Lawyer files second suit to stop electors

Friday, Dec. 15, 2000 | 10:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Reno lawyer Carter King is making a second effort to stop Nevada's four presidential electors from casting all of their ballots for Gov. George Bush this coming Monday.

King on Thursday filed another suit in federal court, asking for a temporary restraining order or an injunction. U.S. District Judge David Hagen dismissed his first petition on Wednesday.

King challenges the law that requires all the electors to vote for the winner of the Nevada election, captured by Bush with 49.4 percent of the vote to Vice President Gore's 45.9 percent. He says the "winner take all" law is unconstitutional because it dilutes or discards his vote, which is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment of the Constitution.

King said he thinks he has cured the defects in his first petition.

Absent any court prohibition, Secretary of State Dean Heller said plans are going forward for the votes to be cast on Monday, along with the rest of the states in the nation.

The Republican electors to cast the votes are National GOP Committeeman Tom Wiesner and former Assemblywoman Jane Ham, both of Las Vegas and Sen. Bill Raggio and Trudy Hushbeck, both of Reno. Wiesner replaced Peggy Wutke of Las Vegas and Hushback will be voting in place of Edwina Prior, also of Reno.