Latest recall effort more fizzle than sizzle
Efforts to recall two elected officials moves into its 24th day today
Local residents Dona and Richard Goldstein filed a notice of intent to recall Nye County Commissioner Donna Cox and Town Board member Amy Riches in November.
Both say malfeasance of office is their main motivation to oust the elected officials who took office less than a year ago.
Additionally, Mr. Goldstein said he was extremely offended by a graphic image depicting what appeared to be a goat mounting a Muslim man kneeling in prayer.
The image was posted on Riches’ Facebook page for all to see.
This week, Goldstein, who must secure 3,706 signatures, said even though the process has been slow going, he is not giving up the fight.
His wife needs 882 valid signatures from voters in Cox’s district.
“Right now I have about 30 signatures on mine and my wife has about a dozen for Commissioner Cox. We really haven’t been able to go anywhere where we can get them en masse. We will be at the county commission meeting on Tuesday. We have to learn what kind of events are coming up where we can do it,” he said.
Richard Goldstein, a member of the Pahrump Veterans Advisory Board, provided comments to the town board on Tuesday about his recall effort.
He told the board about concerns he has been hearing around the community with regard to the costs associated with the recall.
“It’s coming right from my wallet and nobody else’s. I am paying for this recall,” he said.
Dona Goldstein, meanwhile, reiterated her reasons for her attempt to recall Cox.
“This recall is neither personal nor political. When she ran for the position, she knew that traveling to Tonopah once a month was a responsibility. Once she was sworn in, she decided to reject that responsibility and she was also aware that the position had a responsibility to be named to various advisory boards as liaison for the county. She chose to resign her assignments and shovel this responsibility to other commissioners. Other commissioners seem to be able to pick up the meeting agenda and read through it and get questions answered. This is a process that seems to be of no importance to Ms. Cox,” Goldstein said.
Dona Goldstein also made reference to Cox’s actions in county owned offices outside of regular business hours.
“She draws a taxpayer funded paycheck to sit back and roam the halls of county buildings long after regular business hours with her special CCSC friend, County Assessor Shirley Matson. When questioned about her after-hours activities, she said what she did on her own time was her business and not ours. I suppose that should she be sifting through confidential information without proper warrants, is our business.
“After watching her since the beginning of 2013, when she was sworn in, I don’t see her improvement in handling the county’s business in a capable manner,” she said.
When contacted for comment on the issue, Cox said Dona Goldstein’s motivations were political and had nothing to do with her performance as a commissioner.
Riches, on the other hand, had some choice words for Richard Goldstein. Goldstein, who is Jewish, said he could barely keep from laughing when the town board member charged him with being pro-Islam.
“She was asked by local reporters what her reaction was to the recall drive. Once again that racist response came from her lips. ‘He must be pro-Islam as well as a religious zealot.’ How despicable can one be when you honor all people regardless of personal religious beliefs? Obviously, Amy hasn’t caught on to that part of the U.S. Constitution that promises no discrimination based on race, creed, color or sexual orientation,” he said.
On Tuesday, Riches appeared a bit more reserved when addressing the matter.
“Mr. Goldstein, thank you for your comments. I am so grateful that we live in a country where you can get up and say whatever you want. Amen,” she said.
The Goldsteins say they plan to occupy the seats of the respective officials if the recall is successful.
They will need to win a special recall election to do so.
