Group seeks Nov. 7 recall vote against Reno mayor

Monday, March 20, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

The Committee to Recall City Hall has formally filed with the Nevada secretary of state, but doesn't intend to file a notice to proceed with the recall for several months, said chairman Mike Robinson.

Once it files the notice, the group would have 60 days to gather the signatures of 11,316 registered voters to force the recall vote.

Griffin predicted the recall effort would fail.

"(The recall attempt is a) giant waste of energy and time when they could be doing more useful and important things in the community," the mayor told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"I have never seen them get involved in the process except for this most absurd way. This is a self-indulgent process."

If the committee proceeds with a recall now and forces an election before Nov. 7, current council members would replace Griffin in the event he loses.

And the committee is not happy with any of the incumbents, Robinson said.

The group is angry with Griffin over the Jan. 30 demolition of the historic Mapes Hotel, the proposed downtown railroad trench project and what it called a lack of progress on the downtown redevelopment project.

"The whole thing looks like it's falling apart," Robinson said of the redevelopment efforts. "They're clutching at straws."

The committee is looking to endorse a slate of candidates to run against Councilmen Pierre Hascheff, Tom Herndon and Dave Aiazzi.

The committee plans to hold a forum next month for interested candidates, Robinson said.

"Maybe people will see a chance to make a difference," he said.