Tarkanian joins initiative drive

(AP) - Danny Tarkanian says he'll spearhead Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons' petition drive in Southern Nevada to require open public sector collective bargaining sessions.

Tarkanian, who lost last month's U.S. Senate GOP primary, says he met with Gibbons shortly afterward to offer his assistance.

He agreed to take over the petition signature collection drive in Clark County and to have some of his volunteers work in other counties.

Backers must collect 97,000 signatures by Nov. 9 to send the measure to the 2011 Legislature. If lawmakers reject it or take no action, it would go to voters in 2012.

The petition would make local governments, school districts and unions bargaining on behalf of public employees subject to the open meeting law.