New city attorney selected by NLV

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 10:59 a.m.

A former lawyer for the attorney general's office and Del Web Corp. has been chosen as the new city attorney for North Las Vegas.

Sean McGowan, a Henderson resident, was selected to fill the position at Wednesday's City Council meeting, ending a six month search. McGowan will begin after the first of the year, subject to the council approving his contract at its Dec. 15 meeting.

Past city attorneys have reported directly to the city manager, but a change in the city charter that became effective Oct. 1 requires the city attorney report to the council.

Since late June, members of the city's staff had been looking for a new city attorney, including applicants from city staff and outside attorneys. Richard Maurer retired from the position in August, and since then Mark Zalaoras has been serving as acting city attorney.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith and City Manager Pat Importuna were chosen to study the prospect of privatizing the position and sought interested parties in October. But to avoid violating an attorney general's opinion that said a firm cannot be hired to represent a city, the council decided to continue with the city's traditional hiring practice of keeping the city attorney on city staff.

Smith said 14 applications were considered, including Zalaoras, but McGowan was selected because of his extensive years in government.

"McGowan will be another addition to the changing face of this city," she said.

McGowan, a Nevada lawyer for 21 years, has been a partner of the firm of Schreck & Morris, which deals with government land and growth issues in Clark County. He also has worked in the attorney general's office and was assistant general council for Del Web Corp. in Phoenix and Las Vegas.

"I really need to get involved and see what the directions are from the council," he said.

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question