Neal escapes with win

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

Who says your vote doesn't matter?

Just six votes decided the state Senate District 4 race between incumbent Joe Neal and Uri Clinton amid dismal voter turnout.

When all the votes were tallied in Tuesday's Democratic primary, Neal needed 2,028 to win outright and forgo a general election in November.

He got 2,034 votes.

Neal, who spent the night quietly scrolling through election results on his home computer, has never faced a general election in his 28 years in office, and he won't if the unofficial totals are certified.

"This particular district and the people of this district have always given me a majority," said Neal, 65, of North Las Vegas. "It's a win, we accept it."

Clinton, a 28-year-old lawyer from West Las Vegas, said he would decide later today whether to ask for a recount.

"This proves that every vote counts," Clinton said to supporters gathered at H & H Barbecue on Martin Luther King Boulevard. "We might ask for a recount, but at the same time, we don't want to cheat the people's voice."

Clinton's adviser, Tom Letizia, said he was almost positive Clinton would seek a recount.

"You have to, it's just too close," Letizia said after all of the district's 38 precincts reported.

Tuesday's nailbiting primary proved the closest in anyone's recent memory here in Clark County, although election officials could not confirm whether the six votes were the smallest deciding factor in history.

Election law specifies that in party primaries with three or more candidates, a candidate must receive 50 percent, plus one vote to win.

A total of 4,055 people cast ballots in the District 4 race, meaning a candidate would need 2,028 to win.

Clinton was buoyed by early returns showing Neal hovering around 48 percent, and he embarked for his campaign party thinking he had forced a runoff.

But shortly after he arrived at the restaurant, precincts from Neal's traditional stronghold in West Las Vegas reported and gave the senator the bump to 50 percent that proved enough for victory.

Clinton received 1,820 votes for 45 percent, according to unofficial results. Former North Las Vegas Planning Commissioner Chris Montanez received 201 votes for 5 percent.

Montanez had withdrawn from the race weeks ago, throwing his support to Clinton. But Letizia said he thinks Montanez actually hurt Clinton's candidacy.

"I think he really cost us votes because if he'd been campaigning, he may have gotten 10 percent, not 5 percent," Letizia said.

Neal didn't pay much mind to either of his opponents, and confidently relaxed at home after the polls closed.

"Clinton and Montanez just got their butts kicked for taking me on," Neal said.

But Neal seemed more pleased to have defeated the gaming industry than his two opponents.

Casinos have supported Clinton from the start, first with political advisers and later with $25,000 in donations to unseat Neal because of his plan to raise the state tax on the gaming industry.

"We'll be out tomorrow collecting signatures to raise the gaming tax," Neal said after the votes were tallied.

Clinton had tried to paint Neal as a one-issue politician while himself focusing on education, health care and redevelopment of the district's poor, blighted areas.

Neal argues that his proposal to raise the gaming tax from 5 1/4 percent to 11 1/4 percent would bring in money to improve schools, hospitals and infrastructure in rapidly growing Nevada.

And while Clinton supporters canvassed the district and paraded through key precincts, Neal wrote the political newcomer off as simply gaming's pawn.

Clinton raised $55,211 for the election, with roughly half coming from gaming. He spent $51,154 for a total of $28 a vote while Neal spent $40,473 or just under $20 a vote.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Neal and Clinton held an informal debate on "POV Vegas," but never squared off at scheduled debates around the community.

Neal instead chose to debate Nevada Resorts Association President Mike Sloan and keep the focus on his gaming tax.

"People know it's time to raise that tax," Neal reiterated Tuesday night.

Clinton said that despite his apparent loss he was pleased with his showing.

"I'm very encouraged," Clinton said. "The issues were on our side, and we really came out of nowhere and made a splash in this community."

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