Vote for Funding, Then Cash the Check: The Michelle Gorelow Scandal
Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow voted for a last-minute amendment directing $250,000 to a small nonprofit. Shortly after, she became the nonprofit's executive director.
Three-term Democratic Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow voted for a last-minute amendment directing $250,000 to The Arc of Nevada, a small nonprofit. Shortly after the session ended, Gorelow became the nonprofit's executive director. When the story broke, she announced she wouldn't seek re-election.
The Amendment
In the closing hours of the 2023 legislative session, an amendment was added that directed funding to several organizations, including:
- $250,000 to The Arc of Nevada
- $250,000 to Opportunity Village
The amendment stripped funding from the Nevada Blind Children's Foundation to pay for these allocations.
The Timeline
- 2023 session: Gorelow votes for the amendment
- Shortly after session ends: Gorelow becomes executive director of The Arc of Nevada
- 2024: Las Vegas Review-Journal exposes the connection
- After exposure: Gorelow announces she won't seek re-election
The Questions
The arrangement raised immediate questions:
- Did Gorelow know she would become executive director when she voted for the funding?
- Was there an explicit or implicit quid pro quo?
- Why did she vote to fund an organization she was about to join?
- Why did she strip funding from blind children to do it?
Legal vs. Ethical
Nevada's ethics laws are relatively weak. The arrangement may not have violated any statute. But "not illegal" is a low bar for elected officials.
The appearance of self-dealing—voting for money that would soon pay your salary—undermines public trust even if it's technically permitted.
The Opportunity Village Connection
The same amendment that benefited Gorelow's future employer also directed $250,000 to Opportunity Village. Assemblywoman Tracy Brown-May, another Las Vegas-area Democrat, is the chief administrative officer of Opportunity Village.
Two legislators, two organizations, one amendment, $500,000.
The Blind Children's Foundation
The funding for these organizations came from somewhere: the Nevada Blind Children's Foundation. That organization lost funding so legislators could direct money to organizations with which they had relationships.
The blind children didn't have a legislator on staff.
No Consequences
Gorelow's decision not to seek re-election was the only consequence she faced:
- No ethics investigation
- No legislative censure
- No requirement to return the funding
- No criminal referral
She got away with it—the only price was not being able to do it again.