North Las Vegas council OKs new Ward 4 precinct vote

Voters in one North Las Vegas precinct will get a redo in a disputed City Council election.

Three council members approved a July 19 election in Precinct 4306, but only after the mayor and one of incumbent councilman in that ward excused themselves during a special meeting Thursday.

An ineligible voter was allowed to cast a ballot June 7, tainting the results of the Ward 4 race in which dentist Wade Wagner defeated incumbent Councilman Richard Cherchio by a single vote.

After the mistake was discovered, the council had to decide whether to canvass the results and let the vote stand or to revote. An earlier attempt to reschedule the election ended up in court.

"Obviously, we're disappointed," Wagner said. "Any voter (in the other precincts in Ward 4) that doesn't get the opportunity to vote in this new election has been disenfranchised, absolutely."

But Councilwoman Anita Wood said she did what she felt was right by voting in favor of a new election.

"It's not because I lack moral character or ... I want to give my candidate another chance," said Wood, who disclosed she donated to Cherchio's campaign. "I can't certify an 'I don't know.' This needs to go back in the hands of the voters. Voters alone get to determine who sits in these seats."

Wood, Mayor Pro Tem William Robinson and Councilman Robert Eliason voted for the new election.

Mayor Shari Buck abstained from the vote and left her seat a few minutes into the meeting.

"I have grave concerns that the direction this council has chosen to go in is not only wrong but illegal," said Buck, who supported Wagner. "The city attorney, Matt Griffin, previously gave us a recommendation to canvass the votes, but the council has chosen to disregard that opinion. ... I'm very concerned about this prospect and what's going on."

Cherchio also excused himself from the vote.

"Being a council person I feel that it is inappropriate for me to hear discussions and dialogue concerning the election process," he said.

His term ended at midnight Thursday, and the Ward 4 seat will remain empty until the results of the election are final.

Larry Lomax, Clark County registrar of voters, outlined the key dates in the election:

■ By Tuesday : Letters will be sent to eligible voters in Precinct 4306 explaining why the re-election is taking place and giving details on how and where to vote.

■ July 11-15: Early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clark County Election Department, 965 Trade Drive.

■ July 12: Last day to request a mail-in ballot.

■ July 19: Voting at Sedway Middle School, 3465 Englestad St.

Precinct 4306 runs from Cheyenne Avenue to Alexander Road and from Revere Street to approximately Interstate 15. Only 110 people in the precinct voted. There are 1,248 eligible voters in the Ward who will be allowed to cast ballots.

Despite losing the election, Cherchio won in that precinct 56 to 54.

Last week, the council was supposed to set the date for a revote in the precinct during a special meeting. Minutes before that meeting began, District Judge Allan Earl granted a temporary restraining order that prohibited the council from proceeding.

The order stopped the city from "preparing or conducting a new election in Ward 4,"

Former Mayor Michael Montandon and Jay King, both Ward 4 residents, filed the motion for the restraining order -- arguing that the council violated the state's open meeting law when it approved a new election because that action was not listed on the meeting's agenda.

The contest between Cherchio, 64, and Wagner, 48, was overshadowed by the war between Cherchio and the city's public safety unions. The police and fire unions opposed Cherchio, campaigning against him door to door, because he was among council members who voted for cuts to public safety to save money in the cash-strapped city.

Cherchio was appointed to the council in 2009. Council members serve four-year terms and are paid $41,827 a year.

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.

Trending topics:

• City Council
• election
• Kristi Jourdan
• North Las Vegas
• Richard Cherchio
• Wade Wagner

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. tom.p Jul. 3, 2011 | 8:07 a.m. Report Abuse

   I am a resident of NLV Ward IV, and I do not live in Precinct 4306. I voted in the recent election, and MY VOTE STILL COUNTS. The re-vote in Precinct 4306 does not disenfranchise any other person who voted in the election. Those votes still count and will be added to the new VALID results from Precinct 4306. How does that disenfranchise anyone. The apparent fact that Mr. Wagner does not understand this show his lack of understanding for even the basic concepts of civic government. Still, I hope he wins in the new election so that all the whiners and complainers will have nothing more to say about why a new election is needed. Then the Council can finally canvass the vote, certify the election, and MOVE ON.

2. VegasCitizen Jul. 1, 2011 | 2:09 p.m. Report Abuse

   Interesting choice of words from Anita Wood saying how it's nopt like she lacks moral character or I want ot give my candidate another chance. Kind of sounds like she's feeling a little guilty because of how blatantly the council is throwing out the other 28 preceints in ward 4 saying their votes don't matter. if they are gonna only let 1 preceint revote than they whould only let the ones who voted in the primary vote and not everyone else. I'm sure Cherchio thinks this is the right decision,how could he not since he is the democratic candidate and this preceint is 80 percent democrat. This council will forever be known as the corrupt coucil who stole the election. Nice to see Robinson go and I'm sure he is happy he got his parting shot in this to steal the election, he is a little bitter his son could not even make it to the general election.

3. Joe.Blow Jul. 1, 2011 | 8:40 a.m. Report Abuse

   Buh Bye Wade.....Don't let the door hit ya on the way out....LOL...

4. robbymack27 Jul. 1, 2011 | 4:58 a.m. Report Abuse

   ......There's no evidence the illegal vote swayed the outcome and if one wants to be a slave to the number there's a slighter likelihood it made the result closer than provided the margin of victory since Chercio won the precinct of the illegal vote 56-54. Definitively one can't say who benefited from that vote. Which is why a new election disenfranchising nearly 3500 is a perverse remedy to this situation.

5. Infrmd Jul. 1, 2011 | 2:07 a.m. Report Abuse

   Larry Lomax stated that this was not the first time a revote has happened and it won't be the last. In the last few years 4 counties in Northen Nevada have had this same issue and revoted in those precincts. In 1999 and 1992 NLV had revotes in three precincts. Mayor Montandon didn't have a problem with the revote in 1999. If it was ok before why not now. NLV voters need to elect Richard Cherchio in an overwhelming manner and let the Public Safety Unions know their terror tactics won't work. As the saying goes when seconds count the police are only minutes away.

6. Suzie.Q Jun. 30, 2011 | 11:04 p.m. Report Abuse

   How can anyone say the illegal vote did not effect the outcome?! I was at the council meeting tonight and Wagner's own lawyer said there were 3 possible outcomes based on that illegal vote - how can the council certify an election with 3 possible and varying outcomes?! Ridiculous. This is the only fair way to fix this problem. Wade's just sad that illegal vote wasn't in a precinct he won - otherwise he'd be calling for the same action, justifiably so.

7. vote them out Jun. 30, 2011 | 10:35 p.m. Report Abuse

   City of NLV Councilman make $42,000 a year for a part time job?
   Wow where do I sign up?

8. KnowsBetter Jun. 30, 2011 | 9:55 p.m. Report Abuse

   The only thing the blatantly corrupt Shari Buck is really concerned about is that now she’s NOT going to get her hand-picked, union-shill, puppet Wagner elected to the council so she can continue her deliberate financial collapse of the City of North Las Vegas. If there EVER has been more than a just reason to recall an unbelievably corrupt, self-serving, POS politician in Nevada, Shari Buck takes the cake! Her only competition in corruption is the even more bribe-worthy, former receivership known as Michael Montandon, who’s Federal corruption case is, thank god, already in the works! If anyone ever wondered why the City of North Las Vegas looks like a third-world country, while being located within the previously fastest growing economic region within the United States for the past 15-years or so, you can look no farther than Michael Montandon and Shari Buck! Birds of a feather!

9. robbymack27 Jun. 30, 2011 | 9:52 p.m. Report Abuse

   .....if I'm a voter in another precinct I absolutely do whatever I can to vote in this special election. You're giving a single area the unbelievable power to speak for an entire jurisdiction. Let the previous outcome stand since there is no evidence the illegal vote swayed the outcome.

10. really Jun. 30, 2011 | 9:44 p.m. Report Abuse

    Wade Wagner, after all the garbage I hope you loose this one ward handily....The signs and all the crap is way too much to handle....