Higher turnout hurts incumbents

Wednesday, April 9, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.

In the municipal races where voter turnout was the highest Tuesday, the incumbents had reason to worry.

Although the overall voter turnout was 18 percent, individual turnouts were at their highest in Mesquite, where the incumbent mayor was eliminated; in Boulder City, where the incumbent mayor finished second and has to go to the general runoff; and in Las Vegas Ward 1, where the incumbent city councilman finished second and will have to go to the general election.

"Turnout does tend to be higher in areas where there is excitement about the candidates and the issues," Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said today. "When races are perceived to be quiet, they don't draw out the voters.

"In Boulder City and Mesquite, where voter turnout is traditionally high, there were issues and debate and people came to the polls."

The highest voter turnout was 58 percent in Mesquite, where incumbent Mayor Chuck Horne finished third.

The second highest turnout of 49 percent was in Boulder City where incumbent Mayor Bob Ferraro finished second.

Incumbent Boulder City Councilman Bryan Nix finished third in a seven-person race.

The third highest turnout was in Las Vegas Ward 1, where 23 percent of the registered voters went to the polls. In that race, incumbent Michael McDonald, who has had to fend off allegations of ethics violations, lost to Janet Moncrief by 250 votes. They will meet again in the general election.

Las Vegas' overall turnout was 18 percent. But in wards that had council races, the turnouts were a bit higher -- 19 percent in both Ward 5 and Ward 3, where both incumbents won by landslides.

Turnouts were below average in two other cities -- 14 percent in Henderson and 16 percent in North Las Vegas.