Ethics complaint filed against Nevada gov.

CARSON CITY, Nev., July 20 (UPI) -- An ethics complaint has been filed by Democrats against Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, legal papers indicate.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sunday that the complaint charges the Republican governor used his position to get a discount on his property taxes for 40 acres of land in rural Nevada.

"Mr. Gibbons, in order to gain a few thousand dollars in tax breaks -- which the legislators of this state have determined are appropriate for Nevada ranchers and farmers to supplement and encourage their livelihoods -- pressured and prevailed upon a longtime public servant who sought only to apply the laws of this state fairly and accurately," the complaint states.

Travis Brock, executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party, mailed the complaint Saturday to the state Ethics Commission, the newspaper said. Brock also mailed a complaint against Tax Commissioner John Marvel who Brock said sought the tax break for Gibbons in his capacity as Gibbons' lawyer.

Elko County Assessor Joe Aguirre has said he felt he had been pressured to extend the tax break to Gibbons, who saved thousands of dollars in taxes once he received the discount, the newspaper said.