NAACP president candidate requests new election

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Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000 | 4:03 a.m.

A candidate who narrowly lost his bid for the Las Vegas NAACP presidency has asked the national NAACP organization for a new election.

Lonie Chaney lost the Nov. 18 election to incumbent Gene Collins by four votes, 159 to 155.

Even though the national organization sent three representatives to observe the process, Chaney and 51 other local NAACP members complained of nine alleged irregularities warranting a new election.

But Chester Richardson, who supervised the local election, said it was conducted in a fair manner and the observers would have spoken up if they had seen any evidence of impropriety.

The observers were dispatched after Chaney and his supporters sent a pre-election letter to NAACP national Chairman Julian Bond asking a Clark County district judge to stay the election. The judge denied the request.

If the three election observers find there's merit to the election challenge, the matter would be forwarded to the national organization for a final decision.