Recall effort derailed, not enough valid signatures

Efforts to recall County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates from office failed Friday when the election department determined there are not enough valid signatures on the recall petitions.

Those seeking to unseat the commission chairwoman collected 4,742 signatures, according to a report by Clark County Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson. But a check of 500 of the signatures found that 45 of the signers were not registered voters, 46 did not live in Gates' district, seven signatures did not match those on voter registration cards and one person signed twice, she said.

This meant the sample was 16 signatures short of the required number for the matter to be placed on the ballot, Ferguson said.

"I'm really excited about this," Gates said. "This has just been harassment pure and simple. ... I hope it is over now. But realistically I'm not sure it is."

Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller will announce Monday whether an audit of all 4,742 signatures will take place.

The required number of valid signatures for a recall measure to be placed on the ballot is 4,380.

Gates was targeted for recall after she was reprimanded by the State Ethics Commission for her involvement in selecting concessionaires for McCarran International Airport's new D gates. The Ethics Commission said Gates used her position to help acquaintances secure retail space there.

This is the second time Citizens for Honest and Responsible Government has attempted a recall petition drive against Gates.

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