Conklin defended in election controversy

Erin Neff

Wednesday, April 9, 2003 | 9:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Democrats again came to the defense of one of their Las Vegas freshmen Tuesday, pointing out that voter fraud indictments related to his District 37 race do not allege that he did anything wrong.

Freshman Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas, won the District 37 race in November by only 134 votes over Republican Francis Allen.

The challenge was dismissed by lawmakers in February.

On Friday a Clark County grand jury indicted Gary Horrocks, a tavern owner who lost in the Republican primary to Allen, on 60 felony counts of voter fraud stemming from 12 allegedly illegal votes in the District 37 general election. The indictment alleges Horrocks sent in the illegal absentee ballots.

Democratic leaders stressed Tuesday -- as they had at the start of the legislative session -- that Conklin had nothing to do with the voter fraud.

Nevertheless, Conklin has amassed nearly $40,000 in legal bills defending his win against the challenge.

"Quite frankly, I'm a little disappointed that someone would associate me with this," Conklin said of the fraud.

The Legislature found that the 12 fraudulent votes noted in the indictment were the only ones with any problems of 160 alleged to be tainted in the contest.

The remaining 148 votes were examined by Conklin's attorney, who got affidavits to prove the votes were legal. Since the 12 votes could not reverse the outcome of the election, an Assembly panel upheld the results.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said statements attempting to link Conklin to the fraud were "starting to get reported."

"They are spinning this as a victory for them," Buckley said.

After the indictment was unsealed last week, Allen said "I do feel vindicated. I feel confident saying the election was swung by illegal acts by Horrocks. But I don't expect the Legislature to take any action on this."