Harvey Whittemore
Encyclopedia
Harvey Whittemore is an American lawyer and businessman in the Reno
, Nevada
area. As an influential lobbyist for the gambling, alcohol and tobacco industries, and for his own ventures, Whittemore has been called "one of Nevada's most powerful men". Whittemore was the president of Coyote Springs Investment, LLC
, the land-development
company behind Coyote Springs
, a controversial $30 billion planned golf course community of 160,000 homes on 43000 acres (174 km²) in the rural Nevada desert
. Whittemore's close relationship with Senator Harry Reid
came under scrutiny because of perceived legislative and political pressure favors allowing Coyote Springs to overcome regulatory problems.
Whittemore, whose daughter, Andrea Whittemore-Goad, is a chronic fatigue syndrome
patient, has also founded a research center known as the Whittemore Peterson Institute
to investigate the condition.
. Harvey and his wife, Annette Whittemore, met in college and have been married 38 years. Whittemore attended the University of Nevada, Reno
and earned a law degree
from Arizona State University
.
Whittemore's first experience with politics was the 1978 Nevada gubernatorial race, during which he established contacts in the Nevada political scene. He was hired by the law firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins as a lobbyist, where he advanced to senior partnership.
" of lobbying. State Senator William Hernstadt attributes Whittemore's success to his ability to command attention and respect, remarking, "when Harvey Whittemore speaks, the Nevada Senate listens". Whittemore has also lobbied for his own ventures, both business and non-profit.
, opened in 2008.Home construction is expected to begin in fall 2012. Coyote Springs has been called a "marvel" and an "outrage". Whittemore considers the development an opportunity "to create a beautiful place which is unique in the world".
, an endangered species
, and some of the adjacent land was designated a wilderness study area. A federal easement for utilities was also present, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) would not allow building due to the presence of stream beds in the area. Water rights agreements were also needed to procure large amounts of water.
called Whittemore's triumphs a "marvel." Politicians at the state and national levels have introduced legislation to benefit the project by removing some of the regulatory problems; in other cases, politicians have reportedly exerted pressure on regulatory agencies to agree Whittemore's projects. Journalists and advocacy groups have questioned whether Whittemore's personal and financial relationships with political figures, particularly Senate majority leader Harry Reid, have affected these developments.
, Whittemore helped advance the careers of two sons, including Leif Reid, Whittemore's personal attorney. Responding to allegations of favouritism, Reid's office stated that the Senator's behaviour had been "legal, proper and appropriate".
and John Ensign
, Nevada's past Republican Senator, co-sponsored legislation removing restrictions to the sale of federal wilderness lands in Nevada. Environmental groups, who initially supported the bill because of accompanying protection of mountainous areas, now say they regret their actions. In 2002, Reid introduced "The Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002", reclassifying land on or abutting Coyote Springs, moving a federal easement off Coyote Springs land and allowing Whittemore to make a land swap at no cost. Whittemore was eventually obliged to pay for the land after watchdog groups objected to the transfer provision. Reid achieved additional adjustments to the land's status in 2004 legislation. Reid has blocked funding to study the impact of underground water pumping on neighbouring Utah.
(BLM) (an agency in the Department of the Interior
) and Whittemore's Coyote Springs. The Western Lands Project and the Nevada Outdoor Recreation Association stated that the government had unlawfully exchanged almost 10000 acres (40.5 km²) of protected desert tortoise sanctuary for property owned by Whittemore himself. The Los Angeles Times reported that the swap consolidated and added to the value of Whittemore's holdings. The advocacy groups questioned the role of Whittemore's political allies in this decision and sought a restraining order. Whittemore responded to the filing by stating that neither Senator Reid nor his son Leif had affected the decision, and, along with the BLM, requested dismissal of the suit. District Judge Brian Sandoval declined to do so in 2007.
, an environmental advocacy group, announced plans in 2009 to sue the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Center expressed concern about the environmental impact of agreements of the agencies and Whittemore's company, contending that the Coyote Springs development and loss of water resources and habitat would harm the desert tortoise
and potentially hasten the extinction of the Moapa dace
, both endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service and Nevada's water authority responded that they, too, are interested in protecting the Moapa dace, a small fish living in the Muddy River north of Las Vegas.
In 2007, Judicial Watch
, a politically conservative watchdog group, sued the BLM for documents related to Coyote Springs. Judicial Watch alleged that Harry Reid and other Nevada politicians may have applied pressure improperly on behalf of Whittemore and Reid's son. Reid's office stated that there was no misconduct.
specialist Daniel Peterson
, established a CFS research organisation known as the Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease (WPI). A study conducted by the WPI reported in October 2009 that the Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus was found in most CFS patients they tested, sending many patients to doctors for tests and drugs, but an independent attempt to replicate this result reported failure in January 2010. The Whittemores envision a wider mission for WPI as a research and educational institute involved in patient care.
The Whittemores contributed and raised funds for the institute in response to what they felt was a lack of action on chronic fatigue syndrome from the federal government. They also believed, along with Peterson, that CFS must be caused by a virus. The Whittemore's daughter, Andrea Whittemore-Goad, had been diagnosed with CFS at the age of 11. At 31, in 2009, she was reported to be very ill and has seizures. The Whittemores state that the only treatment with any effects was an experimental antiviral drug
administered by Dr. Peterson.
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
area. As an influential lobbyist for the gambling, alcohol and tobacco industries, and for his own ventures, Whittemore has been called "one of Nevada's most powerful men". Whittemore was the president of Coyote Springs Investment, LLC
Coyote Springs Investment, LLC
Coyote Springs Investment, LLC-is a land-development company an affiliate of the Wingfield Nevada Group, a real estate investment,development and operating company. Coyote Springs Investment ventures include: casinos, hotels, shopping malls and the controversial Coyote Springs....
, the land-development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
company behind Coyote Springs
Coyote Springs, Nevada
Coyote Springs, Nevada, is a master-planned community being developed in Lincoln County and Clark County, Nevada, by developer and attorney-lobbyist Harvey Whittemore and Pardee Homes.-Current development:...
, a controversial $30 billion planned golf course community of 160,000 homes on 43000 acres (174 km²) in the rural Nevada desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
. Whittemore's close relationship with Senator Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
came under scrutiny because of perceived legislative and political pressure favors allowing Coyote Springs to overcome regulatory problems.
Whittemore, whose daughter, Andrea Whittemore-Goad, is a chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
patient, has also founded a research center known as the Whittemore Peterson Institute
Whittemore Peterson Institute
The Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease is a research institute and charitable foundation known for its claims that the retrovirus xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus is associated with and may cause chronic fatigue syndrome and a variety of additional diseases...
to investigate the condition.
Background
Harvey Whittemore was born in Carson City, Nevada, in 1956, and was raised in Nevada and ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Harvey and his wife, Annette Whittemore, met in college and have been married 38 years. Whittemore attended the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
and earned a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Whittemore's first experience with politics was the 1978 Nevada gubernatorial race, during which he established contacts in the Nevada political scene. He was hired by the law firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins as a lobbyist, where he advanced to senior partnership.
Lobbyist/Attorney
Whittemore has lobbied on behalf of industries including the Nevada casinos, liquor, and tobacco. He has been called one of the most powerful men in Nevada, the most powerful casino lobbyist, and "the Lance BurtonLance Burton
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
" of lobbying. State Senator William Hernstadt attributes Whittemore's success to his ability to command attention and respect, remarking, "when Harvey Whittemore speaks, the Nevada Senate listens". Whittemore has also lobbied for his own ventures, both business and non-profit.
Coyote Springs
Whittemore's land-development ventures included golf communities and Coyote Springs, a planned living community about 60 miles (96.6 km) north of Las Vegas on 43000 acres (174 km²) of desert land. First envisioned by Whittemore in the early 1990s, Coyote Springs is located in a large valley on the border of Clark County and Lincoln County and is slated to include 160,000 homes, twelve golf courses and several hotel-casinos. Its total cost has been estimated at around $30 billion. The first golf course, designed by golfer Jack NicklausJack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, opened in 2008.Home construction is expected to begin in fall 2012. Coyote Springs has been called a "marvel" and an "outrage". Whittemore considers the development an opportunity "to create a beautiful place which is unique in the world".
Regulatory impediments
Whittemore obtained land in the Coyote Springs Valley from a private owner but was unable to acquire all of the land or build on what he owned because of regulatory obstacles. The desert land included a sanctuary for the desert tortoiseDesert Tortoise
The desert tortoise is a species of tortoise native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They can be located in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. The species name agassizii is in honor of...
, an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, and some of the adjacent land was designated a wilderness study area. A federal easement for utilities was also present, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) would not allow building due to the presence of stream beds in the area. Water rights agreements were also needed to procure large amounts of water.
Controversy
Whittemore and his company have successfully overcome most of the obstacles to development of Coyote Springs. A commentator at the Las Vegas Review-JournalLas Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
called Whittemore's triumphs a "marvel." Politicians at the state and national levels have introduced legislation to benefit the project by removing some of the regulatory problems; in other cases, politicians have reportedly exerted pressure on regulatory agencies to agree Whittemore's projects. Journalists and advocacy groups have questioned whether Whittemore's personal and financial relationships with political figures, particularly Senate majority leader Harry Reid, have affected these developments.
Whittemore and Senator Harry Reid
Whittemore is reportedly one the closest friends of Senator Harry Reid, who became Senate majority leader after the fall 2008 elections, and both men have characterized their relationship as close and decades long. Whittemore, his wife, and company have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Reid's election campaigns and to Reid's leadership fund, which has been used to aid Reid's allies and is said to have helped Reid attain his leadership position. Whittemore has also funded political campaigns of two of Reid's sons. All four Reid sons have at one time been employed by Whittemore's law firm. According to the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Whittemore helped advance the careers of two sons, including Leif Reid, Whittemore's personal attorney. Responding to allegations of favouritism, Reid's office stated that the Senator's behaviour had been "legal, proper and appropriate".
Legislation
In 1998, Harry ReidHarry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
and John Ensign
John Ensign
John Eric Ensign is a former United States Senator from Nevada, serving from January 2001 until he resigned amid an investigation of an ethics violation in May 2011...
, Nevada's past Republican Senator, co-sponsored legislation removing restrictions to the sale of federal wilderness lands in Nevada. Environmental groups, who initially supported the bill because of accompanying protection of mountainous areas, now say they regret their actions. In 2002, Reid introduced "The Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002", reclassifying land on or abutting Coyote Springs, moving a federal easement off Coyote Springs land and allowing Whittemore to make a land swap at no cost. Whittemore was eventually obliged to pay for the land after watchdog groups objected to the transfer provision. Reid achieved additional adjustments to the land's status in 2004 legislation. Reid has blocked funding to study the impact of underground water pumping on neighbouring Utah.
Land swap objections
In 2006, two public lands issue groups sued the federal government over what they charged was an illegal land swap between the United States Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
(BLM) (an agency in the Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
) and Whittemore's Coyote Springs. The Western Lands Project and the Nevada Outdoor Recreation Association stated that the government had unlawfully exchanged almost 10000 acres (40.5 km²) of protected desert tortoise sanctuary for property owned by Whittemore himself. The Los Angeles Times reported that the swap consolidated and added to the value of Whittemore's holdings. The advocacy groups questioned the role of Whittemore's political allies in this decision and sought a restraining order. Whittemore responded to the filing by stating that neither Senator Reid nor his son Leif had affected the decision, and, along with the BLM, requested dismissal of the suit. District Judge Brian Sandoval declined to do so in 2007.
Alleged political pressure on the EPA
The US Environmental Protection Agency initially refused to grant permits based on the projected environmental impact of destroying stream beds in the Coyote Springs Valley. In what EPA officials called an "unusual" move, Senator Harry Reid contacted the EPA administrator after a process including a phone call from his son Leif, Whittemore's personal attorney. Soon thereafter, the EPA came to an agreement with Whittemore and also awarded Whittemore's company an environmental sensitivity award. The prize was accepted by Leif Reid. Senator Reid's office denied any wrongdoing but emphasized that Leif Reid should not have called his father on behalf of his employer.Water rights issues
Environmentalists, residents of Utah and California and local ranchers fear negative consequences of Coyote Springs water usage, summarized by Las Vegas investigative reporter George Knapp as "pumping water in the teeth of a drought for golf courses". Water rights issues initially interfered with Coyote Springs progress, but agreements were reached. In coverage by Bloomberg, water rights attorney Greg James stated, “You need a large amount of money and some very powerful people to make water projects happen". Bloomberg notes that Harry Reid's son Rory is an employee of Whittemore's law firm and was the vice-chairman of the Southern Nevada Water Authority from 2003 to 2008. However, an opinion piece in the Las Vegas Review-Journal states that Rory Reid, who is also the Clark County Commission chairman, "bows out of all discussions and actions" related to Coyote Springs.Other lawsuits
The Center for Biological DiversityCenter for Biological Diversity
The Center for Biological Diversity based in Tucson, Arizona, is a nonprofit membership organization with approximately 220,000 members and online activists, known for its work protecting endangered species through legal action and scientific petitions...
, an environmental advocacy group, announced plans in 2009 to sue the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Center expressed concern about the environmental impact of agreements of the agencies and Whittemore's company, contending that the Coyote Springs development and loss of water resources and habitat would harm the desert tortoise
Desert Tortoise
The desert tortoise is a species of tortoise native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They can be located in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. The species name agassizii is in honor of...
and potentially hasten the extinction of the Moapa dace
Moapa dace
The moapa dace is a rare cyprinid fish of Southern Nevada, United States, found only in the warm springs that give rise to the Muddy River, and in the upper parts of the river...
, both endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service and Nevada's water authority responded that they, too, are interested in protecting the Moapa dace, a small fish living in the Muddy River north of Las Vegas.
In 2007, Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch is an organization that describes itself as "a conservative, non-partisan American educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law." According to its mission statement, Judicial Watch "advocates high standards of...
, a politically conservative watchdog group, sued the BLM for documents related to Coyote Springs. Judicial Watch alleged that Harry Reid and other Nevada politicians may have applied pressure improperly on behalf of Whittemore and Reid's son. Reid's office stated that there was no misconduct.
Whittemore Peterson Institute
Whittemore and his wife Annette, together with chronic fatigue syndromeChronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
specialist Daniel Peterson
Daniel Peterson (physician)
Daniel Peterson is an American physician in private practice in the state of Nevada, and has been described as a "pioneer" in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome . He graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York, in 1976 and was an intern and resident at...
, established a CFS research organisation known as the Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease (WPI). A study conducted by the WPI reported in October 2009 that the Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus was found in most CFS patients they tested, sending many patients to doctors for tests and drugs, but an independent attempt to replicate this result reported failure in January 2010. The Whittemores envision a wider mission for WPI as a research and educational institute involved in patient care.
The Whittemores contributed and raised funds for the institute in response to what they felt was a lack of action on chronic fatigue syndrome from the federal government. They also believed, along with Peterson, that CFS must be caused by a virus. The Whittemore's daughter, Andrea Whittemore-Goad, had been diagnosed with CFS at the age of 11. At 31, in 2009, she was reported to be very ill and has seizures. The Whittemores state that the only treatment with any effects was an experimental antiviral drug
Ampligen
Rintatolimod , is an experimental immunomodulatory double stranded RNA drug developed by Hemispherx Biopharma of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
administered by Dr. Peterson.