Many issues put before suburban voters

Jeffrey Libby

Friday, March 16, 2001 | 11:10 a.m.

Key dates

Primary election, Tuesday, April 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

General election, Tuesday, June 5, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting for the primary runs Saturday, March 17 to Friday, March 30.

Call your local City Hall for polling locations.

Suburban voters will have a chance to decide whether to approve millions of dollars in new taxes and, in some cases, weigh in on City Hall ethics issues when early voting for municipal primary elections opens Saturday.

But that doesn't mean they'll go to the polls.

In fact, with municipal primaries to open a month early statewide this year -- April 3 -- voter turnout could be even lighter than usual in the Las Vegas Valley suburbs. The general election is scheduled June 5.

In 1999, the last time municipal elections were held, roughly 16 percent of registered voters in Henderson and North Las Vegas showed up to vote in primary and general elections.

That amounted to a poor showing when compared to the 70 percent who voted across Clark County in the November 2000 presidential election.

But the low turnout can't be attributed to a lack of local issues or contested City Council seats.

In Henderson this June 5, voters will likely decide on a public safety tax initiative that would put more than 200 new police officers and fire personnel on the streets at a projected cost of $850 million over 30 years.

Voters narrowly defeated a similar initiative in November, but City Council members have voiced strong, if guarded, support for floating the same initiative just seven months later. They are expected to formally approve the initiative for the ballot March 20.

Henderson voters also face a tax initiative from the Henderson District Public Libraries that would raise about $80 million over the same period to build and operate six libraries.

The two initiatives combined would cost the average owner of a $100,000 home in Henderson about $98 annually.

In North Las Vegas voters won't have to contend with new taxes for expanded services, but they will vote on whether to spread thinner the same taxes they approved in 1995 -- $84 annually for a $100,000 home -- to cover street improvements over 30 years. City Council members now want clearance to put that same money toward capital improvements of fire and park services, as well.

Boulder City voters -- about 50 percent of eligible voters are expected to go to the polls -- will decide whether to uphold controversial salary hikes City Council members voted for themselves in July. In a move that would set a precedent locally and across the state, the mayor and two council members would see significant raises without having to stand for re-election if two initiatives to nullify the raises don't get voter support.

Voters valleywide will decide several contested races for City Council seats and for municipal court judge.

The following is a city-by-city breakdown of contested races in the valley.

North Las Vegas

Incumbents here will have to fend off challenges from several sides to keep their elected seats. The mayor, two City Council members and a municipal court judge all face at least two challengers.

Incumbent Mayor Michael Montandon is running for his second four-year term against three candidates.

John 3:16 Cook, a homeless advocate, and Mark Crabtree Sr., a land surveyor, hope to unseat the freshman mayor. Glen Easter, who lost a campaign for County Commission against Mary Kincaid in November, also is running.

In the two City Council races, incumbents John Rhodes, Ward 1, and Stephanie Smith, Ward 3, face strong challenges.

Rhodes, bogged down by allegations of insurance fraud, is running against four contenders, including former North Las Vegas Councilman Theron Goynes and Robert Eliason, a building inspector and former North Las Vegas Planning Commissioner.

Also running are James Burns, a loan officer and perennial candidate for political office, and LeRoy Pasbrig. In Ward 3, Smith, an elementary school music teacher, is campaigning against two strong candidates. She lost a race for County Commissioner against Mary Kincaid in November.

Mark Kincaid, son of Mary Kincaid and a former political adviser in local races, is running against Smith. Also running is North Las Vegas Planning Commissioner Anita Wood.

Municipal Judge Warren VanLandschoot, a former North Las Vegas homicide detective, is running against three candidates.

Richard Melson, a longtime warrant officer, and Aaron Tippets, a graduate of Rancho High School, both moved here from Las Vegas recently to run for the job.

Attorney Lewis Gazda is also running.

Henderson

Voters here face the prospect of large tax increases but just one contested race for City Council. Barring a repeat of the whisker-close presidential election in Florida in November, the race for City Council, Ward 3 should be settled in the primary election.

In that race, incumbent Jack Clark, a Metro Police detective, is running for a third four-year term based on his help doubling the ranks of the Henderson police, doubling park and recreational facilities and limiting construction of apartment housing. He strongly supports the public safety tax hike.

Political newcomer Jesse Horne, a computer systems analyst and a Henderson native, has suggested a more conservative public safety tax hike.

Two-term Municipal Court Judge Ken Proctor is running against Robert Willis, a pool contractor.

Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, who was also up for re-election, unofficially won his second four-year term in February when filing closed without a challenger.

Boulder City

In the city where slow growth and the status quo reigns, freshman Councilman Mike Pacini faces five challengers for two open seats.

Outgoing Councilman Bill Smith declined to run for re-election after serving one four-year term, leaving the second open seat.

The top four vote-getters in the primary will continue to the general election. From there, the top two candidates will win seats.

The strongest challenges for Pacini could come from political newcomers Andrea Anderson, a well-connected educator, and John Barlow, vice principal at Foothill High School.

Ned Morang, a retired city electrician who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1999, could also make a strong showing.

Wallace Best, a frequent critic of City Council, and Richard Wyman are also running. Both men are long-time university educators.

Jeffrey Libby

is a reporter for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4063 or by e-mail at jlibby@lasvegassun.com