Voter turnout light as expected for primary

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, April 3, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.

Turnout was light this morning as voters headed to the polls for the municipal primary election, following the lead of early voting and confirming suspicions that turnout might not reach 20 percent.

Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said that while traditionally the polls are busy as soon as they open at 7 a.m., the stream of voters was light this morning.

"The polling places I've been to haven't been very busy, and I don't think it's going to get very busy," he said.

Lomax expects 12 percent of registered voters in Las Vegas and Henderson will cast their ballots by 7 p.m., when the polls close. Higher numbers, close to 20 percent, are expected in North Las Vegas, where several council races are controversial.

Any candidate who garners a majority plus one automatically wins the race. If no candidate receives a majority, the race heads to the general election June 5.

Regardless of who wins in the primary, residents across the Las Vegas Valley will still head to the polls for the June 5 municipal general election to cast their votes on a ballot question that asks whether Clark County should issue $80 million in bonds to build an independent children's hospital.

At the close of polls tonight, the Clark County Registrar of Voters will tally the results of the races, with the help of city clerks from Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and Boulder City. The results will be posted on the Las Vegas and Clark County websites shortly after 7 p.m.

In Las Vegas, only residents from Wards 2, 5, and 6 may vote for their representative to the City Council seat. All residents can vote for the single judge's race for Municipal Judge Department 2.

Leading the three incumbents is City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, who was appointed to the Ward 2 seat in July 1999. She is being challenged by Mark Solomon, former director of the Culinary Union Training Center. Harrison Henry Safford is also running.

City Councilman Michael Mack, who was appointed in January 2000, is being challenged by community activist Louise Helton, Randy Durso, and Doug Apolka.

City Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who was appointed in January 2000, is being challenged by several candidates, the most serious former City Councilman Bob Nolen. Candidates Charles E. "Doc" Broadus, Paul Holder, Charles Schneider, Anthony Snowden and Ruth Spear are also running.

In North Las Vegas, all residents may vote for City Council candidates from Wards 1 and 3, but the candidates must live in the ward in which they are elected. The mayoral and municipal judge race is at large, and the winner can reside anywhere in the city.

In addition to the county ballot question, North Las Vegas residents in June will vote on a ballot question that would allow the city to broaden use of the street maintenance tax to include parks and fire stations.

Mayor Michael Montandon is seeking his second term and is up against homeless advocate John 3:16 Cook, land surveyor Mark Crabtree Sr., and Glen Easter, a property owner and manager.

Incumbent John Rhodes in Ward 1 is being challenged by former North Las Vegas City Councilman Theron Goynes, building inspector and former Planning Commissioner Robert Eliason, James Burns, a loan officer, and LeRoy Pasbrig.

Stephanie Smith, an elementary schoolteacher, will defend her Ward 3 seat against Mark Kincaid, a former political adviser and son of County Commissioner Mary Kincaid, whom Smith challenged last November. Also challenging Smith is North Las Vegas Planning Commissioner Anita Wood.

Municipal Judge Warren VanLandschoot, a former North Las Vegas homicide detective, is running against three candidates.

Richard Melson, a warrant officer, Aaron Tippets, and attorney Lewis Gazda, are challenging VanLandschoot.

As in North Las Vegas, voters in Henderson can vote for candidates at large but the candidates must live in their ward in which they are elected.

Sun reporters

Kris Hill and Jeffrey Libby contributed to this report.