Frank Maurizio, a member of Pahrump’s Town Board, was penalized by the state’s Commission of Ethics for violating ethics laws. The Commission imposed a $1,000 fine on Maurizio for violation of the laws by trying to use his position on the Pahrump Town Board to secure a job.
Maurizio can avoid paying $800 of the fine by attending an ethics training course within a year.
“I don’t like it, but it’s fair,” Maurizio said, reported Christina Eichelkraut of the Pahrump Valley Times.
The complaint against Maurizio was filed by the Pahrump Economic Development Director Al Balloqui in June 2009. Similar allegations were made by Scott Lewis, Pahrump Valley Fire-Rescue Chief and Pahrump Town Manager Bill Kohbarger.
The state ethics law holds that an accused had to know what he/she was doing was illegal and additionally use his/her public position to secure employment anyway.
Scott Lewis testified that Maurizio approached him during a recess of a town board meeting saying, “I’m not out to get you,” then asked Lewis to get him a job. Maurizio denied making the statement. Maurizio admitted asking Lewis if there were any EMT positions available. On another occasion Maurizio asked Lewis “if he knew anyone at the district attorney’s office and, if he did, to put a good word in for him.”
Balloqui testified he and Maurizio were standing in a buffet line at an informal breakfast meeting when Maurizio told Balloqui he was having problems finding a job. Maurizio began asking about employment opportunities that may come up.
Balloqui told Maurizio “that is not what I do, I do not put people in jobs, I attract companies to the town.” Later, at the town office, Maurizio again asked Balloqui “if he could get Maurizio a job.”
Balloqui repeated he did not find jobs for people but could recommend companies to which Maurizio could apply for a job.
“He (Maurizio) asked me how I got my job and then how I came to work for the town.” Balloqui told him.
“Mr. Maurizio said what good am I at my job if I can’t help him get a job,” Balloqui said.
Maurizio denied the first conversation at the breakfast meeting saying “I believe the first one never happened.” He testified he did remember the second conversation.
“I did ask if he heard of anything, any openings, please let me know,” but denied asking Balloqui about how he got his job or the “what good am I” statement.
Maurizio was appointed to the Pahrump Town Board by Governor Jim Gibbons. Maurizio says he still plans to run for election to the Town Board, “The people in this town need to have a voice.”
Pahrump will have another election in November to determine who their voice will be.
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