Almost any other time, a fundraiser for a Las Vegas city councilman wouldn’t make a blip on anyone’s political radar. During the campaign season, the gathering of contributions is an endless polka of glad-handing and check-passing.

But these are unusual times at City Hall, days riddled with intrigue and suspicion bordering on paranoia.

When high-flying local litigator Robert Eglet and wife Tracy offered their home as the site of a Thursday fundraiser in support of the Veterans for Responsible Government PAC with “special guest” Steve Seroka, it was nothing out of the ordinary for the politically active power couple. And the embattled Seroka, the prime subject of a bruising recall effort and withering litigations by developer Yohan Lowie over the fate of the Badlands golf course at Queensridge, can certainly use all the friends he can get.

As it turns out, one of those friends is the heavyweight champion of Las Vegas juice attorneys, Jay Brown, who is listed as a co-host of the fundraiser along with the Eglet Prince law firm and Frank and Julietta Schreck.

Again, under normal campaign conditions, Brown’s name on a fundraising invitation would send a message that the intended beneficiary enjoyed an insider’s seal of approval. Except that, Brown also represents Yohan Lowie and his EHB Companies in matters before the City Council. And attorney Frank Schreck has been battling on behalf of the Queensridge side.

This qualifies as an awkward moment even amid the current climate at City Hall. With the possible exception of a member of Metro’s Bomb Squad, it’s hard to imagine anyone with a foot in both the Lowie and Seroka camps. But that’s just another day in Brown’s life.

Those who have followed his career have long considered Brown Wallenda-like when it comes to walking the ethical high wire. At times, skeptics have a hard time seeing the wire at all. The ubiquitous Brown spreads it around — and he doesn’t back many losers. He fundraises on behalf of politicians whose votes he then seeks on behalf of clients in a loop that appears to work very well for the players involved.

But the bruising, at times vicious, fight over Badlands has sent even experienced political observers to the fallout shelters. Seroka has been slapped with a recall effort ramrodded by Tommy White and the gang at Laborers Local 872. Seroka has been accused of everything from corruption to being in the pocket of the Queensridge crowd and costing the city a small fortune in legal fees over the Badlands case. Seroka’s choice for the city planning commission, Christina Roush, faces an ethics complaint. And GOP veteran Victoria Seaman is already campaigning against him although the recall effort has yet to be approved.

In a rare quiet moment, Lowie’s advocates will remind you that the developer has contributed billions in construction and growth for the Las Vegas economy and has been jacked around by city bureaucrats and the council over the Badlands deal. He’s mad as hell, and he’s not going away.

Which makes Brown’s association with both Lowie and Seroka all the more interesting. Contacted Tuesday, Brown acknowledged the awkward appearance. But as you might have guessed, he had a simple answer for the apparent conflict and controversy.

“It’s not a question of my agreeing with Seroka on those (Badlands) matters,” Brown said. “I agree with Yohan. But I don’t believe elected officials should be recalled for the way they vote. I do believe that what Yohan was asking for was right.”

If the ticking Badlands bomb ever ends up in arbitration, I have a pretty good idea who might be called in to defuse it — the unflappable fellow who appears comfortable in both camps.

“All you can do is the best you can,” Brown said. “I believe Seroka doesn’t warrant getting recalled, and yet he’s against my client.”

As for the potential consequences?

“If someone’s offended by it, so be it,” he said. “People may not like it, and they may not like me for it, but that’s how it goes. You’ve got to vote your conscience. Sometimes people don’t like it, but that’s the way it is.”

Correction, 4:30 PM, 2/21/19: An earlier version of this column incorrectly stated that Yohan Lowie accused Councilman Steve Seroka of anti-Semitism. The councilman Lowie accused of making an anti-Semitic statement is Bob Coffin.

John L. Smith is an author and longtime columnist. He was born in Henderson and his family’s Nevada roots go back to 1881. His stories have appeared in Time, Readers Digest, The Daily Beast, Reuters, Ruralite and Desert Companion, among others. He also offers weekly commentary on Nevada Public Radio station KNPR. His newest book—a biography of iconic Nevada civil rights and political leader, Joe Neal—”Westside Slugger: Joe Neal’s Lifelong Fight for Social Justice” is published by University of Nevada Press and is available at Amazon.com. Contact him at [email protected]. On Twitter: @jlnevadasmith