Second lawsuit filed to remove regent candidate from ballot

Deputy Attorney General Kateri Cavin said the office filed a Carson City District Court complaint Monday that contends Arnold Stalk's switch in June from Democrat to Republican makes him ineligible.

On Friday, the attorney general's office filed a complaint targeting regent candidate Darryl Carr, a parolee imprisoned for more than nine years for selling drugs. The Nevada Constitution bars felons from running for office unless their civil rights have been restored.

Stalk, Carr and three other candidates are seeking the nonpartisan District 2, Subdistrict G regents' seat now held by Maddy Graves of Las Vegas, who isn't seeking re-election.

Stalk and Carr say they'll fight to keep their names on the ballot.

"I'll be the best watchdog on that board. I can spot a crook a mile away," said Carr, adding he's surprised at how ugly the regents race has become.

Stalk questions a state law that requires 1998 candidates to be a member of a particular party at least since Sept. 1, 1997. He said it shouldn't apply in nonpartisan contests.

But Cavin said the attorney general's office filed the Stalk complaint because the law doesn't distinguish between partisan and nonpartisan races, and any change to the law would have to be made by the 1999 Legislature.

Complaints against Stalk and Carr were filed separately by Las Vegas residents with the secretary of state's office, which in turn forwarded them to the attorney general's office.

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