Kenneston ready for his shot at mayor

Jace Radke

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 11:23 a.m.

After a four-year term as a Boulder City councilman, Robert Kenneston has decided it's his time to take a shot at the mayor's seat.

The challenge of becoming mayor and continuing his journey through the political process is not something Kenneston takes lightly, because it's something that has been ingrained in him for a long time.

"I guess it started for me in the 1948 presidential election," Kenneston said. "We had a floor model Zenith radio and as a 10-year-old I sat on the floor and listened to the national conventions that went on for days back then.

"I had a spiral notebook that I ruled and copied down every vote. That's the depth that politics is lodged within me."

Kenneston, 60, moved to Boulder City 30 years ago and has amassed a resume that includes 10 years working for the city of Las Vegas Public Works Department and service as chairman of the Boulder City Planning Commission and vice-chairman of the citizens advisory board of the Clark County Flood Control District.

Most of his time in public works was spent as an assistant to the traffic engineer.

Kenneston is also the former chairman of the county's General Obligation Bonds Commission, an agency that scrutinizes governmental bonds before they are issued.

"Working for all the agencies and boards has given me very valuable experience," Kenneston said. "I'm the best qualified and have the broadest background of any of the candidates."

Eric Lundguard, who served two terms as Boulder City mayor beginning in 1991 and 1995, said he will vote for Kenneston in part because of the experience he brings.

"I worked with him on the council for two years and he has always followed through and done what he has said he was going to do," Lundguard said. "He is forthright and up front and has good ideas."

Kenneston is campaigning door-to-door to drum up support for his candidacy and says he has been picking up a feeling that the citizens are ready for a change.

"There's a very real sense of concern from the citizens that the government has moved a little too much toward 'go along to get along' and that it's not rocking the boat," Kenneston said. "We need to recapture and build on the excellence that is the signature of Boulder City."

Kenneston points to the council's passing off on the planting of 15,000 new trees as a good example of recapturing the city's excellence.

"Over the years the town lost 6,000 of its mature trees from neglect," Kenneston said. "We say we are clean green Boulder City, but we were on our way to becoming dirty brown Boulder City.

"Excellence has to be pursued. You don't get there by crossing your arms."

Kenneston says that hard work will be needed to combat the growing problems of high traffic through the city, diminishing tax revenues and having schools that are often forgotten by the Clark County School District.

"I avoid promising a chicken in every pot and two cars in every driveway," Kenneston said. "What I can promise the voters is honesty, courage, energy and motivation."