Mack, Weekly take oath of office

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999 | 11:08 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council will enter the next century a younger and more diverse board thanks to the swearing in this morning of Lawrence Weekly and Michael Mack to two newly created seats.

Children packed the chambers this morning as evidence not just of Mack and Weekly's young families, but as a symbol of the importance youth will play in their decisions.

"I feel extremely humbled and blessed," said Weekly, 35, after he was sworn into office by Mayor Oscar Goodman with his wife, Kim, daughter, Kenya, son, Malik, and godparents at his side.

"I will give 100 percent to do my very, very best," Weekly added.

Mack, 36, who was joined at the ceremony by toddler sons, Austin and Aaron, wife, Jody and his parents, said that he planned to work with residents of the new Ward 6 to ensure that future growth decisions are given the thoughtful response they deserve.

"I will work to make Las Vegas a better place to live and raise our children," Mack said, reading from a prepared statement because he said he was nervous. "Allow me to earn your trust, for me there's no greater reward."

Both men will officially take office in January -- when the new ward 5 and 6 boundaries take effect.

For only the second time in its history, two blacks -- Weekly and Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald -- will be seated on the council dais. Frank Hawkins and Ken Brass were the first blacks appointed to the board, and both served during at the same time in the early 90s.

And for the first time, the council is comprised of those from diverse religious backgrounds and predominantly of people with public sector experience.

Weekly currently works as Councilman Gary Reese's ward liaison while Mack, a local businessman, serves on the Planning Commission. Councilman Larry Brown and Boggs McDonald also have public sector experience.

Mack and Goodman are Jewish, Weekly is Baptist, Reese is Mormon and Brown, Boggs McDonald and Michael McDonald are Catholic.

This morning's ceremony was high on pomp and circumstance, but with enough children in the chambers to produce some levity and a light-hearted holiday mood.

Mack's son Aaron yelled Daddy several times during Mack's speech, drawing giggles from the packed chambers.

Malik Weekly's 23-student strong pre-Kindergarten class took up the second and third rows of the chamber and swung their tiny legs in excitement as they watched their classmate's father take on a position of civic power.

Weekly's niece and nephew flew in from Saudi Arabia, where they are stationed in the military, to take part in the family's biggest political moment to date.

The Las Vegas City Council was forced to expand by two seats due to legislation signed into law requiring such an expansion provided the voters approved of the measure.

Voters did that in June and set into motion a highly-contested race for the appointments. Mack and Weekly prevailed after months of interviews.

"It's been a long, complicated, convoluted and sometimes confusing process that's brought us here today," Mack said.

The process also is being used as ammunition to seek legislation that would require vacancies on the council be filled by election.

In addition to the swearing in ceremony this morning, the council approved $98,498 to fund the salary and benefits for Mack and Weekly and another $356,691 to fund five management analysts and two senior executive assistants for the new councilmen.

Mack, a graduate of Earl Wooster High School in Reno and the University of Southern California, has more than 15 years experience in small business. He owns several local pawnshops and boutiques.

Weekly, a Western High School and Grambling State University graduate, serves as director of the Kappa Leadership League Guide Right Program for Youth and hosts a Saturday radio program.

Ward 5 includes the city's historic west side and a portion of downtown while Ward 6 in the city's northernmost and fastest-growing region.