Editorial: Election recall process reaffirmed

Friday, June 12, 1998 | 11:39 a.m.

THE random sample process used by the Clark County Election Department to determine the validity of voter signatures on petitions is right on target. Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson told us the system works, but the Sheldon Adelson-financed "Citizens for Honest and Responsible Government" disagreed when the random sample showed they hadn't succeeded in their initial effort to recall County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

What sounded like sour grapes soon became an issue that resulted in the recall group's leader, Charles Bennion, pressuring Secretary of State Dean Heller into calling for an expensive verification of each of the more than 7,000 signatures. Heller first had approved of the random sampling result that showed the effort had failed.

Again the recall petition failed to pass the legal requirements and the random sampling accuracy was upheld. Ferguson was right from the start and so was Heller's first decision to declare the failure of the petition. What most people were willing to accept was now verified at the cost of almost $30,000 Clark County funds and an estimated $20,000 of state funds.

Because the group led by Bennion to recall Gates had received special treatment, it wasn't surprising that the group attempting to recall North Las Vegas Councilwoman Paula Brown demanded the same when their initial efforts failed the random sampling test. This recall group, named "Citizens for Higher Ethics in Government," will now probably find their only alternative will be to start another petition.

In the meantime, District Judge Michael Fondi vacated the hearing challenging Heller's authority to require the 100 percent verification of petition signatures. We wish that the judge had continued the hearing and made a decision on this important matter. The issue remains in a vacuum and should be settled as soon as possible. Should a future Nevada secretary of state have full freedom to operate the electoral system as he or she sees fit and make what could someday be considered partisan, politically motivated decisions? We think not.

Now that the random sampling method, as the Clark County Election Department performs it, has again been proven accurate, there shouldn't be any more 100 percent verification demands. If more are authorized, then those making the demands should pick up the cost. Nevada taxpayers have paid more than they should have for this most recent political shenanigan foisted upon them.