New city manager plans to streamline government

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 | 9 a.m.

The new city manager of Las Vegas, Doug Selby, says he will strive to streamline the city's operations and come up with innovative approaches to doing business.

Selby, who has served as deputy city manager since July 1999, said he has a different approach to how a city should be run, not using the "textbook" method of having the city manager run the city and the council set policy. Selby said the council should have continued involvement in the day-to-day needs of the city in partnership with the city manager.

"The city of Las Vegas should have a collaborative effort between the city manager and elected officials," he said.

Selby on Wednesday was selected unanimously by the City Council to become the new city manager from a field of four candidates. A fifth candidate, consultant Jose "Pepe" Charles, dropped out of the running last week.

Selby will take the place of Virginia Valentine, who resigned from her job May 31. She has since taken a position with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm thrilled, I'm flattered, I'm honored to be selected," Selby said.

In making the recommendation, the council members applauded Selby for his "remarkable leadership," adding that he was well respected in the community and inside City Hall.

"Seniority-wise, Selby steps right in there," Councilman Gary Reese said. "He will be a very good city manager for us."

Councilman Larry Brown said he heard praise for Selby from City Hall employees and from the private sector, who called Selby a credible leader.

"Doug has a quiet strength that perhaps is needed right now," Brown said. "He's the right man for the job. As an individual he has established himself as someone the community can trust and can represent this council and its policies."

Selby joined the city in July 1999 after spending 10 years with the Las Vegas Valley Water District, initially as director of engineering for the Water District, and later as the first director of engineering for the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Fifteen candidates applied for the city manager position, and the list was narrowed down to five. The council selected Selby from a list that included Las Vegas Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell, Boulder City Manager John Sullard, and E. Louis Overstreet, executive director of the Urban Chamber of Commerce.

The salary range for the city manager position is $102,599 to $170,997.