Group honors new councilwoman

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999 | 9:25 a.m.

Newly appointed Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald was more than feted Tuesday with a luncheon.

Several dozen members of the Professional Black Women's Alliance pledged their support of Boggs McDonald's efforts by vowing, "We've got your back."

The luncheon at The Hop nightclub was designed not just to honor Boggs McDonald for breaking both a glass ceiling and color barrier on the City Council dais, but to allow alliance members to network and unite in support.

"Lynette's appointment will be a milestone in Nevada," said Faye Duncan-Daniel, as she introduced Boggs McDonald following a lunch of fried catfish prepared by Sugar Babes. "She deserves our applause, but more specifically, she deserves our support and she needs to know we've got her back."

Boggs McDonald, a former assistant city manager, became the first woman ever to be sworn in as a City Council member last month when she was appointed to represent Ward 2. A former Miss Oregon who competed for Miss America 10 years ago, Boggs McDonald needed no help working Tuesday's crowd.

"I'm here to pledge to you today, I have your back," Boggs McDonald said. "It's a two-way street."

Boggs McDonald and her husband, Steve, lunched with city officials and greeted local businesswomen who came to the "salute and support" luncheon.

Now the director of community affairs at UNLV, Boggs McDonald said she relied on her education and the support of friends such as Duncan-Daniel, Sarann Knight Preddy, Ida Gaines and Brenda Williams.

Gaines, who works in the office of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Williams, who works for Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., were both thanked for helping calm a political eddy that swirled when Boggs McDonald switched from the Democratic to Republican party.

"It doesn't matter what party you are," Williams said during lunch. "That's like saying I'm not going to support you because you're black or because you're Catholic."

Boggs McDonald said her mother taught her that if you can't bear crosses you can never wear a crown.

"Even though you make sacrifices when you pursue great things or dream big there are people along the way to help carry the burden," Boggs McDonald said.

Hannah Brown, administrator of tenant services at McCarran International Airport, said she thought Boggs McDonald's appointment was "wonderful."