Commander Kirk S. Lippold, USN (Ret.)

Let's face it, most people view lawyers as a necessary societal evil and keep them at arms length; that is, until they need one. When those vital moments arrive, they tend to have life-long consequences, especially in the case of wills, family trusts, litigation to correct or compensate for a wrongdoing, and most importantly, to ensure that our constitutional rights are protected. In each case, we rely on that lawyer to reflect our values and uphold the highest ethical standards.

Every time we hire a lawyer, we exercise a degree of personal responsibility and must live with the consequences of that hiring choice. As the November elections fast approach, the most important lawyer that we will elect and hire is Nevada's Attorney General.

We are a nation of laws and it is the duty of the Attorney General to uphold the Constitution and enforce the laws that reflect who we are as individuals, a state, and a society. Moral and ethical standards are not a trite statement of convenience; they are the foundation and benchmark for how we demand our elected leaders behave and comport themselves.

Each of us strives to set and maintain high moral and ethical standards that would make our parents proud and set the finest example for our children. Growing up, how many of used the statement, "Well, Johnny's parents let him do it, so why can't I?" Invariably, the response is the same one each of us live with today, "I don't care what Johnny's parents let him do, you're my kid and you know better than to do something like that!"

Teaching our children about our laws and ethical standards is what makes a society function to the benefit of everyone, not just a select group. Our selection as Attorney General must ensure both legal and high ethical standards are met. We cannot tolerate the lower standard of, "Just because it's legal doesn't make it right." In the case of Nevada's Attorney General, we must demand they uphold the higher standard that their decisions be legal and ethical.

If one thing has become clear in this pre-election period, Ross Miller fails that litmus test time and again.

First was the leaking of Adam Laxalt's misrepresented personal performance reviews. Those files never reflected the views of Laxalt's law firm. They represented the opinion of only one lawyer in the firm who chose to leak them to the media in an attempt to denigrate and smear Adam Laxalt's abilities as a lawyer. Ross Miller and his supporters, rather than upholding the high standards that Nevada's privacy laws demand of our society, has continued to use and misrepresent that illicitly obtained information to further Miller's political ambitions. Miller has neither distanced himself from these actions nor demanded his supporters stop this type of behavior. While legal, it is unethical.

Next was Ross Miller's acceptance of over $70,000 in gifts from "donors" who clearly sought influence with him as Secretary of State and potentially any future political office he may hold. As an up-and-coming political star in Nevada's Democratic party, he could have set the standard for ethical behavior and instead chose to accept the gifts and leverage the connections afforded to him to expand his political power base. While legal, it is unethical.

Then came the Secretary of State web portal for military voting. Tantamount to providing undue influence too close to a polling station, Ross Miller plastered his picture on every web page until just prior to the voting page. In an effort to protect the rights of military voters, I filed a complaint with the Nevada Ethics Commission. I contend that Miller's actions violated that ethical, if not legal, standard. While claiming my challenge was a "political stunt," less than 24-hours after my ethics complaint was lodged with the Commission, the website was changed and Miller removed his picture. Trying to take advantage of those who choose to serve and defend our nation is an affront to even the most hardened political operative. Even if the Commission rules it legal, it is unethical.

In the latest incident, he belittled the military service of his opponent, Adam Laxalt. Ross Miller never served in the military and clearly views service to our nation as without consequence. Without knowing or even bothering to understand the dangers and unique circumstances that came with Laxalt's orders into the combat zone in Iraq, Miller disparaged his service. In doing so, Miller sought to disgrace Laxalt's decision to serve and execute orders from the Commander in Chief to serve in a country where the possibility of death due to an improvised explosive device or other danger was a stark reality of daily life. While our Constitution values free speech and what Miller said was legal, it is unethical.

What should be apparent at this point is that Ross Miller is unethical and not suited to be elected as Nevada's next Attorney General. Only the highest ethical standards should set the benchmark for any elected official, especially one who is charged with safeguarding our Constitutional rights. Unfortunately, too many of us have become numb to the moveable and situational ethics excuse used by many politicians today. As Nevadans, we have a clear choice for our next Attorney General and it should not be another career politician whose ethical standards fall far short of what we expect of ourselves. We deserve better, especially when our laws and rights are at stake.

Kirk S. Lippold is a retired Navy Commander who was the Commanding Officer of USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda terrorists in October 2000. He is a graduate of Carson City High School, a longtime resident of Nevada, and remains engaged in issues affecting the military, national security, and the future of his state.

Commander Lippold is right on the money on this one. Ross Miller is one dirty SOB. You would have to be LOONEY to vote for him!

Go Senators!

If I still lived in Nevada, I'd vote for him based on that alone.

Adelson, Wynn, Reid and the gang will decide what's best for Nevada.....as always..... and it's not your vote that matters!

With Harry Reid as the elected representative for way too many years, Miller sounds like the perfect representative of the people.

I mean outside of Clive Bundy and his bunch, it seems little is really understood in Nevada about rights anyway.

And as to this guy Lippold, is he at the bottom of the barrel. Seems to keep trying to run for something but never getting close. And why I would love to see all Attorney Generals as non-BAR members, just what qualifications does this guy have?