Recall of officials fails

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Thursday, July 8, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- An effort to recall two county commissioners and the district attorney of White Pine County because of talks to export water to Southern Nevada, has failed.

The secretary of state's office said today the petition gathered only 281 of the required 899 signatures to force a recall election for County Commissioners Jack Norcross and David Provost and District Attorney Richard Sears.

The petition required the signatures of 25 percent of the registered voters. Those behind the recall said they wanted an election because of the handling of "matters concerning the possible sale and or exportation of White Pine County ground water in a manner that violates the public trust of the citizens of White Pine County and the state of Nevada."

"We're not saying we're not going to end up sharing water," with Southern Nevada, said JoAnn Garrett, one of the leaders of the petition drive. But before there are any talks there must be a hydrological study of White Pine and the other counties to determine what water is available, she said.

White Pine joined with other rural counties in filing protests to the applications of the Las Vegas Valley Water District in 1989 to draw water from the rural areas.