Nevada’s top officials took trips to various countries and attended events like Burning Man last year, all funded by outside groups, as shown in state financial disclosure reports.
Attorney General Aaron Ford led the group with $45,000 in travel expenses covered by the Attorney General Alliance (AGA), a group sponsored by corporations and lobbyists. These trips allowed officials to connect with individuals who have an interest in the industries they regulate, such as pharmaceuticals, automotive, financial, online gaming, and technology.
Ford defended these trips, stating that they help him make informed decisions that impact Nevadans’ lives. He emphasized that the AGA promotes bipartisan cooperation on issues affecting Americans across state lines.
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony traveled to Germany, Mexico, Greece, Iowa, and Illinois, with expenses covered by various sponsors, including the National Lieutenant Governors Association and Travel Nevada. The American Hellenic Council sponsored his trips to Greece and listed the purposes as informational.
Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar attended Burning Man with a day visit sponsored by the event organizers. He also received a ticket to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in New York City from ESPN to visit a Nevada ESPN broadcaster. Aguilar’s expenses primarily covered government and charity dinners, as well as attendance at UNR and UNLV football games.
Controller Andy Matthews attended public policy conferences in Florida, New Hampshire, and Texas, sponsored by organizations like Young Americans for Liberty and the State Financial Officers Foundation.
State Treasurer Zach Conine participated in a Vegas Chamber event in Washington, D.C., and spoke on a conference panel in Seattle, with expenses covered by the Washington CannaBusiness Association. He also received a ticket from Republic Services for the Formula One race in Las Vegas.
Governor Joe Lombardo did not report any sponsored events, meetings, travel, or gifts.
Earlier in the year, four Clark County commissioners faced an investigation from the Nevada Commission on Ethics for accepting F1 race tickets.
These disclosures provide transparency about the activities and interactions of Nevada’s top officials. It is essential for the public to be informed about the connections and influences that may impact governance decisions. By disclosing these sponsored trips and events, officials uphold accountability and transparency in their roles.
