Ensign to get recount refund

Monday, Aug. 30, 1999 | 11:39 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- In a confusing set of circumstances, former Rep. John Ensign is going to get a refund of $1,242 he overpaid for the recount of the U.S. Senate race ballots in Washoe County last year. But Ensign said he never asked for the money.

Secretary of State Dean Heller said Friday a review by Washoe County showed the Ensign campaign was overcharged and he ordered a repayment.

Ensign, who has already raised $1.2 million in his current campaign for the Senate, said the National Republican Senatorial Committee wanted the recount costs re-examined. He said he wasn't consulted and he would have advised against it.

Ensign lost to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., initially by 401 votes. After a recount, Ensign fell short by 428 votes.

Because of faulty ballots, the recount in Washoe County took a while and the Ensign campaign was charged $33,534. Alex Flangas, the Reno attorney who represented Ensign during the recount, wrote Heller in June asking him to review the bills, suggesting some of the costs should be disallowed.

Heller ordered Dan Burk, the acting registrar of voters in Washoe County, to again examine the costs.

In the meantime on Aug. 10, Ensign wrote Heller saying the request for a review of the bills was "taken without any consultation with me or my campaign organization. It wasn't until the request had been filed and the matter made public I became aware of the proceedings.

"Had the National Republican Senatorial Committee consulted with me prior to taking action, I would have strongly advised them against pursuing the matter. I am confident that the recount was handled with complete professionalism and your office should be commended for its work."

He apologized to Heller "for any inconvenience" the review might have caused.

While Ensign may not have sought a recount of the costs, the check is being sent to Mike Slanker, who headed the past Ensign campaign and is the manager again for the upcoming run for the Senate. Slanker could not be reached for comment.

Ensign paid $55,965 for the recount, of which $33,534 went to Washoe County.

Flangas, in his letter requesting the review, suggested that some of $18,000 paid to personnel during the recount and $12,390 to print duplicate ballots, should be disallowed.

Washoe County initially estimated the recount at $10,000 but that grew because of the ballot and computer problems. Pamela Crowell, deputy secretary of state for elections, originally knocked $376 off the Washoe County bill, which was reportedly due for food for county or temporary workers on overtime.