosure forms, required of public officials. There were scores of officials who in 1998 and this year were late in submitting the required documents, and some have asked for waivers on resulting fines.

The commission also will review a new ethical standards form developed by Rohrs. The 1999 changes approved by legislators include a requirement that public officials sign a document that they have read and understand the ethics laws.