Forum scheduled for public to hear LV mayoral candidates

Erin Neff

Wednesday, March 31, 1999 | 11:29 a.m.

The city's most recognizable criminal defense attorney will share a stage Monday night with a relatively unknown City Hall watcher during a mayoral candidates forum designed to give every candidate a voice.

A mayoral forum featuring eight of the nine candidates will be held at 7 p.m. at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

The Charleston Neighborhood Preservation group is sponsoring the forum, which offers the audience a chance to ask questions in an effort to learn more about all of the candidates.

"We're very concerned about our votes being purchased," said Juanita Clark, Charleston Neighborhood Preservation president. "The candidates are on TV and out there with flashy signs. In essence, our vote is being purchased."

Councilman Arnie Adamsen, developer Mark Fine and criminal defense attorney Oscar Goodman -- who are the candidates running the most visible campaigns -- are scheduled to attend.

But radio talk show host Frank LaSpina, City Council watcher Tom McGowan, former Henderson mayor Cruz Olague and West Las Vegas community activist Anthony Snowden are also scheduled to attend. The ninth candidate, Hillary Milko, has been invited, but did not confirm his attendance, Clark said.

"We're a neighborhood that depends on our elected leaders to maintain our status," Clark said. "We want to hear why each thinks he would be the best mayor."

Each candidate will speak for three minutes on "Why I want to be mayor." Then the audience will be allowed to ask questions. Candidates will have the opportunity to ask each other questions and then all candidates will give a two-minute closing speech.

Clark will moderate the event.

Las Vegas 1 will broadcast the forum live on cable channels 1 and 39 in an effort to showcase the candidates' views on issues in a longer format than the sound bites typically found on television.