By GINA B. GOOD
PVT
Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo on Wednesday confirmed his suspicion that Town Manager Bill Kohbarger and town board member Vicky Parker, along with Rick Campbell, the town’s attorney, arranged a meeting with state Sen. Mike McGinness to discuss expediting the process of incorporating Pahrump by drafting a bill for a state Senate vote.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s town board meeting, DeMeo stood at the public podium to make his announcement.
“There is a rumor that people from the town are going to meet with a senator to push through the incorporation study,” he said, directing his comments toward the board and town staff. “I just thought I would let you know about it. I hope the town puts an end to that, because as an elected official, I believe the people have the right to say what goes on in town.”
In a phone interview the following day, DeMeo pointed out that none of the three board members at the meeting made any effort to dispel or confirm the rumor, nor did Kohbarger or Campbell.
McGinness Wednesday confirmed that Campbell called him last week to arrange for just such a meeting. It is scheduled for today, Aug. 27.
“In my opinion, they are shopping around for legislators who will help them because they want to get a bill drafted to incorporate the town,” said DeMeo. “But believe me, Mike McGinness is not a person who believes in bypassing the people. I have known him for a long time. Whether you are for incorporation or not, it has to be done with transparency.”
DeMeo called the effort “sneaky politics. As an elected official, you are hired by the people. You don’t then circumvent the will of those very same people.”
The sheriff also lamented that such behind-the-scenes maneuvering gives credence to people in the community who think badly of all public officials.
“Those three had a chance at the board meeting to say a meeting with the senator was arranged and to explain why,” said DeMeo. “I could tell by the expressions on their faces, they were surprised anyone knew. It just irks me they think they can sidestep the very process of voting because of some misguided notion that they know what’s best for other people.”
DeMeo insisted that, “no matter what side of the issue you embrace, you don’t take the voters out of the picture.”
Incorporation has been on the ballot three times in Pahrump and never gained approval from the voters.
McGinness told the PVT he was well aware of those results. “I was there every time,” he said.
Thank you Sheriff DeMeo for stepping up and calling out “Kohbarger and his gang.”
More information so you know who to vote against when they come up for re-election.
Kudos to Sheriff Tony DeMeo! Thank-you so much.
This is how its done in Washington, why not here, too.
OK….I just read the report again and I saw nothing indicating they are going against the voters. I saw that the were meeting to “push through the Incorporation study”. I then saw that Mr. DeMeo says in HIS OPINION they are shopping for legislators. I’m being objective here, so tell me how trying to get a “study” through legislation is cutting out the voters? How is the OPINION of one person all of the sudden concrete facts? Am I missing something?
They already have a study going on and we have paid for it. Why must they go and even try to “push through the Incorporation study” ? One last note…..Just what part of “NO” don’t you understand ?
Tim,
I never said I was for OR against Incorporation. What I am against is people flocking to rumors like a sale at Wal-Mart. Just because our Sheriff has an opinion does not make it fact. This was a one sided article, my comment was to hear the other side of it to find out the whole truth. I guess I’m not gunna get answers here.
When Ms. Parker stated “Theres no way to get it on the ballot because the county won’t put it on the ballot” (from the mirror 08/26/10)”. I think that dispelled whether it was a “rumor” or not. Once again…who gave her permission to do this ?
They went to “to discuss expediting the process of incorporating Pahrump by drafting a bill for a state Senate vote.”
Ms. Parker stated “Theres no way to get it on the ballot because the county won’t put it on the ballot” (from the mirror 08/26/10).
The county refused to put it on the ballot because the study presented to them at that time was flawed. It did not contain enough information to make an intelligent decision, that’s why the Town Board spent $38,000 of OUR money for a new study. Now Ms. Parker doesn’t like the fact that the new study ($38,000) still doesn’t give a firm conclusion to do it or not. The Incorporation Advisory board can’t even give the board an answer. SO they go to the legislature. I say recall her, who gave her permission to go there with the Town Manager and ask for this ? If the “other two” on the board did it…vote em out in November. We should have the right to vote on this, certain Board members secret agendas should have nothing to do with the VOTERS wishes.
Bill Kohbarger lies again; Moday, August 30th, 2010 Kohbarger is on Ch. 46 television news, stating that he is not ‘Back Door’ attempting to get a ‘BDR’ (Bill Draft Request) through Senator Mike McGuiness. Then, less than ONE MINUTE later reporter Selwyn Harris asks Mr. Kohbarger what was discussed at this meeting (Friday August 27th, 2010 – Carson City, NV) with Senator McGuiness, Attorney Rick Campbell, Town Board Member Vicky Parker and himself and he states, and I quote: “we discussed several items, one of them incorporation and a BDRW” further he states we need to have incorporation “voted on by the Town Board” and then he tells Selwyn Harris about the need for a “entire town survey or hire a Polling Company to see how we feel about incorporation.” A couple of things come to mind such as: didn’t we already vote on this? (yes, more than once) and didn’t you just write a check (yes, from our funds that was in far excess of what you were allowed to spend – without authorization) but you did issue a check when the study was done, right?,well when will we see THAT study? AND, most importantly, how much is it going to cost all of us to have THIS proposed poll taken? So yes, we ARE concerned where you are going with this, and why. Further, we don’t think you have been transparent and forthright with us, so we will continue to be suspicious of you; during the same interview mentioned above, you state: “Why am I supposed to let everyone know when I am meeting with a Senator?” Because, you work for us, all of us. We have every right to know what you are up to, what you are doing AND how are you spending our money. That’s why. Now, if you can’t understand any of this, if you don’t understand why what you are doing is causing us great alarm, then maybe it is time for you to resign. Because Mr Kohbarger, quite frankly, you don’t understand what it means to be a Public Servant that HAS to answer to your constituents, us.