Two candidates win majorities in unique voting

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, April 4, 2001 | 11:07 a.m.

In a mathematical teaser, two candidates for Boulder City Council managed to win a majority of the primary vote Tuesday, avoiding the need for a runoff in the general election in June.

Freshman incumbent Mike Pacini and political newcomer Andrea Anderson won two open seats on the council by taking the top two percentages of the vote, respectively.

"When you say a majority, you think of half of the voters plus one," Boulder City Clerk Vicki Mayes said. "But when you actually do the numbers, two people have a majority of the voter."

Despite a reading on the Clark County election website of 36 percent for Pacini and 31 percent for Anderson, the two actually earned majorities.

The confusion stems from each voter's ability to cast two votes, Mayes said.

With most of the 3,966 voters casting two votes for six at-large candidates, Pacini took 2,616 votes. Anderson earned 2,253.

Mayes said in her nine years as city clerk she has never seen two candidates win a majority in the primary. But after consulting with City Attorney Dave Olsen early this morning, Mayes declared Pacini and Anderson official winners.

Pacini, who awaited vote results at home over a steak and Fresca dinner with his wife and his father, said the strong win was a great honor.

"Some people don't like being called a politician," the 33-year-old grocery clerk said. "But I don't take offense to the term. I'm still in awe of it. I'm like the little kid. I'm still giddy."

Pacini said he plans to pick up where he left off, supporting police and youth and working for more low-income and assisted living facilities for seniors.

Anderson flew in from Carson City just before polls closed Tuesday to meet with supporters at her home on Mancha Drive. Anderson was representing a state library council, a position Gov. Kenny Guinn appointed her to in 1999.

"The one thing that is really important right now is diverting truck traffic coming up the CanaMex highway," Anderson said.

The proposed route, which would facilitate truck travel between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, would travel through Boulder City.

Anderson said she spoke with state Sen. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, Tuesday, and he reaffirmed his support of a plan that would reroute trucks through Laughlin. City officials there have expressed support of the plan.

Also running in the race were John Barlow, Ned Morang, Richard Wyman and Wallace Best. Barlow received 1,218 votes (17 percent). Morang took 687 (9 percent), Wyman earned 429 (6 percent) and Best rounded out the ticket with 159 (2 percent).