Two incumbents to face stiff challenge in general

Wednesday, April 4, 2001 | 11:24 a.m.

Two incumbents seeking another term as Mesquite city councilmen have advanced to the June 5 general election, but they face strong challenges from three candidates supported by the mayor who last August survived a recall.

In a race that drew more than half of the town's active registered voters -- 2,281 ballot-casters (50.41 percent) -- Councilmen Chuck Hackleman and Cresent Hardy were among six candidates from a field 15 in Tuesday's primary election who will vie for the three available seats.

"It was a great turnout, and it should be exciting in the general election because you have three candidates said to be loyal to the mayor," Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said today.

"Also you have two questions about the charter -- once supported by the mayor and the other that is being called 'not the mayor's charter' by the opposition."

Mesquite City Clerk Carol Woods said today that the turnout in June could go as high as 60 percent.

Garnering the most votes were Richard Strohl (935 or 14.12 percent), Grant Lindsay (901 or 13.61 percent) and Rhonda Bales (812 or 12.27 percent). All three are supported by Mayor Chuck Horne. Woods noted that the other three winners did not run on a ticket for or against Horne.

Finishing fourth in Tuesday's primary and earning a general ballot spot was J. Scott Fisher (809 votes or 12.22 percent). Hardy was a close fifth with 806 votes (12.18 percent) and Hackleman took the sixth spot on the general election ballot with 720 votes (10.88 percent).

Hardy is seeking a third term. Hackleman was appointed last year to fill the unexpired term of Susan Cook, who resigned. Two-term incumbent Paul Henderson opted not to seek re-election.

Woods said Strohl, Lindsay and Bales "ran as a ticket" in support of Horne, who seeks passage of Question 2 on the June ballot for a strong mayor form of government. The opposition seeks support for Question 1, a strong city manager form of government.

Last August Horne won a special election that was held to recall him. In the process, his apparent popularity in the small but fast-growing community about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas became evident as he received 564 more votes against recalling him than he was voted into office in November 1999.

Here's how the rest of the field finished Tuesday: Donna Fairchild (478 votes, 7.22 percent), John McClintock (285, 4.31 percent), John Paul (222, 3.35 percent), Fred Dietrich (205, 3.10 percent), James Griffin (190, 2.87 percent), Melanie Walker (148, 2.24 percent), Ken Meacham (55, 0.83 percent), Dan Wilkins (27, 0.41 percent) and David Wynn (27, 0.41 percent).