White Peoples Party makes slow progress

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 | 7:51 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A group that believes in the superiority of the white race is making slow progress to gain a place on the election ballot next year.

The White Peoples Party, which says it makes its decisions on what's good for "Non-Jewish people of wholly European descent," set up a table last week at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Reno.

Party Chairman Michael O'Sullivan of Las Vegas said it gathered about 150 voter signatures. This was the first trip to Reno, and O'Sullivan says the party has collected about 2,000 signatures of the required 7,900.

The party wants to field a slate of candidates for statewide office and the three congressional districts in the 2006 election, O'Sullivan said. And it will return to Reno to set up a local party structure and to obtain more signatures.

UNR political scientist Eric Herzik said third parties "rarely have any effect on elections."

"They will get angry fringe voters who will align with the party," Herzik said. "They will get more publicity than votes."

Dean Ishman, president of the Las Vegas' NAACP, said it "frightens me to think good and moral people involve themselves" by signing the petition. He said he doesn't believe that a political party can legally exclude people.

"I believe they have a heart disease and a brain cancer -- racism," Ishman said.

Chief Deputy Ssecretary of State Renee Parker said a new political party needs 7,941 signatures to get on the ballot. That's 1 percent of the total vote in the three Nevada congressional districts in the 2004 election.

"Nevada law makes it easy for third parties to be recognized on the ballot," Herzik said. "Nevada is very open to third-party activity even though third parties are not any factor."

Citing the Independent American Party and the Libertarians as examples, he said, "They don't have any effect."

O'Sullivan said he intends to gather 10,000 signatures to make sure the party will qualify for the ballot. The deadline for submission to the secretary of state's office is Aug. 11.

The only two third parties that qualify for the 2006 ballot are the Independent American and the Libertarian. Parker said those that do not presently have access are American Energy, Green, Happy Evolving Minds, Natural Law, Reform and Veterans in addition to the White Peoples Party.

Tom Jacobs, a spokesman for the Department of Motor Vehicles, said there were no disruptions when the party set up its desk in Reno. Initially the party set up inside the office, but was required to move to a designated area outside.

Jacobs said the party members followed the rules during the day of not blocking the flow of traffic or approaching the customers.

In Las Vegas, O'Sullivan said the most signatures have been gathered at gun shows or concerts featuring western or rock music.

The party opposes illegal immigration, affirmative action programs and favors a breakup of the Clark County School District. It also supports establishment of a White History Month.