Nevada Stupak’s address may be cause for concern

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

Answer: 1301 S. 6th St.

Question: What is the Las Vegas address that 15 years apart was involved in questions of residency of political candidates named Stupak?

That question could place Ward 2 City Council hopeful Nevada Stupak in jeopardy of being labeled a carpetbagger.

Nevada Stupak apparently changed addresses a few days before the deadline for establishing residency for the June 22 special election to fill the seat vacated by now-County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald.

Stupak had lived at 1301 S. 6th St., the home of his father, former casino owner Bob Stupak. But Nevada Stupak listed on his candidacy filing form 2251 Fort Apache Road, Apt. No. 8, in Ward 2.

Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said any challenge to Stupak's residency is too late -- that deadline has passed. Stupak, like all candidates, had to file a form stating "under penalty of perjury" that he had lived at his address for 30 days or more, Lomax said.

Nevada Stupak lost a 2002 Democratic primary to County Commissioner Myrna Williams and a bid for the Las Vegas City Council against Gary Reese in 1999.

Attempts to reach Stupak today were not successful.

In August 1989, his father, former casino owner Bob Stupak, came under similar scrutiny when he listed his address as 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South -- his Vegas World hotel-casino, which now is the Stratosphere -- to run against freshman County Commissioner William Pearson.

A year earlier Bob Stupak had run unsuccessfully against Ron Lurie for mayor of Las Vegas, using 1301 S. 6th St. as his residence.

The reason for the change of address, political observers at the time said, was so Stupak could run against a perceived weaker opponent than veteran commissioner Thalia Dondero. Pearson defeated Stupak.

Steve Wolfson, one of 12 candidates for Ward 2 and an attorney, said the Nevada Stupak matter is a simple one: "Either he lives in the ward and can run or he doesn't and should not run. And I have no indication that he does not.

"I'm busy moving ahead with my own campaign, running it in a positive way. I'm not concerning myself with how the other candidates are running their races."