McDonald recall petition filed

Erin Neff

Friday, Oct. 13, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

Former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller filed this morning an official recall petition to oust Michael McDonald from his office.

Today's appearance at the city clerk's office capped a week of publicity in which Miller joined with some of the city's best-known gadflies to announce the grass-roots recall effort.

On Thursday Miller hoisted a photo of McDonald to the tune of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," proclaiming that's where the city councilman, who twice defeated Miller for the job, is headed.

"Down, down, down," Miller's young daughter, Sarah, sang along with the recording.

At the heart of the recall effort are allegations that McDonald misused his public office by attempting to help his friends in cases involving the opening of a controversial church and the proposed sale of Las Vegas Sportspark. Both cases have been investigated by Metro Police and are the subject of separate city and state ethics complaints.

"I just can't stay in this town during an emergency without doing something," Miller told about 15 supporters and the media gathered Thursday at the downtown offices of Miller's weekly newspaper.

The recall committee, led by Russ Driver and Dorothy Orr, plans to staff booths outside the polls on Nov. 7 asking Ward 1 voters to sign two petitions.

The first is to recall McDonald. The second is to nominate Miller to replace him.

"In essence, here I am, and this is a campaign on the cheap," said Miller, who lost elections to McDonald in 1995 and 1999, when McDonald outspent Miller by more than $600,000.

Although only one citizen recall effort has been successful in Southern Nevada in the past three decades, Miller said he is confident his committee knows the rules and will get results.

The committee needs to collect signatures of registered voters equal to 25 percent of the number who voted in the 1999 race or about 3,000 signatures.

With today's filing, noted by Driver as Friday the 13th, the committee has 60 days to submit its signatures.

"Our timing may be an omen of things to come for McDonald and signal a new, clean start for the residents of Ward 1 when Steve Miller returns to City Hall," Driver said.

Thursday's rally to announce the recall was no less superstitious, as Miller called on friends from the past and people with grudges against McDonald to help him.

Only four people who attended in support said they were actually registered Ward 1 voters. But friends like Buffalo Jim Barrier, who brought his towering mechanical buffalo to the announcement, helped set the mood.

Veteran City Hall gadflies also came out for a look. Tom McGowan chowed down on fried chicken as Joe McViglia, sporting a full suit and fedora, told reporters stories of Miller's one-term in office in the early 1990s.

Miller said he'd bring the same moral behavior and work ethic to the office if residents approve the petition. He also said he respects the majority of the current council and would love to serve with Mayor Oscar Goodman.

"He can't have an albatross around his neck by the name of Michael McDonald," Miller said.

Reached Thursday, McDonald declined comment on the recall effort, citing the advice of his attorney.