Fallout from Franklin's announcement

Republicans Peter Van Nortwick and Daniel Weaver jumped into the race for Clark County Assessor to defeat Linda Franklin.

When Franklin said on June 2 that she will not be seeking a third term and that the fact she’s undergoing treatment for breast cancer was a deciding factor, Van Nortwick and Weaver issued press releases.

Weaver wrote that he “expresses deep sadness to learn that Linda Franklin is ill,” and that his “best wishes go out to her and her family.” Weaver also expressed dismay that Clark County Commissioner Tom Mielke criticized Franklin’s budget management “in favor of a candidate that has little experience managing people or a budget of this magnitude.” Mielke has endorsed Van Nortwick, whose press release following Franklin’s announcement proclaimed himself as the frontrunner now that Franklin was out of the race.

On June 3, Janet Seekins, a senior residential appraiser in the assessor’s office, said she would be running as a Democrat.

Van Nortwick issued another press release, this time accusing Seekins of screwing up an appraisal.

Whether Seekins did mess up may be decided in part by Weaver, who serves on the Clark County Board of Equalization, where property owners go to appeal their assessed values. Darren Wertz, clerk of the board, said the case in question is pending appeal.

— Stephanie Rice