(The Voice of Nevada) – Nevada Attorney General Laxalt (R) is “serious about residency issue” according to a new story released on 4/23/15 by Steve Sebelius of the Las Vegas Review Journal, but will Nevada AG, Adam Laxalt enforce residency issues with other candidates, particularly when it comes to members of his own party?
A new “Integrity in Election Violation” concerning Stephen Silberkraus (R) has been filed with Secretary of State, Barbara Cegavske’s (R) office. Silberkraus reportedly falsified his residency status to run for office.
In 2012 Silberkraus ran for office in Nevada Assembly District 42 claiming he had lived in Nevada 10 years and in District 42 for 3 years using an address of 4525 Dean Martin Drive, unit 1801 in Las Vegas, NV 89103. Silberkraus is listed on that property title with his mother who issued him a quick claim deed a couple of years ago.
Silberkraus was unsuccessful in his bid for district 42.
A year later Silberkraus filed with the Secretary of State a new disclosure (FDS) to run in Nevada Assembly District 29 using an address of 1770 N. Green Valley Pkwy. Apt 4023 Henderson, NV 89074 claiming he has lived in Nevada for 13 years and in district 29 for 10 years. How does he live in district 29 for 10 years when he also lived and ran for office the previous election 2 years earlier in district 42?
Also reported in the complaint filed 4/23/15, that the Green Valley Pkwy address he is now using, is a rental he began renting in Oct of 2013, about a year before the November election.
We will have to await the Secretary of State, Barbara Cegavske’s findings concerning Assemblyman Stephen Silberkraus (R) to clarify where Silberkraus lived at the time he filed as a candidate for district 29. For now what is clear is that the information Silberkraus reported to run for office in two different districts doesn’t add up.
Laxalt has brought suit against Meghan Smith (D) who in 2014 falsified her residency to run for office in Nevada Assembly District 34. Her opponent Victoria Seaman (R) ultimately won the seat in the general election but Laxalt is still pursuing charges against Smith.
In 2012, then Attorney General, Catherine Cortez Masto (D), did not bring a case against Andrew Martin (D) for falsifying his residency to run for office in Nevada Assembly District 9. The day before the 2012 general election, District Judge Rob Bare, in response to a complaint filed by his opponent Kelly Hurst (R), ruled that Martin’s candidacy was invalid because he did not live in the district.
Martin, whose name was already on the November ballot received enough votes to win over Hurst and the Democratic controlled Assembly seated Martin anyway. Martin was never charged.
Jake Holder (D) also falsified his residency to run in District 10 in 2014. To date there are no charges from the AG in that identical case.
AG Laxalt is right to bring a case against Meghan Smith (D). Calls for the same charges to be brought against Jake Holder (D) for the same is both fair and warranted and shows the Attorney General is enforcing the rule of law. The alternative would be partisan politics and/or favoritism, a move that could open the door for Meghan Smith to file suit against the Nevada Attorney General’s office costing Nevada tax payers a bundle.
A version of this column is published on PRLOG.
For more information about The Voice of Nevada, visit www.TheVoiceofNevada.com.
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