One only has to Google “money and influence” to find many articles about the corruption of civil and private life by special interests. And by “corruption” I don’t mean pay-offs of money, goods, weekends in Las Vegas or the like, although those things can happen too.
No, the kind of corruption I’m talking about involves the introduction of a fault that degrades the function of a system, like a corrupt file or computer program. In this case it’s the one-sided influence of untoward amounts of money – or its anticipation - on decision-making in the political arena. A recent study has shown that the presence of money in decisions greatly influences choices people make, and often not for the good. I suspect that money’s influence is greatest on those who have relatively little, like us here in Lyon County, so hard hit by the real estate crash and on-going recession.
Comstock Mining Inc., wants to mine the Dayton Consolidated Mill site in Silver City. Oh, they blow a lot of smoke about real estate development, but mining is what they are doing in Gold Hill, they have invested considerable money in exploratory drilling at the Dayton Con, and mining is mentioned as a major goal in their own application for change of Master Plan and Zoning.
CMI has always known they would need a change in Master Plan at the Dayton Con. They were familiar with Nevex Mining’s failed application for a Master Plan change for the same property in 1986. Long before CMI made the present application for Master Plan change, they sought ways to influence the outcome outside of the merits of the proposal.
One way was to cultivate a relationship with sitting Lyon County Commissioner, Vida Keller. I don’t know all that this relationship consists of, but merely observe that Keller’s husband has a one-year contract with CMI’s Comstock Foundation. And I note that Ms. Keller is the only Commissioner to refuse to meet with Silver City residents to take a tour of the town and discuss issues of concern. We have asked her to do so for over a year during which she has apparently met with CMI many times, toured their facilities, and even attended a CMI stockholder meeting.
Another way CMI garnered influence was to support candidate Bob Hastings to run against sitting Commissioner Chuck Roberts in 2012. It seems that CMI couldn’t be sure of Mr. Roberts’ vote, so CMI and companies controlled by CMI’s main money man, California real estate mogul John V. Winfield, donated $17000 to Hastings’ campaign. This is nearly twice that raised by Roberts from local supporters and his own resources, and far more than usually spent by the average candidate for Lyon County BOC.
Hastings is quoted in the Reno Gazette Journal that his relationship with CMI began before the election with their contributions to charities with which Hastings was involved. Hastings further said, “Let me be clear that Comstock Mining Inc. has not asked me for anything except a fair and equal opportunity to do business in Lyon County.” What does it mean that CMI asked for, and Hastings seems ready to give, an opportunity rather than a fair and equal hearing or consideration of a proposal?Since the opportunity CMI seeks is for mining Silver City, it looks as if Mr. Hastings has already made his decision, possibly before he was elected.
Whether or not CMI’s inordinate donations to his campaign influence Mr. Hastings, the contribution hangs over the other BOC members like the sword of Damocles. No specific threat need be made, but each Commissioner knows that a vote against CMI could mean massive contributions to the campaign of a future opponent – one with whom CMI would feel more comfortable.
Thus, a small group of people who don’t live in Lyon County, and in the case of Mr. Winfield, don’t live in Nevada, have gained a great deal of influence in Lyon County. They have done this through though cash donations to charities and to a political campaign, by the unspoken possibility of campaign assistance against candidates they don’t like, and by dangling the future prospect of jobs and tax dollars above poor old Lyon County, still mired in recession.
All this serves to obscure the real issue: Should the wishes of a large majority of Silver City residents, many provisions of the Lyon County Comprehensive Master Plan, the recommendations of Lyon County’s professional planning staff, and the Planning Commission decision to deny CMI’s application be upheld....or ignored in favor of a special interest?
It won’t be an easy decision, but my hope is that the three Lyon County Commissioners without ties to CMI will vote in favor of the Master Plan, good planning practice and their Lyon County constituents in Silver City.
