Editorial: Ballot box no place for juvenile games

Monday, July 1, 2002 | 8:59 a.m.

It's a relief to know that Assemblyman David Parks, a sincere and hard-working legislator, will not have to face a phony candidate with the same name in the fall elections. Chief District Court Judge Mark Gibbons on Thursday ordered the challengeroff the ballot after finding that he was not a resident of Nevada. In a similar case Friday, District Judge Michael Douglas struck Michael Williams off the ballot after finding he did not live at the apartment he listed when filing for office. Michael Williams had filed to challenge County Commissioner Myrna Williams, apparently hoping the similar names would confuse voters.

Politics isn't for the faint of heart, but these kinds of name games go beyond being the ordinary rough and tumble -- they're immature and despicable. Millions of Americans have died in battle or have been wounded to preserve our freedoms, all of which revolve around the existence of fair and honest elections. With July Fourth coming up, it's time to reflect upon the importance of our serious candidates and upon the disgrace of those people who wish to further their agendas by treating the ballot box like a playpen.