Importuna quits as NLV city manager

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 11:20 a.m.

The sudden resignation of North Las Vegas City Manager Pat Importuna will not create a leadership vacuum because experienced department heads are in place and are doing a solid job, City Councilwoman Shari Buck said Thursday.

Buck also said it is her hope that Importuna's replacement will come from a local field of candidates, saving the city the time and expense of a national search.

Importuna announced to city staff Thursday that his last day will be July 11 and that he will be using a lot of accumulated vacation between now and then.

On the surface, the City Council had seemed impressed with Importuna's performance. One year into a six-year contract, Importuna was given a $10,000 raise last month, bringing his salary to $135,000. The council also said that he had been doing an excellent job.

Sources within City Hall, however, said Importuna's departure was because of a heated conflict with several council members.

But Importuna said the decision was simply his re-evaluation of his career and desire to explore other opportunities.

"It's a good time in my career to move along," he said.

Importuna was hired in January 1999 after serving as acting city manager for five months. His departure follows the city's bout with former City Manager Linda Hinson.

The council voted 4-1 not to renew Hinson's contract in July 1998. No reason was given. Hinson was earning $121,178 annually.

Hinson has sued the city and the City Council in District Court, saying she is entitled to six months of salary and severance pay. She is also seeking $1 million in punitive damages. The lawsuit claims that Hinson, who is black, was the victim of race and gender bias.

How the City Council will conduct a search for a new city manager is undecided. In replacing Hinson, the city spent $20,000 on a nationwide search before choosing Importuna.

"My hope is we can find someone locally," Buck said. "I think we have the talent here in the valley. With our growth and the stability of council, it would be an exciting place to be."

Council member William Robinson, who called last year's search a waste of taxpayers' dollars, said this morning that he will support looking for a local candidate to replace Importuna.

Council members said they were disappointed to hear the news.

"Obviously, I feel very sad about it, but Pat's doing what's best for Pat," council member Stephanie Smith said. "We are still moving in the same direction as we always have, I don't think it will affect the leadership of the city. It's not going to set us back. We can only move forward."

Importuna said he reassured the council he will help in whatever way possible to make the transition as painless as possible.

"In the interim, the City Council will not even blink," he said. "They will find a good city manger in due time."

Buck said she didn't see the departure as a shake-up, but more of a desire by Importuna to move on.

"I wish him well," she said. "He came at a very chaotic time and got us going on a good path. He has brought in some very high-quality department heads who are running things well. That's one of the reasons we aren't going to skip a beat."

Diana Sahagun covers North Las Vegas for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2320 or by e-mail at diana@lasvegassun.com