Bill to rename county dies

Tuesday, June 3, 1997 | 11:32 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The bill to change the name of Clark County to Las Vegas County died in the Assembly Government Affairs Committee when it failed to draw any support.

Committee Chairman Doug Bache, D-Las Vegas, said, "I'm going to leave it sit there," in his desk without taking a vote unless something changes.

Assembly Bill 540 was drafted by Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, who said a "good friend" asked for the change. He did not identify the individual. Collins, however, did not speak in favor of the bill.

Collins only said that proponents of the name change claim 20 million tourists come to Las Vegas and never set foot in the city, staying instead on the Strip, which is in the county. And they return home believing they have been to Las Vegas.

Assemblyman Wendell Wil-liams, D-Las Vegas, said the bill could be used to combine services between Las Vegas and Clark County.

"It's a perfect vehicle for consolidation," Williams said.

Although Collins said it was not his intent to push for consolidation, he said he supports a single gaming taxing district as opposed to all of the Strip gaming taxes going to the county.