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DA’s office investigating claims Las Vegas school board member lives out of state
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DA’s office investigating claims Las Vegas school board member lives out of state

A former Nevada lawmaker and teacher is pushing the Clark County District Attorney’s Office to complete an investigation into a school board member she claims lives out of state, a move she claims would violate Nevada law.

The Public Prosecution Service said in an email on Tuesday that it is currently conducting an investigation process, which should be completed “soon”.

Former Clark County Commissioner and Nevada Rep. Chris Giunchigliani says an investigation shouldn’t take this long. She says every day that passes hurts the students and staff of the Clark County School District.

“Who is their advocate?” Giunchigliani said. “Who is the advocate for the students and the schools and the parents and the principals in her district?”

Giunchigliani wrote two complaint letters to District Attorney Steve Wolfson in June and July demanding an investigation after he alleged that CCSD administrator Katie Williams had been living out of state for several months.

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“It’s a matter of fairness and representation,” she said. “She’s paid with government tax dollars. If you’re not doing your job, you shouldn’t be paid with government tax dollars.”

According to David Orentlicher, a professor at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law, state law requires two things.

An elected official must be an actual and legal resident of the jurisdiction in which he or she is elected. For Williams, that would be Clark County District B, which includes parts of North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Moapa Valley.

In legal terms, an actual place of residence means that you sleep there.

Orentlicher also explained what the requirements are for legal residence.

“Where do you own a house or rent an apartment? Where do you work? Where is your driver’s license? Where is your car registered? Where do you vote?” he said.

Williams has been physically absent from several board meetings since the beginning of this year, attending by telephone.

This led to several trustees sending a letter to Wolfson weeks ago making the same claims about Williams. Her seat is up for grabs in November and she is not seeking re-election.

News 3 asked Giunchigliani if ​​the district is also responsible for investigating Williams’ housing situation.

“Not just the district,” she said. “The assigned district attorney who advises them internally.”

Giunchigliani got involved because of frustrations with recent attempts to close Lundy Elementary School on Mt. Charleston, where she often spends time at her second home.

Williams represents that district, where voters say the administrator has failed to respond to their requests to reopen the school, which has been closed since Tropical Storm Hilary last summer.

“I left messages, we emailed,” Giunchigliani said. “I emailed the parents, and no one responded. So then we got a letter to the parents about the school closing, and we were like, ‘Wait a minute. We need to talk to our trustee. They need to hear our side of the story.’ And she never responded.”

News 3 has reached out to Williams via email and phone and is awaiting a response.

Meanwhile, Giunchigliani says time is running out before a response to the investigation comes.

She believes that if Wolfson determines that Williams is living out of state, there will be legal ramifications.

If she is found to live outside Clark County, Williams may have to give up her seat.

News 3 has also reached out to CCSD representatives for comment and is awaiting a response.

Contact the Crisis in the Classroom hotline by sending an email to [email protected] or call 702-805-0489.