Lincoln County recall boots DA

Larry Henry

Thursday, March 12, 1998 | 10:30 a.m.

The Lincoln County Commission on March 20 is expected to appoint a replacement for District Attorney Tom Dill, who was removed from office in a recall election Wednesday.

Dill lost the recall election 480 to 349. Thirty-five percent of the county's registered voters cast ballots.

Dill was recalled because some county residents believed he allowed too many serious crimes to be plea bargained down to lesser offenses, Connie Simkins, editor of the Lincoln County Record, said. Dill could not be reached for comment.

The recall petition was spearheaded by two Panaca residents, Robin Washburn and Felicia Crockett, and a Caliente resident, Brenda Moore.

After the County Commission appoints a replacement later this month, an election will be held in November, unless commissioners decide to hold an earlier special election, secretary of state spokeswoman Ande Engleman said.

Simkins said there is no apparent frontrunner among a half dozen applicants seeking the appointment.

In 1995, Dill provided legal advice to two county commissioners and other local officials whom state Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa tried to oust for advocating a nuclear waste dump.

The state dropped its lawsuit after the county abandoned its bid to store nuclear waste.

Dill took office about six years ago to fill the term of resigning District Attorney Leo Wadsworth, Simkins said.

Dill ran unopposed in 1994. He had said prior to the recall attempt that he wouldn't seek re-election this year, Simkins said.

Lincoln County borders Clark County north of Las Vegas.