Last week, the Clark County Charter Review Commission, an elected body of 15 members, passed 10 amendments in expectation of being placed on the November 2026 general election ballot.
In this series, Clark County Today is providing more context on each amendment, including quotes from the sponsor of each amendment.
In this story, we look at 26-31, Establishing a Five-Member Ethics Commission.
This amendment was sponsored by Kim Hamlik of District 2. It passed 13-1 with one recusal.
(It should be noted that it is very possible that this amendment might not even get to the voters. The Clark County Council is expected to discuss this matter later this month and could add two members to the Ethics Commission. If that happens, this amendment would not need to go to the voters.)
According to the charter’s description, if passed by the voters, this would simply increase the number of Ethics Commission members from three to five.
Hamlik said she wants the commission to go to five people to allow for more discussion on matters that come before the commission, to make the commission “a little stronger.”
Brandon Erickson, chair of the review commission, noted that the commission could vote on this amendment, but take back the amendment should the county council make the change. The council is expected to take up the issue on July 21.
This amendment, Erickson said, would go to the voters “only if the county council fails to make this same change by ordinance.”
According to the county’s website, the Ethics Commission is responsible for hearing, investigating, and ruling on complaints of violations of the code of ethics in Clark County Code 2.07.01, Code of Ethical Conduct. This code applies to elected officials, appointed committee or advisory board members, and county employees.
Of note: The meeting on July 8 was to listen to public comment and to vote on the amendments. The sponsor of each amendment gave a brief argument for his or her amendment, but there were no discussions among the commissioners. Those discussions were made in previous Charter Review Commission meetings. In this meeting, it was just a yes or no vote on each amendment.
To see the recap on 26-01, Clarifying Nonpartisan Office Elections, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-amendment-26-01-clarifying-nonpartisan-office-elections/
To see the recap on 26-07, Housing Impact Analysis, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-amendment-26-07-housing-impact-analysis/
To see the recap on 26-08, Requiring Supermajority Council Approval for County Taxes, go here:
To see the recap on 26-10, Revised Budget Transparency and Process, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-10-revised-budget-transparency-process/
To see the recap on 26-14, Performance Audits, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-14-performance-audits/
To see the recap on 26-20, Limitation on Consecutive Terms for County Council Members, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-20-limitation-on-consecutive-terms-for-county-council-members/
To see the recap on 26-23, Revised Council Powers Regarding Boards and Commissions, go to: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-23-revised-council-powers-regarding-boards-and-commissions/
To see the recap on 26-24, Require Annual Report Publication by the County Manager, go to: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-24-require-annual-report-publication-by-the-county-manager/
