Ethics commission approves $1,000 stipulation, admonishment for state energy director’s accepted violation
September 03, 2025 | Commission on Ethics, Independent Boards, Commissions, or Councils, Organizations, Executive, Nevada
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On June 18, 2025, the Nevada Commission on Ethics approved a stipulated agreement resolving ethics complaint 24168C against Dwayne McClinton, director of the Governor’s Office of Energy, accepting one willful violation and imposing a $1,000 penalty, training and an admonishment, Executive Director Ross Armstrong said. Commissioners approved the stipulation unanimously among those participating.
Armstrong said the commission had earlier declined a prior version of this stipulation and asked the parties to reconsider penalty measures. The Golden Knights organization confirmed the two tickets in question were valued at $350 each, Armstrong said. "This agreement comes before you... there's a fine in a thousand dollars, which reflects the monetary value of the 2 tickets he received," Armstrong told the commission, adding an additional $340 was included in the penalty language as a deterrent in the parties’ revised proposal.
Armstrong said the stipulation treats the matter as one willful violation (described on the record as "400 subsection 1"). He noted this is Director McClinton’s first ethics matter before the commission; the agreement also requires completion of training approved by the executive director and will result in a formal admonishment from the commission.
Nicole Ting of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, representing the respondent at the hearing, and Armstrong both told the commission there was no evidence of funds being transferred in any proposed sponsorship discussions between the director and the Golden Knights. Ting said McClinton believed he was attending a game to evaluate sponsorship potential and now understands his conduct was improper.
Commissioner Sam Reynolds spoke in favor of approving the stipulation. The commission voted to approve the stipulated agreement, with Reynolds moving the motion and Commissioner Lowry seconding; the motion carried unanimously among those participating. The stipulation imposes the $1,000 monetary penalty, required training and an admonishment as described on the record.
Armstrong said the commission had earlier declined a prior version of this stipulation and asked the parties to reconsider penalty measures. The Golden Knights organization confirmed the two tickets in question were valued at $350 each, Armstrong said. "This agreement comes before you... there's a fine in a thousand dollars, which reflects the monetary value of the 2 tickets he received," Armstrong told the commission, adding an additional $340 was included in the penalty language as a deterrent in the parties’ revised proposal.
Armstrong said the stipulation treats the matter as one willful violation (described on the record as "400 subsection 1"). He noted this is Director McClinton’s first ethics matter before the commission; the agreement also requires completion of training approved by the executive director and will result in a formal admonishment from the commission.
Nicole Ting of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, representing the respondent at the hearing, and Armstrong both told the commission there was no evidence of funds being transferred in any proposed sponsorship discussions between the director and the Golden Knights. Ting said McClinton believed he was attending a game to evaluate sponsorship potential and now understands his conduct was improper.
Commissioner Sam Reynolds spoke in favor of approving the stipulation. The commission voted to approve the stipulated agreement, with Reynolds moving the motion and Commissioner Lowry seconding; the motion carried unanimously among those participating. The stipulation imposes the $1,000 monetary penalty, required training and an admonishment as described on the record.
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