Boulder City recall still dead

By Mike Trask

Monday, June 30, 2008 | 12:10 p.m.

The two Boulder City officials who have been targeted in a recall effort have another reason to celebrate.

Not surprisingly, the Secretary of State rejected an appeal from the Boulder City recall petitioners. The ruling affirmed Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax's signature count from earlier this month, which showed there were not enough signatures collected to call for a special election. The appeal was made by the three Boulder City residents who organized the recall effort against rookie Council members Travis Chandler and Linda Strickland.

Secretary of State Ross Miller previously stated only individuals who voted in the elections won by Chandler and Strickland could sign petitions. Miller's opinion had effectively ruined the killed the petitions. Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said more than 30 percent of the people who signed the petitions did not vote in last year's elections. Earlier this month recall proponents filed petitions to recall Chandler and Strickland with 1,980 and 1,974 signatures, respectively. Petitioners had to collect 1,085 signatures to place Strickland's recall on the ballot and 1,268 for Chandler's.

The numbers differ because Strickland was elected in last year's primary election, but Chandler was elected in the fall's general election, which had a higher turnout.

The issue, however, will not die peacefully. The recall petitioners have said they will likely appeal the rulings in court.