Deadline today for drive aimed at recall of Brown

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, May 12, 1998 | 10 a.m.

NORTH LAS VEGAS -- For weeks, those who support Paula Brown claimed an organization trying to bump her from the City Council didn't have the required number of signatures.

But those associated with the group engineering the recall effort, "Citizens for Higher Ethics in Government," have argued they have enough signatures to prompt a special election.

The truth should come out today.

The citizens' group must have its petitions into the Clark County Election's Office by 5 p.m. if it hopes to recall Brown. If the group collected 1,930 valid signatures from registered voters, Brown will have to run for her office again.

"I'm going to go on as if they're going to get the signatures, so I'm going to work on running a campaign," Brown said Monday. "I'm prepared to run another campaign because I believe that my constituents want me to remain in office."

Brown's husband, James, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of filing false tax returns for his chemical sales business, Lab-Kem Supplies, which closed in July 1997.

Police said James Brown sold chemicals that were later used to manufacture methamphetamine in area labs. The drug charges were dropped after he pleaded to the tax charges. Last month, he was given a one-year suspended sentence and three years probation.

Paula Brown was never charged with a crime.

She said Monday that although "Say No to Drugs, Recall Paula Brown" signs have sprouted up all over North Las Vegas, she never considered giving up the seat she has held since January 1997.

"Their accusations are unfounded," Brown said of the citizens' group. "The truth will prevail."

Attempts to reach the Citizens for Higher Ethics in Government for comment Monday were unsuccessful.

If the group has the required number of signatures, voters will have the option on a ballot to either recall Brown or keep her in office. Brown said the election would cost taxpayers $75,000 -- funds she said should be going toward more police and parks instead.

If it reaches that point, however, the 49-year-old feels she will be successful.

"If the signatures are not there, I will be certainly very happy I don't have to run another campaign," Brown said. "If they are, I believe the majority of my constituents who voted for me in the last election believe I'm doing the job I was elected to do."