Candidates’ eligibility questioned

Erin Neff

Monday, June 10, 2002 | 10:50 a.m.

Erin Neff

Two local campaigns are awash in espionage as private investigators try to determine whether candidates who filed for office meet residency requirements.

And in a third case, a judge will decide Thursday whether the age of a candidate in the Henderson constable race permits him to be included on the ballot.

Last Thursday, political consultant Jim Ferrence filed challenges against the residency claims of state Assembly challenger David Parks and Clark County Commission hopeful Michael Williams, both Democrats.

Ferrence's firm, Paladin Advertising, represents the incumbent District 41 Assemblyman David Parks, D-Las Vegas, and Democratic County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who represents district E.

The complaint alleges "we can prove" challenger David Parks does not live at an apartment in the 900 block of De Met Drive, as he asserted under penalty of perjury when he filed for office May 20.

"I'm almost positive we'll have enough to substantiate that," Ferrence said. "The private investigator is still finishing up."

The other complaint alleges candidate Michael Williams does not live in an apartment at 3950 Koval Lane, although Ferrence admits he is not sure he will be able to prove that claim.

Ferrence has until the end of Tuesday to file supporting documentation to the Clark County District Attorney's office. If the DA determines probable cause exists in one or both of the cases, the matter will be forwarded to a District Court judge to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with the complaint.

State law allows a District Court judge to disqualify a candidate from the election if it is proven a person does not meet residency or age requirements for the office.

On Thursday, District Court Judge Sally Loehrer will hear a complaint filed by Henderson Constable Earl T. Mitchell. Mitchell alleges his Independent American opponent, Nicholas Hansen, should be disqualified because he is 20.

Hansen said the only law governing the age for constables states that county commissioners cannot appoint someone to the post who is less than 21.

"I look forward to this lawsuit," Hansen said.

The district attorney's office has until Thursday to determine whether there is probable cause to proceed to court in the Parks and Williams cases.

The Parks complaint comes after the challenger Parks' last-day filing caused election officials to differentiate between the two David Parkses on the ballot by listing the Assemblyman first with the word incumbent in parentheses.

Challenger Parks was also linked to anti-gay crusader Tony Dane, fueling speculation that he was only trying to confuse voters in an effort to hurt the incumbent Parks, who is the only openly gay lawmaker.