NLV: Hearing planned on City Council change

Lisa Snedeker

Thursday, April 1, 1999 | 11:13 a.m.

North Las Vegas residents who want to have a say in how their City Council members are elected will have a chance Friday.

That's when the Legislature's Assembly Government Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Assembly Bill 590, which would revise the North Las Vegas City Charter.

The hearing, at which residents can testify, will be simulcast at 8 a.m. in Room 4412 of the Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave.

Currently the four-year council seats are elected at-large. The proposed amendment to the charter would designate the seats by the numbers 1 through 4 for election purposes, meaning a candidate would have to run for a particular council seat, much like Henderson where candidates must live in the ward in which they run for office.

As soon as is practical after Oct. 1, 1999, the four council members, who would still be elected at-large, would draw lots to determine the number of the City Council seat that they would hold.

Councilman William Robinson, who is running for re-election, is furious about the bill's introduction.

"The city (officials) should be the ones to vote on this and they have," he said earlier, referring to the City Council's rejection of the proposed changes. "I'm livid they are trying to change this (election rules)."

So is resident Joanna Wesley, who along with other residents, plans to testify Friday.

"I think it (the bill) is a waste of the Legislature's time and the taxpayers' money," she said.

Councilman John Rhodes, on the other hand, said he supports the bill that was introduced by committee because he believes the current city election process is antiquated.

"It also would make the council person more accountable to the people," he said.

Wesley, however, says she believes it would not make members more accountable, but instead it would allow candidates to know who their opponents would be ahead of time.

Rhodes said the bill would create a more balanced voting system because residents now often use a single-shot -- only voting for one candidate -- which empowers their vote, thus making it worth more.