Petition backing Wal-Mart set to hit the street

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999 | 11:28 a.m.

Union members opposing the construction of Wal-Mart Supercenters in Clark County have emphasized that the controversial ordinance banning the retail mega-stores is a community issue.

On Monday, leaders of a committee assembled to petition Clark County commissioners to repeal the ordinance agreed.

Political consultant Chuck Muth said since his group "Citizens for Competition" announced a day after the vote its mission to collect the required 25,760 signatures, members of the community have bombarded his office with calls.

"This is a nonpartisan thing," Muth said. "It's a mix of Republicans, Democrats and Independents. They're furious the government would decide where they can and cannot shop."

Muth said the group must collect 25,760 signatures -- 10 percent of the amount of people who voted during the last election. However, the signatures can be those of newly registered voters.

The petitions are being reviewed by an attorney today and should be ready for distribution by the end of the day. About 40 people have volunteered to circulate the papers.

"These aren't people who are just saying, 'Go get them,' " he said. "They're emotional, and they're the kind who are really ready to do something. They're champing at the bit."

In addition to the petition drive, morning show host Jay Casey with KXNT AM 840 is organizing a rally for Thursday afternoon.

Dan Burdish, former executive director of the Nevada Republican Party and member of the citizens committee, said the radio station will air shows live at the Wal-Mart on Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Mountain Road.

"Wal-Mart is not doing this," Burdish said of the rally scheduled for 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. "Jay Casey is putting it together."

Wal-Mart, which is expected to file a lawsuit against Clark County, has yet to take any legal action.

Burdish said a voter registration booth will be set up in the parking lot, right next to a booth where residents can sign the petition.

Meanwhile, as Wal-Mart continues its ad blitz in local newspapers, the County Government Center remains the target of angry phone calls.

County spokesman Doug Bradford said although calls have tapered off since Wednesday's 3-2 decision to approve the ordinance unleashed a barrage of allegations, the county still received 30 calls on Monday.

While one of the concerns commonly aired relates to the heavy influence of unions on the County Commission, most residents have been angry that commissioners decided where they can shop.

"People are concerned they didn't have the freedom of choice and that government shouldn't regulate commerce," Bradford said. "Those are the two main comments we seem to be getting."

The ordinance introduced by Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny was written to address traffic problems that accompany "big-box" stores, county planners said.

But it became clear Wal-Mart was the target when the United Food and Commercial Workers union jumped in and assisted the county in drafting the ordinance. Wal-Mart Supercenters would be the first major grocery store that is nonunion.

The ordinance says any store larger than 110,000 square feet that has more than 7,500 square feet dedicated to untaxable groceries cannot be constructed. Stores such as the popular Costco could also be affected, said Costco officials. Their stores are larger than 150,000 square feet and devote more than 7,500 square feet to groceries.

Attorney Chris Kaempfer, who represents shopping center developers, said further evidence that the ordinance targeted Wal-Mart is the fact that it does not address the original concern -- traffic.

Kaempfer has said that a developer can still build a 200,000-square-foot store -- which is larger than most Supercenters -- as long as it doesn't include a full-sized grocery store.

Muth and four other residents put the "Citizens for Competition" group together and created an e-mail address (lv4competition@aol.com) and set up a phone line (615-4151) just hours after the vote. Muth said judging by the community's response in just five days, he is confident the group will collect the required number of signatures.

"A lot of people say, 'I don't shop at Wal-Mart, but doggone, I should be able to if I want to,' " Muth said.