Early signs: Many voters casting ballots

Erin Neff, Lisa Snedeker and Jerry Fink

Tuesday, May 4, 1999 | 11:06 a.m.

Election officials said they won't have a sense of how big of a turnout today's municipal election will attract until late morning or early afternoon.

But if a line of voters waiting for the doors to open at the Howard A. Wasden Elementary School polling location is an indication, then the turnout may be better than expected.

Almost 20,000 people voted in county municipal elections before the polls opened at 7 a.m. today, the first time the city has manned early polling locations. Early voting locations were open April 9 through Friday. Polls remain open until 7 p.m.

Las Vegas City Clerk Barbara Jo "Roni" Ronemus said she expects a good turnout based on the success of early voting and the 9,000 requested absentee ballots.

"If that is any indication, we should have a decent turnout," Ronemus said.

Clark County has 321,000 registered voters. Voter turnout in past city elections generally has been below 30 percent.

"Anytime you have people waiting, it's good news," election official Randy White said.

White was supervising more than a dozen volunteers at 2831 Palomino Lane, where Las Vegas mayoral candidate Oscar Goodman voted.

In fact, it is Goodman's race that is expected to draw the most interest.

Nine people are vying to replace two-term Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, but just three -- Goodman, City Councilman Arnie Adamsen and developer Mark Fine -- are given any chance to win based on several local polls and the three candidates' combined $1.7 million in campaign spending.

If no candidate receives 50 percent plus one vote in any of the municipal elections, the top two vote-getters in each race will face each other in the general election June 8.

Goodman was waiting for the doors to open at Wasden Elementary School.

"He was out there with the group, shaking hands with everyone," volunteer election worker Phyllis Crockett said.

She wasn't sure if Goodman's entry in the race is motivating any more voters than usual.

"This area is usually pretty good," Crockett said. "It's a pretty stable location."

Las Vegas voters also will elect council members in Wards 1 and 3. Incumbent Michael McDonald faces former City Councilman Steve Miller and three others for the Ward 1 seat while incumbent Gary Reese faces token opposition from six opponents for the Ward 3 seat.

Six attorneys are vying for the Municipal Court Department 4 seat vacated by Judge Valorie Vega, who was appointed to District Court. They are Ron Barron, Bert Brown, Nicholas Del Vecchio, Craig Hendricks, Tony Liker and Jessie Walsh.

In Henderson, voters will elect council members in Wards 1, 2 and 4 and a Municipal Court judge.

The Ward 4 race between Steve Kirk and Guy Van Wyck for the four-year seat being vacated by first-term Councilman David Wood will be decided today.

In Ward 1, first-term Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers faces opposition from two first-time candidates, Fred Pratt and Elizabeth Trosper. Also on the ballot is Debra Ann Lemancik-Grant, who announced in April she was dropping out of the race to support Trosper.

Longtime Councilman Andy Hafen is running for his fourth term against the city's former economic development director, Ann Barron, and William Brandt.

Municipal Judge John Provost faces opposition from a trio of challengers -- Matthew Dushoff, James Carlson and Lloyd Bair -- for his Department 2 post.

In North Las Vegas, a field of 13 candidates, including two incumbents, is in the running for two four-year council seats.

Councilwoman Paula Brown is running for her first full term after replacing Mary Kincaid following her election to the Clark County Commission. Councilman William Robinson is running for a fifth term.

Robinson is the only one on the current council who voted to retain former City Manager Linda Hinson when her contract came up for renewal. Now she is among those running for either his or Brown's seat.

The other candidates are Shari Buck, Marcia Blake, Bob Campagna, Dave Cienega, Connie Glass, Ron Long, Chris Montanez, Laura Perkins, Stan Vaughan and Tony White.

The top four vote getters will advance to the general election.

Boulder City residents will have the chance to make history today when they vote for their mayor. In the past, the City Council has chosen the mayor from within its ranks.

The mayoral candidates are Mayor Bob Ferraro and councilmen Robert Kenneston and Bill Smith.

Among the candidates for the two open City Council seats are incumbent Bryan Nix.

Nix had been scheduled to appear in Henderson Justice Court this morning on a driving under the influence of alcohol charge stemming from an Oct. 24 incident in Boulder City. His attorney, John Watkins, however, said Monday that he was certain the case would be postponed.

Other candidates are Tom Whelan, Joe Hardy, Ned Morang, Jim LaBarber, Melodee Thurston and Tim Harness.

All municipal races are nonpartisan.