By design, Nevada’s legislative body is exempt from open records requests, further shielding lawmakers from scrutiny or transparency. In 2015, legislators approved a bill cementing their immunity, which shields their calendars, emails and communications from public records requests.
As a result, numerous ethical scandals have plagued legislative Democrats, forcing three state legislators to vacate their reelection campaigns. Despite the “Culture of Corruption,” not one Democratic official or candidate will support reforms that would inspire transparency, trust, and accountability.
For background, as reported extensively by The Globe, are the 2023 lowlights:
Assemblywoman Michele Gorelow (AD-35) was the first Democratic lawmaker who decided not to run for re-election when it was revealed that $250,000 was funneled to Arc of Nevada, a nonprofit where Gorelow accepted a job as a director after she voted for the “Christmas tree bill.” In total, the bill directed $100 million to various Democrat-aligned nonprofits. Gorelow is only one of two employees for the organization. According to financial reports, the largest, single donation to this nonprofit is $50,000, so this $250,000 is five times more than any donation the organization has received since its founding.
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Adding to the grift is Gorelow’s Democratic colleague Tracy Brown-May (AD-42) who serves on the board of Arc and voted to approve the appropriation without disclosing her association with the organization. To date, Brown-May is absent in that she has not commented or publicly acknowledged the scandal and deleted her X account. Brown-May is running for reelection.
Assemblyman C.H. Miller (AD-7) also announced he was dropping out of his re-election campaign after it was exposed by the Review-Journal that he failed to disclose that he was hired as the President and CEO of the Urban Chamber of Commerce before he voted to appropriate $100,000 on Chamber’s behalf.
Assemblywoman Bea Duran (AD-11), a Culinary Union activist, announced she was dropping her re-election bid in order “to spend more time with her family” after she came under pressure for voting on a “Christmas Tree” bill that allocated $25 million to the Culinary unknown for an unknown “capital improvement project.”
Rep. Steven Horsford campaigns with Rep. Maxine Waters and Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe Moreno, Chair of the NV Dems (Photo: @StevenHorsford)
Senator Marilyn Dondero-Loop (SD-8) suddenly scrubbed any mention of her affiliation with the United Way of Southern Nevada from her legislative bio after the Review Journal exposed that she and the Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno admitted that they “sat down and compared notes to determine which organizations would get money.” Monroe-Moreno further admitted admitted she was “instrumental” in the formation of the Christmas Tree bill and the distribution of funds. The United Way of Southern Nevada received $1.2 million for “public health, education, and improving economic mobility.”
Speaker Steve Yeager voted for a bill to benefit his law firm without disclosing his conflict of interest.
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Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui works for a “progressive” public relations firm and doesn’t disclose her clients.
Senate Leader Nicole Cannizzaro sponsored a bill giving $25 million to her unregistered lobbyist husband’s union client without disclosing it.
Assemblywoman Shea Backus served on the board of an organization that defrauded the state of Nevada and didn’t disclose her role until she got caught.
David Colborne of the Nevada Independent did a little digging and found that Assemblywoman Venicia Considine (AD-18) voted in favor of bills that directed over $4,250,000 to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada where she works as the director of Development and Community Relations.
The Review-Journal reported that Democratic Senator Dina Neal (SD-4) was under investigation after a College of Southern Nevada professor claimed she had pressured him to direct federal money toward businesses that didn’t meet grant requirements, including one owned by her friend. Later that month, the Review-Journal reported that North Las Vegas city officials met with law enforcement regarding concerns Neal had used campaign funds to pay a $20,000 lien on her home. Neal has since created a legal defense und and made her X account private.
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Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui stands with Assembly Majority leader Steve Yeager. (@Sandra4nv)
Due to these ethics scandals, the Las Vegas Review-Journal asked every incumbent and candidate this question:
“Should the Legislature be subject to the open meeting law and the Nevada Public Records Act? Why or why not?”
Not one Democrat incumbent said yes and most refused to respond, with the exception of Shea Backus who said “no.”
Those hoping for answers from Democratic candidates seeking to join the legislature will be equally disappointed. Ryan Hampton, Jennifer Atlas, Sharifa Wahab, and Joe Dalia all refused to answer the question.
“Nevadans are sick of corrupt politicians who profit off public life and put themselves before the people who elected them,” said Better Nevada PAC spokesman John Burke. “Democrats in our legislature won’t change and the candidates they’ve recruited will only continue to service their corrupt status quo. Remember their names. Vote them out.”
Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.
Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.
“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”
During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.
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Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.
More about Mojave High School
Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.
For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.
A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.
Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.
What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.
The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.
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So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.
I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.
Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.
