Ethics case proceeds against Washoe County top prosecutor

CARSON CITY — A state panel has found enough evidence to pursue ethics violations against Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick, a state official said Friday.

An investigatory panel said a hearing before the full Nevada Commission on Ethics will be held to determine whether the longtime district attorney violated ethics laws in his re-election campaign. It dismissed other allegations of improper use of staff, saying they volunteered on their own time to help Gammick’s campaign.

Gammick was accused of personal use of his county-owned vehicle and office equipment to benefit his campaign. According to an ethics report, he admitted using his county vehicle but denied its use was improper because he is on call “24/7.”

In all, the panel forwarded four issues for the commission to determine, all focusing on whether he improperly used government resources or his position as an incumbent to pursue his own interests.

“Those questions need to be answered at the hearing,” said Caren Jenkins, executive director of the ethics commission.

Ethics complaints are not made public until an investigation is conducted and a sub-panel determines there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a full hearing. It could lead to a potential court hearing and removal from office if at least three willful violations are found.

Gammick said he has been “very candid” during the investigation.

“I have never been through this process before. We’ll go to the hearing, and we’ll present what we have to present,” he said.

If three willful violations are found, the commission “would be required to send the question to court for consideration of whether he should be removed from office for malfeasance,” Jenkins said.

The violations against Gammick carry possible fines of up to $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000 for a first, second and third offense, respectively.

Gammick, who was first elected in 1994, faced his first opponent, Roger Whomes, in this year’s election. Gammick won re-elected to a fifth term.