Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Supported by

Henderson Citizens Panel Rejects Mayoral Job Changes

A proposal that might have cleared the way for Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen to seek a third term, and maybe protect him from a lawsuit filed by a former mayoral candidate, has been rejected.

That means former mayoral candidate, Rick Workman, will continue to pursue his case to have Hafen removed from office alleging the mayor election violated term limits.

The citizens Charter Committee declined to move forward on a proposal that would remove the mayor from the Henderson City Council and change the position to a chief executive officer for the state’s second largest city. The proposed amendment could have allowed Hafen to seek a third term as mayor in 2017.

But any change in the Henderson’s charter would have to be approved by the City Council, then the state Legislature next year. Stephanie Rice, an attorney with the Hardy Law Group who represents Workman, described the panel’s efforts as a way to find a loophole to keep Hafen in office.

Rice said they are waiting to hear if the state Supreme Court will hear arguments, or issue a ruling. She filed a petition on behalf of Workman asking the Supreme Court to immediately remove Hafen from office because of the state term limit laws.

Hafen won his second term as mayor in the 2013 primary with 55 percent of the vote in a field of seven candidates. He has been on the Henderson City Council since 1987.

GUEST

Stephanie Rice, attorney with the Hardy Law Group in Reno

Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.knpr.org/.

Stay Connected