Knappster: Signature-gatherers bullied by foes in the public sector

By George Knapp

George Harris and I don't agree on much. Harris is a conservative rabblerouser, a stirrer of numerous pots, a flame-throwing soundbite machine known for over-the-top salvos on TV and blistering, even crazed assaults on his perceived enemies through his Liberty Watch e-mail newsletter. His ultraconservative, hardcore Republican, pro-business views are far, far removed from my own political beliefs, about as far removed as one can get.

That said, he isn't a bad guy to have a beer with. Harris and I learned that we share an appreciation for rural Nevada, an admiration for our mutual friend Sue Lowden and a sometimes-serious, sometimes-goofy but definitely ongoing interest in all things UFO.

Harris is one of the primary forces behind two current ballot initiative drives. One seeks to repeal the $800 million-plus tax increase approved by the 2003 Legislature. The other would bar public employees from serving at all in future legislatures. I vigorously disagree with both of those efforts and am convinced both are bad ideas. That said, I recognize that Harris and his allies have every right to try to get their initiatives on the ballot.

But as I learned, it isn't easy for the pro-initiative forces these days. Harris and other organizers have concentrated their signature-gathering efforts at public buildings. You'd think they would have a right to assemble at such places. In fact, they do. But apparently, news about this funny little document called the U.S. Constitution hasn't quite spread to some power-mad public servants who have repeatedly and vigorously harassed the petition-gatherers at every turn.

There have been arrests. There have been detainments. There have been numerous delays for the signature-gatherers as assorted officials have tried to kick them off public property. At the Clark County Courthouse, petitioners have been told they need to have a table to gather signatures. Then they were told tables weren't allowed. Court bailiffs have been dispatched to demand I.D. or to order them off the grounds. At the Department of Motor Vehicles, it's been a real circus. DMV security has almost made a dance out of it by picking the spot du jour where signature-gathering is allowed. The spot changes from day to day, for no other apparent reason than harassment.

Harris ally Joel Hansen tried to gather signatures at the Clark County Fair a few weeks ago and was repeatedly threatened with arrest, even though he carried a letter from the secretary of state explaining that it was legal for him to be there. Hansen, who is an attorney, wasted close to an hour of prime signature-gathering time straightening things out with security folks. At least nine of the independent contractors hired to gather signatures have quit, Harris says, because they are tired of the threats and abuse that came with the job.

I'm not sure I believe there is a grand conspiracy at work here or that the word has come down from on high that the petition drives must be stopped at all costs, but clearly some folks are in need of a basic civics lesson. Whether or not most voters agree with the intention of the initiative campaigns, this harassment is ridiculous. As long as the petition forces operate within reasonable guidelines while on public property, public officials should leave them alone.

Crime and punishment

A recent newspaper story about the number of fatal shootings involving Metro cops has police brass fuming. The story pointed out that there have been five fatal shootings so far this year, which means Metro is on a pace to exceed last year's total of nine fatal shootings. It's easy to see why Metro might be mad. Shootings don't pop up on a scheduled basis. They might go four months without one, and then have three in a week. No one can say how many there will be or what the pace really is. And what about population increases? What about the influx of gang members here? What about the unending stream of scumbags into our community from every meth lab, crack house and hellhole in the country? Statistically, it's pretty weak to say in mid-April that the police are ahead of their pace from last year, especially without looking at the full picture. ... Convicted child killer Jeremy Strohmeyer was whacked with a shovel earlier this week as he strolled through the Ely State Prison. Prison sources say another inmate blasted Strohmeyer with the handy garden tool but that no serious damage was done. For the record, prison officials deny that a shovel was involved in the altercation. Strohmeyer is serving a well-deserved life sentence for molesting and murdering a little girl at a Primm casino a few years back. ... Another Ely inmate went to that big house in the sky a week ago. Murderer Carl Green was stabbed in the neck, apparently by a fellow inmate, but few in Ely will shed any tears. Knappster's sources say Green was universally despised at the prison, by officers, staffers and inmates alike. He was serving time for slaying a Las Vegas woman by stabbing her a mere 33 times. ... Las Vegan Peter Rustigian thinks the harsh sentence handed down to Jessica Williams for her role in the deaths of six teenagers is not only a miscarriage of justice, but is too damned expensive. Since it costs $47.29 per day to house a female inmate in Nevada, and since Williams was sentenced to a maximum of 48 years, her incarceration could cost a whopping $828,520.80 by the time she pays her debt to society. Vengeance is expensive, eh? ... More than a few law enforcement folks were stunned when a local judge released nine murder suspects on their own recognizance the other day. The nine, all members of rival motorcycle gangs, are charged with murder in connection with the Laughlin River Run melee a few years ago. It isn't often that murder suspects get to walk away without even posting bail. Luckily, they were given until April 30 to return to court, which meant they were each free to attend this year's River Run. ... While hanging out in the waiting area of the district attorney's office a few days ago, Knappster noticed a plaque on the wall that commemorates the time, not that long ago, when former DA investigator Peter Baldonado was honored by his co-workers as the Employee of the Month. Baldonado is better known these days for his court appearances on rape and bribery charges.

Names and faces

Sandy Murphy's medical issues are behind her for the moment. Murphy has had some tense moments of late health-wise, but says her doctors gave her some good news and she will soon be back up to speed in her preparation for Round 2 of the Ted Binion murder case. ... Expect some news soon about the six-year investigation of Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo. ... FINALLY, my spring issue of the Miss Porter's School Bulletin has arrived. This new issue includes a photo of 1998 alumnus Bonnie Binion, looking radiant and surrounded by friends and well-wishers following her marriage to TV actor Justin Torkildsen. As an aside, Knappster doesn't really subscribe to this fine publication, but my colleague, the broadcaster formerly known as Kate Maddox, does. Kate, like Ms. Binion, attended the exclusive Miss Porter boarding school. ... A pal who requests anonymity wonders if the recent appearance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Orleans hotel-casino here will lead to even more adventurous outings for the previously conservative SLC singers. Might the choir soon adopt its hip hop name, Mo Tab? Will it angle for a gig (two-drink minimum) at the House of Blues? Are covers of Eminem tunes in the works? ... The Fremont Street Experience is about to undergo a radical transformation, both technologically and artistically. FSE planners have three ambitious shows in the works, to be displayed on a new, dazzling high-tech screen. One of the clever new productions will involve space aliens and Area 51, so naturally, Knappster's name came up during the planning stages. Alas, my mug on a gigantic screen would likely scare the kiddies. Not to mention the aliens.