Assemblywoman Gorelow’s Stunning Abuse of Power

Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow on Friday, July 31, 2020 during the first day of the 32nd Special Session of the Legislature in Carson City. (David Calvert/Nevada Independent)

(Chuck Muth) – The Yiddish word “chutzpah” is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as “unusual and shocking behavior, involving taking risks but not feeling guilty.”

Next to the definition should be a photo of Democrat Nevada State Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow of Las Vegas.  She’s now the poster child for shockingly unethical behavior in public office.

On Saturday, June 3, 2023, Gorelow voted for Assembly Bill 525, the infamous “Christmas Tree” bill.  It doled out some $50 million worth of taxpayer dollars to politically-favored non-profit organizations.

For the record, only three Assembly members voted against this slush fund: Republicans Danielle Gallant, Jill Dickman, and Ken Gray.

Section 53.3 of the bill was a last-minute addition by Amendment 988 which ladled $250,000 to The Arc Nevada “for its programs and services.”  Coincidentally (or maybe not), Section 16 of the same amendment cut the proposed funding for the Nevada Special Olympics by…$250,000.

Who pushed for the amendment?

We’ll probably never know since the Legislature has exempted itself from the state’s public records law.  But we do know who personally benefited from the amendment…

Assemblywoman Gorelow.

According to an investigative report by Taylor Avery of the Las Vegas Review-Journal published today, Gorelow was hired as the Arc’s executive director “just a month after legislators voted to appropriate hundreds of thousands of state funds to the organization.”

How much of that $250,000 is now going into Gorelow’s pocket?  For all we know, all of it – because “Gorelow did not respond to repeated requests for comment from the Review-Journal.”

Yeah, I’d clam up, too, if I got caught with my grubby little fingers in the cookie jar like this.

“It’s a slap in the face to Nevada taxpayers,” said John Burke of the Better Nevada PAC.  “The people of our state deserve to know whether or not she is using her office to profit personally from taxpayer-funded appropriations.”

Oh, we know.  She did.  And feels no guilt whatsoever or she’d resign immediately.

Absolutely amazing what these people think they can get away with.  Chutzpah, indeed.

Gorelow’s district became a lot more competitive for Republicans following the 2020 census and redistricting.

She only won re-election against GOP challenger Tiffany Jones by 382 votes last year in a race where moonbeam nutcase Mindy Robinson – who got crushed in the Republican primary for Nevada’s 3^rd congressional district seat in 2020 – pulled 920 votes as a third-party candidate.

If Republicans field a credible, viable candidate against the sticky fingered assembly-critter next year, she’s ripe for the picking.

“Not only did Assemblywoman Gorelow fleece Nevada taxpayers by unethically feathering her own nest in voting for the Christmas Tree bill,” noted Assemblywoman Gallant, “but she also voted to cut funding for Opportunity Scholarships that benefit low-income families.

“It’s the height of hypocrisy and will absolutely be an issue in her race next year.”

Yes, Gorelow is infected with and suffers from TURDS (“Teachers Union Rabies Disease Syndrome”).  She’s been heartily endorsed by both the Nevada and Clark County education associations.

Maybe, since she’s already experienced in carrying their water, she should have applied for a job with them.

Republicans only need to flip ONE seat to get out of their super-minority status in the Assembly next year.  Gorelow’s seat is one of the Top Five pick-up opportunities.

Now all they need is a candidate…

7 Worst Habits of Highly Unelectable People

1. Picking the wrong race
2. Picking the wrong district
3. Picking the wrong issues
4. Picking the wrong time
5. Picking the wrong consultants
6. Picking unnecessary fights with the media
7. Picking door-knocking over fundraising

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

“When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are. Later on when you grow up you see things and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good.  But you know it ain’t right, because a woman is a woman and a man is a man – that’s it.” – Rock star Carlos Santana who, sadly, has since apologized under pressure for telling the truth

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com.  You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com.  His views are his own.