Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ELECTION FRAUD CASE: Witnesses tell about vote cards

Grand jury transcripts describe how bar customers signed election forms

Witnesses in the Gary Horrocks election fraud case have testified they signed numerous election documents at Horrocks' bar last year, only to find out later that someone filled out incorrect addresses without their knowledge.

Horrocks was indicted April 4 on 60 felonies amid allegations he tried to rig the Nevada Assembly District 37 election in November. Through his attorney, Horrocks has denied any wrongdoing.

According to grand jury transcripts obtained Monday, Horrocks approached as many as 10 people last year at his Clubhouse Tavern, 4001 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and asked them to sign election documents. Those people testified they signed voter registration cards at Horrocks' request, and some signed forms requesting absentee ballots.

"He did the whole political thing, you know, where it's your civic duty and blah blah blah," said witness Carol Ann Brooks, who signed a voter registration card. "So I went ahead and filled it out."

But when investigators with the Clark County district attorney's office contacted Brooks and others, they learned that addresses on the registration cards were filled out to allow them to vote in Assembly District 37, even though they didn't live in the district at the time, according to the court records.

"Is that your writing there?" Clark County prosecutor Jim Sweetin asked witness Jackie Lee Kunkes before the grand jury.

"No, it's not," Kunkes said.

"Is that your address?" the prosecutor said, pointing to a voter registration card signed by Kunkes.

"No."

"Have you ever heard of that address before?" the prosecutor asked.

"Never in my life," Kunkes responded.

The district attorney's office also has an interest in the actions of Horrocks' wife, Pam, the transcripts show.

According to the transcripts, Pam Horrocks at least twice gave signatures to the registrar of voters indicating she was a family member of people listed on absentee ballots. Such a signature is required when someone other than the voter drops off absentee ballots with the county.

But the voters in question said they weren't related to Pam Horrocks when they appeared before the grand jury.

"Are you related to Pam Horrocks in any way?" Sweetin asked Kunkes.

"No," Kunkes responded.

As of Monday, no charges had been filed against Pam Horrocks.

Kunkes, along with at least two other witnesses in the case, said Gary Horrocks asked her to sign the documents after she had been drinking at the bar.

"I just remember a piece of paper, and he asked me to help him, to help him get votes, or help him get elected, and that's all I recall," she said.

In the Assembly 37 race, Democrat Marcus Conklin beat Republican Francis Allen by 134 votes. Allen defeated Gary Horrocks in the Republican primary.

Authorities contend Horrocks committed voter fraud because he wanted to ensure Allen lost in the general election. Conklin has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Authorities also have declined to speculate whether the outcome of the District 37 race would have been different if the allegations against Gary Horrocks prove true.

In the grand jury transcripts, County Recorder Frances Deane said Gary Horrocks bragged on Election Day about having gotten her some 100 votes.

"I had their votes mailed to my bar and my P.O. box, and we filled them out, and that's how I know we got you a hundred votes," Deane quoted Gary Horrocks as saying.

When Gary Horrocks found out Deane had filed a sworn statement on the matter, he made an angry phone call to her.

"He was calling me a bitch and a lot of other words I'd prefer not to say," Deane testified.