Politicians, developers may testify at Davidson’s trial

Two reclusive Canadian billionaires and one of the biggest developers in Clark County are among the numerous prominent people who could be called to testify in the trial of real estate consultant Donald Davidson, beginning this morning.

Davidson faces charges related to illegal payments that former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny and the federal authorities say she received from him. He is also accused of scheming with former Commissioner Lance Malone to bribe then-Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald.

During jury selection Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt rattled off a witness list that includes many influential businessmen, current and former elected officials, attorneys who are regulars at commission meetings, Kenny’s former colleagues, and members of her family and inner circle.

Kenny, who has admitted receiving the payments from Davidson, is also expected to testify.

Arguably the most intriguing names on the list are David and Eskander Ghermezian, Canadian-based controllers of a powerful worldwide development empire.

Attorneys for the provincial government of Alberta have alleged that the Ghermezians bribed public officials there, but the Iranian-born brothers have never been charged with a crime in connection with that alleged corruption.

Indictments issued against Davidson in 2005 and 2006 accuse the 72-year-old Las Vegas resident of paying bribes to Kenny for assistance on two significant projects that were located in or near her southwest district.

The federal government alleges Davidson delivered $200,000 to Kenny after she helped push through a zoning change allowing a CVS Pharmacy at Buffalo Drive and Desert Inn Road in 2001. It also alleges that Davidson provided Kenny with $3,000 a month in 2000 after she successfully lobbied for the approval of a neighborhood casino that residents vehemently opposed.

According to Davidson’s indictment and testimony Kenny previously provided, the $3,000 a month paid to Kenny over a three-year period originated from the Ghermezian family, who owned the company that planned to build the casino.

Rhodes Ranch developer Jim Rhodes, who established a close relationship with Kenny when she was on the commission, also might be called to testify.

During her tenure on the board, Kenny lived in Rhodes’ housing development and assisted him on various projects that affected his development company. Kenny worked for Rhodes as a consultant after she left office in 2002.

Included among the 60 potential witnesses named Wednesday were:

• Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

• Clark County Commissioners Chip Maxfield and Bruce Woodbury.

• Former Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams

• Former Clark County Commissioner Malone, who is serving a six-year prison term for paying bribes to elected officials on behalf of strip club owner Michael Galardi.

• Land broker Scott Gragson, who was investigated in 2005 for his property deals with McCarran International Airport. Gragson was cleared of any wrongdoing.

• Lawyers Chris Kaempfer, Jay Brown and Paul Larsen, who lobby commissioners and City Council members on behalf of developers.

• Land use expert Greg Borgel, Kaempfer’s frequent partner on zoning matters.

• John Pappageorge, a lobbyist and former Clark County firefighter. During Kenny’s eight years on the board, Pappageorge and the commissioner co-hosted an annual Christmas party that attracted the who’s who of Nevada politics.

• Mark Kincaid, son of Mary Kincaid-Chauncey. Kincaid-Chauncey, one of Kenny’s former colleagues on the commission, is serving 30 months in federal prison for accepting bribes from Galardi.

• John Kenny, Erin Kenny’s chiropractor husband.

It was unclear whether the prosecution or the defense has subpoenaed the witnesses.