Challenge to Parks’ candidacy to be decided by judge

Erin Neff

Friday, June 14, 2002 | 10:19 a.m.

Two other challenges to candidates who filed for office are heading to court.

The Clark County District Attorney's office has referred residency challenges involving Assembly District 41 challenger David Parks and Clark County Commission E candidate Michael Williams to District Court.

The incumbent Assemblyman David Parks, D-Las Vegas, is disputing the challenger Parks' candidacy because he alleges the challenger does not live at the address he listed when he filed for office May 20.

Clark County counsel Mary-Anne Miller referred that case Wednesday to Judge Allan Earl, although Earl is out of town until June 24.

It is not immediately clear if another judge will take over to resolve the case.

A videotape submitted as evidence in the case includes an interview with the woman who previously claimed that the challenger Parks lived in her residence.

In the videotape, she said Parks has no belongings at the residence and is not welcome to live there.

The incumbent Parks has frequently been targeted by foes because he is the only openly gay lawmaker.

Anti-gay operative Tony Dane helped the challenger Parks file for office and has since sent out press releases about what he called "desperate attempts" to remove Parks from the ballot.

"We feel confident that Mr. Parks, my client, is a resident of the state of Nevada, county of Clark," said the challenger's attorney Michael Root.

The other challenge alleges Michael Williams does not live in the apartment he listed when he filed to run against incumbent County Commissioner Myrna Williams.

Paladin Advertising filed the challenges on behalf of Assemblyman David Parks and County Commissioner Myrna Williams.