Council hopefuls get head start

Dan Kulin

Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

Bill Dolan is so intent on trying to unseat North Las Vegas Councilwoman Shari Buck that he moved from his home of more than 10 years just to qualify to run against her.

Dolan has an apartment now in Buck's Ward 4. His home had been in Ward 2, which meant he could have run against that district's longtime representative on the council, William Robinson.

Dolan's move did not spare Robinson from an early challenge, however. Nelson Stone, a member of the North Las Vegas Planning Commission, has begun a run in Ward 2.

Dolan and Stone have launched their campaigns to replace Buck and Robinson, even though filing for the offices does not begin until Jan. 28.

Ted Jelen, chairman of the political science department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said that for candidates, announcing early has its advantages -- such as scaring off other potential challengers and showing prospective donors you're serious.

In North Las Vegas, the two early challengers are mounting their first runs for public office.

"If you're a challenger like me," Stone said, "it's probably a good idea to get your name out there early."

Stone, 43, said he is running for the council because he thinks Robinson, on the council since 1983, has been in office too long.

"I believe anybody in a position that length of time, their ideas become stale," Stone said.

Robinson, 62, said he has heard that criticism before.

"This is America and everyone's entitled to their own opinion," he said.

Robinson said if re-elected he would work to bolster redevelopment in the older parts of the city.

Stone said that if he replaces Robinson he would try to improve communication between the council and the city advisory boards by increasing the number of times the council meets with the boards.

Dolan, on the other hand, has his sights set on Buck.

"That's the only reason I moved," Dolan said.

He said his displeasure with Buck is a "culmination of things."

"I don't think personally she works or plays well with others," Dolan said. "We just don't share the same ideas on how the city and residents should be represented."

He cited Buck's criticism of the public release of information about a March 2000 police-involved shooting as an example. The public should not be kept in the dark on such matters, Dolan said.

Buck said she was upset because a former city employee released information about the case before the city agreed to a settlement.

She said she doesn't know why Dolan is so set on trying to defeat her.

Buck, 42, is in her first term in office. She said if re-elected she would work to build another library, bolster the police and fire departments, and increase parks and recreational facilities throughout the city.

Before his move, Dolan, 48, was president of the Hidden Canyon Homeowners Association. He said advocacy of libraries will be one plank of his campaign.

North Las Vegas' elected officials serve staggered four-year terms. The terms of Robinson and Buck end June 30, while the terms for the mayor and the other two council members end June 30, 2005.

Candidates for council wards 2 and 4 can file to run for office from Jan. 28 to Feb. 7. The primary election, which is held if there are more than two candidates from a ward, is on April 8. The general election is June 3.