Council certifies Tarkanian’s win

Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 | 9:08 a.m.

Lois Tarkanian's Tuesday-night victory in the special election for the Ward 1 seat on the Las Vegas City Council was made official Thursday when the City Council formally accepted the final report of the vote totals.

"I feel honored to be part of the City Council," Tarkanian said after the council voted 5-0 to accept the election results. "I hope to do the best I can."

Tarkanian beat incumbent Councilwoman Janet Moncrief and community activist Vicki Quinn in the election. A group of residents petitioned to force a recall election in their effort to remove Moncrief from office.

Tarkanian said she's been busy since Tuesday touring City Hall and meeting city department heads.

During his weekly press conference earlier Thursday, Mayor Oscar Goodman said he liked all three candidates and thinks Tarkanian will "be a fine council person."

Goodman said Moncrief was a "nice lady" who was "beat up from the get-go."

The mayor said he told Moncrief to "buck up and go on."

Tarkanian will be sworn into office at the beginning of the Wednesday council meeting.

The council voted 5-0 to accept the official canvass of the Tuesday election.

Tarkanian won the election with 2,869 votes, or 41.8 percent. Moncrief ran second with 2,059 votes, or 29.8 percent. Quinn placed a close third with 1,972 votes, or 28.6 percent.