Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Columnist Jeff German: Broadbent model for politicians

There was a time when being in politics meant you had a higher calling in life -- to serve the public.

Bob Broadbent was one of those rare politicians who believed in that calling.

He actually treated public office as a public trust, which is a trait that is lacking among many of today's elected officials.

It's a shame that every member of the Las Vegas City Council and the Clark County Commission couldn't have sat down with Broadbent before his death to get a better understanding of what it takes to serve the public.

They would have learned that it takes character, honesty, dedication and commitment -- all qualities Broadbent displayed during his nearly 40 years in public office as mayor of Boulder City, chairman of the Clark County Commission, member of the Reagan administration and director of McCarran International Airport.

These political virtues are timeless, but they don't seem to be in style these days.

It's also hard today to find politicians with Broadbent's vision.

In the 1970s, Broadbent was one of the first local officials to suggest that more enforcement was needed to rid the casino industry of the mob's influence. Organized crime was well entrenched on the Strip at the time and put political heat on Broadbent. But Broadbent never backed away, and years later the mob was driven from the industry.

Broadbent's push for better convention facilities as a means of diversifying tourism also met with resistance. In those days, some of his short-sighted colleagues saw Las Vegas only as a gambling town. Today, conventions play a vital role in the city's economy.

When Broadbent returned to Las Vegas from Washington, he envisioned the airport as one day becoming the hub of the tourism industry, so he took the reins of the airport and accomplished that goal in less than a decade.

Not every local official today lacks vision. Mayor Oscar Goodman, for example, is leading efforts to revitalize downtown, and County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury is working to make sure the valley's transportation system keeps up with growth.

But very few politicians can boast of having all of Broadbent's attributes, which is a shame because that should be the goal of every politician.

It's almost as though the most important reason for running for office is not what you can give to others, but what you can take for yourself.

With all of the lucrative consulting contracts there for the taking, local politics has become a lottery of sorts for people looking to get ahead financially.

I could rattle off the usual list of officials who fall into this class, but if you've been following this space and the words of other political pundits, you already know the names. The FBI, which is looking into possible political corruption, also is familiar with the list.

In his day on the County Commission from 1968 through 1980, Bob Broadbent was well aware of the power of special interests. But what sets him apart from his political colleagues of today is that he didn't take orders from them.

He catered to no one but himself and his constituents.

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