Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Jeff German: Foley, Sparks recallers still battling an unfair legal system

WHEN THE FOUNDING Fathers drew up the Constitution, no one ever expected Americans would have to pay through the nose to exercise their rights.

A half-dozen citizens have been going through that chilling experience in Las Vegas.

They are the leaders of a failed campaign to recall university Regents Joe Foley and Carolyn Sparks.

The two regents, having prevailed in court three years ago, are seeking more than $30,000 in court costs and legal fees they say they incurred while fending off the recall.

The matter goes before visiting District Judge Norman Robison April 22.

Foley, by far, is seeking the most money. He has submitted costs totaling $28,600, the majority of which would go to his own family members. Sparks is looking for $2,248.

Foley's lawyer, his son Dan Foley, wants $21,000 in legal fees. His daughter, political consultant Helen Foley, is seeking another $3,450.

It seems rather odd that both Foley children would charge their father for their services.

But when there's a chance that citizens with no political clout could foot the bill, what's the harm in giving good old Dad the tab?

"We had a right to recall an elected official," says G.R. Fitzgerald, a spokesman for the group. "What they are saying is that there's a price tag on this right. What's next? Do we have to pay to vote?"

The irony is that Foley and Sparks, not the recallers, are the ones who took the matter to court.

The recallers simply wanted Foley and Sparks to face the voters one more time. They wanted a chance to hold the regents accountable for the dumb things they did during the bitter feud between former UNLV President Bob Maxson and ex-Rebel basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Throughout their unpleasant experience, the recallers followed the advice of the Clark County Election Department and the secretary of state's office. They did everything by the book, and still got dumped on by a legal system that favors the politically connected.

It would be a shame if the system gave them one more slap in the face.

It would be a shame if they had to pay through the nose for exercising their constitutional rights.

* Ted Binion's well-publicized drug problems are drawing snickers from Horseshoe Club employees.

They're suggesting his anti-drug testing position smacks of hypocrisy.

State gaming agents are investigating allegations the suspended Horseshoe executive violated a September 1994 agreement to stay drug free.

Binion contends he has not used drugs since his 1987 heroin conviction. But since October, three hair tests he has taken showed traces of marijuana and cocaine.

His strategy has been to attack the reliability of hair samples.

That, however, isn't sitting well with recently hired Horseshoe employees who had to undergo hair tests to get their jobs.

The drug testing policy has been in effect at the downtown casino the past couple of years.

If a Horseshoe executive, suspended or not, doesn't believe in hair testing, the employees are wondering, why should they be subjected to it?

Someone at the Horseshoe might owe them an answer.

* The 1998 governor's race is two years away, but Republican businessman Kenny Guinn seems to be picking up solid support.

Guinn, who once served a stellar stint as interim president of UNLV, has indeed become the man to beat in 1998.

He's even getting an enthusiastic response from Culinary Union officials, who traditionally back Democrats.

A Culinary endorsement for Guinn would be a big blow to any Democratic candidate, including Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, who's currently in the union's doghouse.

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