Sandoval asked to probe petition complaint

Friday, May 7, 2004 | 10:42 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller Thursday asked Attorney General Brian Sandoval to investigate complaints that those circulating a referendum to repeal the $833 million tax plan were harassed by government workers.

Christopher Hansen submitted complaints that these state and local government employees are guilty of a gross misdemeanor for intervening with and sometimes threatening petition circulators.

Heller noted several of the complaints filed by Hansen fail to name the individuals involved and merely refer to them as employees of government bodies. Some of the complaints are more than six months old and fail to identify the place where the alleged violation took place.

Hansen also said he filed his complaints with Metro Police.

Chief Deputy Secretary of State Renee Parker said Hansen's complaints would require an "extensive" investigation and the office does not have the staff to do it. Some complaints also refer to state employees over which the attorney general's office has jurisdiction, she said.

Hansen says the harassments took place at such locations in Logandale at the Clark County Fair and at the County Government Center, Department of Motor Vehicles on Sahara Avenue nd at Cashman Center, all in Las Vegas.