Monday, Sept. 13, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.
Janet Moncrief's supporters and opponents are ramping up the pressure in the fight over recall efforts targeting the Las Vegas councilwoman.
Moncrief said she would begin walking the neighborhoods of her ward today while two groups involved in the recall are talking about ways to combine efforts to make sure they gather the 2,106 signatures needed to initiate an election.
"She's also doing a computerized telephone campaign in the neighborhood saying not to sign the recall petition. She's definitely on the offensive, which doesn't surprise any of us. That's what someone in her position would do. But we feel the majority of the people feel as we do," said Larry Anspach, who is involved in an effort to recall Moncrief.
Anspach said he and other ward residents are talking to Lee Haynes of the other group working to recall Moncrief, the Ward One Cleanup Team, about combining efforts. He said his group has not started to gather signatures yet, although Haynes' has.
"We're still in the organization process. No sense in trying to do this separately," Anspach said. "The bottom line is, who knows how this will come out? Maybe we'll be successful, maybe we won't. We have 90 days to do it."
Anspach also said his group is considering hiring political consultant Billy Rogers' Southwest Group in the effort to recall Moncrief.
"We've had a meeting with him. We'll see what happens," Anspach said.
Anspach and others say Moncrief has been ineffective, particularly in when she failed in December to prevent a rezoning that allows powerful developer Irwin Molasky to erect a Social Security Administration office building along Buffalo Drive. They also complain she is inaccessible. And they say her indictment on charges of falsifying campaign finance documents was the last straw.
For her part, Moncrief admits she had a steep learning curve when she came into office in spring 2003, but says she has earned her place on the City Council and that she is always available to her constituents.
She also spoke out last week after her arraignment on the campaign report accusations, questioning why criminal charges were brought against her for what generally has been considered a civil offense.
Moncrief said her critics are wrong to call her ineffective.
"Maybe I was at first," she said, "but my voting record (has been strong)."
Moncrief points to her success in backing neighbors' requests to close Cashman Street off West Charleston Boulevard and in getting approval to sell hard liquor at the ABC Stores outlet at the Fremont Street Experience despite the Experience's opposition.
"There are numerous issues recently I have been winning," Moncrief said.
Another example she gave was a proposal to build three-story housing on Buffalo Drive between Oakey and Charleston boulevards.
"I know this council is sick of that land -- those people have fought everything," Moncrief said. She said she was able to negotiate it down to two-story buildings and that "got the neighborhood tickled to death."
Also recently, a Fletcher Jones car dealership tried to get council permission to use a parking lot behind its facility on Sahara Avenue.
"That worried me. But I went with the neighbors and won unanimously on that," Moncrief said. "They can't say I haven't been coming through, and yes, I have council support now."
Moncrief repeated that she is not quitting.
"There is support out there, and they know I'm trying to do the right thing, and I'm not quitting, and I'm going 100 percent," Moncrief said.
Members of the Las Vegas City Council contacted by the Sun declined to rate Moncrief's performance.
"Councilwoman Moncrief has enough issues that are facing her now. I'm not going to be added to the equation," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said. "I have done nothing to indicate anything less than business as usual."
Goodman did say the common practice of deferring to a council member regarding issues in that person's ward is "not in cement."
"We give great deference to each others' opinions, and we recognize a councilperson from a particular ward may have more knowledge, and we listen very carefully and then vote our conscience," Goodman said.
Councilman Michael Mack said he didn't think there was a direct correlation between the Social Security building vote and the allegations about Moncrief's ineffectiveness.
"You have to look at each planning and zoning item on its merits and the timing. The timing could have changed if Councilman Michael McDonald was on there," said Mack, referring to the incumbent whom Moncrief beat in the spring 2003 election. "The area is changing, and these in-fill parcels also are changing."
Mack said "typically" council members receive deference, "unless there is a strong case against it."
In the case of the Social Security building, Mack said, "She was new. I have to give her a little bit of consideration. It was one of her first votes.
"I support her, and I hope she prevails with any type of recall," Mack said. "I don't wish any of the stuff happening to her upon anyone."
Councilman Gary Reese said, "Sometimes (council members are deferred to) but not always. To me, she was a new councilperson, and I guess she thought that was the way it was going to be also."
Anspach said he was not surprised at the responses.
"I doubt any of the council people would say anything negative about their own council," he said.
Anspach said one key topic of conversation for the residents seeking to oust Moncrief is, "If the recall is successful, who is going to replace her? One of the names that came up was Michael McDonald."
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