Voters could see double on primary ballot

Erin Neff

Tuesday, May 21, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

Assemblyman David Parks likes to make reference to his last name on his signs with pictures of trees and grass. On Monday an opponent chose to reference his entire name.

Now it's up to the lawyers to find out how voters will tell the difference between Democrat David Parks, the incumbent, and Democrat David Parks, the challenger.

"We have to do something, otherwise the voters won't know who's who," said Larry Lomax, Clark County registrar of voters.

Lomax asked county counsel Mary Anne Miller for an opinion on how to proceed with the ballot.

Meanwhile, the two Parkses don't appear willing to budge.

For starters, the assemblyman has already been elected three times with his name as is.

"My attitude is, I was the first in the door," said the assemblyman, who declared his re-election bid early in the filing process.

The other David Parks, a 50-year-old software salesman, said he has nothing against the incumbent, but just decided it was the right time to get into the race.

"I just thought there are some issues that need to be addressed," he said.

The incumbent assemblyman is the only openly gay legislator and has already drawn challenges from anti-gay opponent Phillip Dane, a Republican, and Patricia Saye from the Independent American party. Republican Anders Sorensen is also in the race.