Constable says new move to abolish his office is political power play

By Victoria Spilabotte

CREATED Feb. 18, 2013

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  • The Las Vegas Constable's Office could be eliminated. Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- The Las Vegas Constable said a new move to abolish his office is all part of a political vendetta and he plans to fight it. 

Just days after constable John Bonaventura was arrested for driving under the influence, county commissioners could move forward Tuesday with plans to get rid of his office. 

Bonaventura calls his arrest a political power play. 

"It was a sham sobriety test. Of course I was under the limit," Bonaventura said. "It kind of makes them look bad that they didn't succeed in their smear campaign."

A smear campaign Bonaventura said is led by county officials who want to dissolve his office, which mostly evicts bad tenants. 

"We've grown beyond having to have a constables office in my opinion," said Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani. "But I want to hear what my colleagues have to say."

Giunchigliani said she'll propose abolishing the constables office at Tuesday's commission meeting and calls any involvement in Bonaventura's arrest ridiculous. 

"You should be looking at this as a policy issue and that's what I want to try to focus on," she said. "Unfortunately, his behavior keeps giving us reason to not have a constables office any longer." 

"Just because you don't like what somebody does or you have a personal vendetta against somebody doesn't' mean you go try and eliminate their office," Bonaventura said.
 
If the office is eliminated, the commissioner said, duties could go to Las Vegas police or a private company. But Bonaventura said getting rid of his elected office goes against what voters want. 
 
"Something like this is a perfect example of someone trying to circumvent the will of the people and trying to second guess the voters," Bonaventura said. 
 
If commissioners decide to get rid of the constables office it wouldn't happen until the end of Bonaventura's term  and that is in two years.