Challengers file for seats on council

Erin Neff and Ed Koch

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

Two Las Vegas City Council members now have serious competition in the upcoming municipal elections.

Also, Nevada Stupak, who had an excellent showing in a losing effort for the Ward 3 council seat in 1999, said he will make a decision by Friday whether to run in Ward 5, where he lives and where he was born.

The Ward 5 race already features several contenders, including current Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who was appointed to the post when the council expanded from five to seven members, and former longtime City Councilman Bob Nolen.

Community activist Louise Helton this morning filed for the Ward 6 seat held by Michael Mack.

Helton, 47, is chairwoman of the board of Classroom on Wheels and president of Family to Family. Both positions are unpaid, but put her in charge of nonprofit organizations with payrolls, budgets and policy concerns, she said.

Mack will likely outspend her, after already raising about $250,000 and sprinkling his signs throughout the ward. But Helton said she believes she can raise enough money to get her ideas out.

Mack, who was appointed to the position, is also facing opposition from James Asche.

In Henderson, Jack Clark, the incumbent Ward 3 city councilman, has filed for reelection. A Metro Police detective, he is seeking a third term. Clark will be opposed by political newcomer Jesse Horne, a Henderson native and computer systems analyst.