Southwest Gas board eyed again

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004 | 11:25 a.m.

A frequent critic of the management tactics of Southwest Gas Corp. of Las Vegas is making another push to assert control over that company's board of directors.

Mario Gabelli, who through personal holdings and businesses under his control is one of the company's largest shareholders, has nominated two board of director candidates. In a letter sent to the utility, Gabelli asked that Michael J. Melarkey and Joseph W. Brown be included on the proxy statements to be tabulated in election proceedings at a May 6 shareholders meeting.

Gabelli attempted to nominate Melarkey last year, but the company ruled that the nomination was received incomplete and late. A Gabelli associate at the 2003 shareholders meeting threatened court action over the rejection. Company officials said a legal challenge was never filed.

Recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings said Gabelli, through various holdings, owns nearly 3.4 million shares, about 9.9 percent of Southwest Gas' outstanding shares.