Candidates gear up for election

Lisa Snedeker and Erin Neff

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999 | 11:11 a.m.

Call this the year of the incumbents.

Filings for area municipal offices opened today and all of the incumbents with the exception of the Las Vegas mayor have said they plan to try to hold on to their respective seats.

The filing deadline for the May 4 primary is March 5 at 5 p.m. The general election is June 8.

All city races are nonpartisan.

Las VegasThe field in the Las Vegas mayoral race was left wide open with the announcement from Jan Laverty Jones that she would not seek a third term.

Former Clark County Commission Chairman Jay Bingham and City Councilman Arnie Adamsen already have begun maneuvering for votes.

Bingham has begun advertising in the media and on roadside signs. Adamsen has quietly been raising funds. The two will be interviewed tonight on Las Vegas 1, which cable TV viewers can find on Channel 39. The newscast begins at 9 p.m. and is repeated at 10 p.m. and midnight.

Other announced candidates for mayor include former City Councilman Steve Miller, former Henderson mayor Cruz Olague and radio talk show host Frank LaSpina.

Criminal defense attorney Oscar Goodman and local developer Mark Fine are considering entering the race. Aaron Russo, who ran against Gov. Kenny Guinn last year in a Republican primary race, said Monday he had decided to stay out of the race.

Las Vegas voters also will elect two City Council members.

Mayor Pro Tem Michael McDonald has no announced opposition in Ward 1, and he plans to file his paperwork for candidacy today.

In Ward 3, incumbent Gary Reese has token opposition in Charles "Doc" Broadus.

Municipal Court judges will be elected in Departments 1, 3, 4 and 6.

The only ballot question anticipated in Las Vegas will ask voters if the City Council should be expanded from four to six members.

Henderson

In Henderson, the valley's next largest city, City Council members Amanda Cyphers, Andy Hafen and David Wood have said they intend to run for their four-year seats. Also up for election is the Department 2 Municipal Court judgship held by John Provost.

Ann Barron, the city's former economic development director, has formally announced she will file to run for Hafen's Ward 2 seat. Hafen, who is the longest-sitting councilman, is running for his fourth term.

Cyphers and Wood are running for their second terms. No one has formally announced that they plan to run against either.

All council members run at large, but they must live in the ward where they run.

North Las Vegas

If predictions are any indication, the North Las Vegas municipal race could turn out to be the most contentious.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith among others said she is anticipating up to 18 residents will file to run for the at-large seats held by Councilwoman Paula Brown and Councilman William Robinson, who have announced they plan to run again.

Robinson will be running for his fifth term, while Brown is running for her second.

Among those who say they plan on filing for a council position are former City Manager Linda Hinson and present Planning Commissioners Chris Montanez and Shari Buck.

Boulder City

Boulder City residents for the first time in the city's history will choose their mayor this spring.

In the past, the mayor has been chosen by his fellow council members.

Mayor Bob Ferraro, who is serving his fourth term as mayor, said he hopes to be the first to be elected to the office by a vote of the people.

All candidates run at large.

Councilmen Bryan Nix and Robert Kenneston have said they plan to run for second terms in their respective four-year seats.

Among those who have said they are considering a run for a council seat are Tom Whelan and Tom Basinger.

Among the ballot initiatives is a controversial one asking that residents be allowed to vote on leases of city-owned land.

The Boulder City Library District plans on asking for its first bond issue to help finance the construction of a new library.