Former NLV city manager plans council run

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998 | 11:29 a.m.

Should she be victorious in her upcoming bid for the North Las Vegas City Council, Linda Hinson said today that having been the city's manager would give her "a unique perspective" on the new job.

"I've been thinking a lot about it, and now that I don't have a job, I thought it would be a good time to run for office," Hinson, 50, said.

"No question it would give me a unique perspective having been city manager and then serving as a city councilwoman. I will be out there knocking on doors, drumming up support and trying to get enough votes."

Hinson, a city employee for 19 years whose contract for city manager was not renewed on Oct. 1, has to finish among the top two vote-getters to get one of the four-year, at-large, non-partisan post.

The two councilmen who would be up for re-election in the May 4 general election are William Robinson, the lone dissenting vote on the motion to not renew Hinson's contract, and Paula Brown. Robinson has announced he would seek another term. The general election will be June 8.

Filing for the two available seats will begin Feb. 23.

Hinson said that as of today she has not raised a dime to run for office, nor has she developed a proposed budget or a strategic campaigning plan other than going door-to-door, which is commonly called grass roots campaigning.

She says she is not sure how the resolution of a recent controversy involving an investigation into weather she used her influence to get around building permit laws will affect her campaign.

The publicity, though negative, brought Hinson's name prominently into the public spotlight -- perhaps more so than all she did in her four years as city manager -- and it was resolved without her being charged with any crime.

Late last month, Hinson agreed to sign over a 30-foot right of way for her home to the city for $1, a standard procedure for anyone to receive a building permit, city officials said.

A North Las Vegas Police investigation had resulted over the incident with claims that Hinson committed misconduct in office.

The results of the police probe turned over to the district attorney's office questioned whether Hinson received an advantage concerning the lack of a right of way for her home because of her position as city manager.

The district attorney's office found that there was no evidence Hinson used her authority to influence city employees who issued the permit.

Hinson became assistant city manager in 1988 and was promoted to city manager in 1994. The council did not give a reason for its action not to renew her contract but placed Hinson on paid leave from July 27 through Oct. 1.