Moncrief plans fundraising rally to gain support

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief is gearing up for a potential recall election with a reception and fundraiser scheduled for Thursday night at the Artisan hotel.

Moncrief said she still has "a little money" left in her campaign fund and said she's not sure how much she might need to win a recall election.

Last week a citizens group gave the city clerk's office more than enough signatures to force a recall, but those signatures must be counted and verified as coming from registered Ward 1 voters before an election will be scheduled. The verification process involves state, Clark County and city officials.

Moncrief said she thinks the group, which hired a private firm to help collect the signatures, did get enough valid signatures and a recall election will be held in early January.

The councilwoman said her Thursday event is open to the public -- it will last from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -- and she added that she's heard a lot of support from constituents recently.

"I'm happy there are people out there that still believe in me," she said.

If there is a recall election, Moncrief could face at least one opponent.

Vicki Quinn, a 45-year-old activist for increased access to public places for the handicapped, has announced she intends to gather enough signatures to appear on the ballot opposite Moncrief. Quinn has the support of the Committee to Recall Janet Moncrief, the citizens group behind the recall petition.

Another group is said to be collecting signatures to put Councilman Lawrence Weekly's council liaison Kelly Benavidez on the ballot, although Benavidez has said she doesn't want to run.

Those behind the recall effort have said they are unhappy with Moncrief because she has failed to block unwanted development, including a Social Security building on Buffalo Drive, and because she is facing criminal charges for allegedly filing incorrect campaign finance reports.

Moncrief said the Thursday event will help her "get my word out that I voted against the Social Security building and my indictment might be thrown out Dec. 15."

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Residents fought the Social Security building decision in court, and were apparently successful in having the decision sent back to the City Council.

But Moncrief's critics say former Councilman Michael McDonald, who lost to Moncrief last year, could have convinced enough of the other council members to vote against the project to block it at the council level.

Doug DeMasi, a Ward 1 resident and owner of Chick's Wheel Alignment & Brake Service, said he's organizing the Thursday event because he wants Moncrief to stay on the council.

"There was nothing she could do to stop that," DeMasi said about the Social Security project. "I supported Janet Moncrief before and I still support her. ... This recall is from a small group of people accustomed to getting favors."

The other council members have been quiet about the potential recall election, and those interviewed said they will probably stay away from the situation.