CARSON CITY, Nev., May 2 (UPI) -- Nevada's first-ever special election to fill a U.S. House seat will be open to all comers, Secretary of State Ross Miller said Monday.
The Sept. 13 election will determine a successor to Dean Heller, the 2nd District Republican who has been named to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Republican John Ensign, who faces corruption allegations.
Miller, a Democrat, said in a release on his Web site his interpretation of the law is that "clearly state Nevada voters, not a small group of political party officials, should choose their preferred candidate to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives."
Miller said major political party candidates will appear on the special election ballot by filing a declaration of candidacy by the deadline set by his office. Minor party candidates will follow "essentially the same process they do to get on the ballot for a primary or general election," he said.
State GOP Executive Director Cory Adair said his party "is extremely disappointed" by what he called a partisan move by Miller.
"His apparent preference for a free-for-all disregards both legal precedent and the traditional nomination method in Nevada," KRNV-DT, Reno, reported Adair as saying.
"The Nevada Republican Party stands firm that state law ensures major party central committees should be the nominating body for their own candidates in a special election. There is no more substantial public interest than in fair elections, conducted by an orderly voting process, in compliance with Nevada law and the U.S. Constitution. Secretary of State Miller squandered an opportunity today and chose political posturing and partisan gamesmanship over the rights of Nevadans."
Adair said the party will consider all options, including litigation, to stop Miller's ruling from taking effect.
