North Las Vegas winner to review legal options

Wade Wagner, who won election to the North Las Vegas City Council by one vote last week, is considering his legal options after the council decided Wednesday not to certify the election results, a member of his campaign said.

"It has to happen pretty quickly," campaign spokesman Dan Hart said, ensuring Wagner and his team would decide whether to pursue a case within the next couple of days.

Wagner disagrees with the council's call for a revote , but incumbent Richard Cherchio said he supported the council's decision after the meeting.

In the Ward 4 race, Wagner received 1,831 votes versus Cherchio's 1,830.

The council voted to redo the election in precinct 4306, where an ineligible vote was cast.

While he lost the election, Cherchio won in that precinct 56 to 54.

"I would say that I think that the council's decision is perfectly defensible, it's reasonable, and a court will see it the same way," Cherchio's attorney Bradley Schrager said. "The best way to address problems with voting is through more and better voting."

Although only 110 people voted in the council contest for precinct 4306, all 1,248 eligible voters can vote in the redo, said Larry Lomax, registrar of voters in Clark County.

"We can make a confident guess that there will be more people that turn out," he said. "I think the campaigns will be heavily encouraging people to participate."

Wagner's campaign spokesman said they are holding off on completing a campaign strategy until they figure out legal options surrounding the revote. Cherchio's attorney said he was sure his client would be campaigning in the area but didn't know the specifics.

The precinct boundary runs from Cheyenne Avenue to Alexander Road and from Revere Street to approximately Interstate 15.

Lomax said a draft plan on the details of the partial re-election is being considered and will be decided at the council's June 23 meeting. A new election day for the precinct has been proposed, but Lomax said he would not disclose it because it has not yet been approved. The proposed date would allow time for mail ballots, he said. Lomax said he suggested the revote be held at the same location, Sedway Middle School.

Wagner, 48, is a dentist. Cherchio, 64, was appointed to the seat in 2009 and has been criticized for his votes to cut public safety in order to save money.

Reporter Lynnette Curtis contributed to this story. Contact Jessica Fryman at jfryman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.