State law could alter voting schedule in Boulder City

By Cassie Tomlin

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | 5:46 p.m.

A state law change could limit how often Boulder City voters decide on land sales, charter changes and city spending on capital improvements.

Assembly Bill 256 would require municipal elections in even-numbered years with statewide elections, not in odd-numbered years.

As it stands now, voters see questions from the city every year, either on state or municipal ballots. The city's charter requires voter approval for sale of land more than an acre and spending from the Capital Improvement Fund. The change in the law would mean that presenting questions to voters during an off year would call for a special election.

The change would also mean Mayor Roger Tobler, Councilwoman Linda Strickland and Councilman Travis Chandler, who were elected in 2007, would serve for five years until 2012 instead of 2011.

The bill would change the city charters of Boulder City, Caliente, Elko, Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Yeringon.

Richard “Tick” Segerblom, assemblyman for District 9, introduced the bill. He said the change would save money and increase voter turnout.

Chandler said he didn’t support the bill because it would limit the flexibility of the city.

“It has been the history of the electorate of Boulder City to address these questions frequently,” Chandler said in an e-mail. “It is beyond any doubt that the people of Boulder City place great value in being able to speak directly to the important issues our city faces. It would be a substantial disservice to the residents of Boulder City to reduce the opportunity to speak to these important questions by half.”

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].