James, Reid vow a fresh look at land-use policies

Erin Neff

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 9:24 a.m.

Two new commissioners will take their seats on the Clark County Commission on Monday, and hopes are that they will provide a fresh start after weeks of land-use controversies.

Republican Mark James and Democrat Rory Reid will be sworn in at 9 a.m. Monday, replacing Democrats Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny.

Herrera and Kenny had unsuccessfully sought higher office in the Nov. 5 election. Their replacements are being heralded as no-nonsense lawyers.

"I think they'll both be excellent commissioners," Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said of his fellow attorneys.

"They're both reasonable, consensus-building guys," Woodbury said. "I just think we're looking at a fresh start, and they both expressed to me that they want to make changes to the way we make land-use decisions."

Both Reid and James said they are excited about the challenges they face creating sound land-use policy and paying the bills in tough financial times.

"The County Commission is the front line in the battle to protect our quality of life," said Reid, son of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. "It has a lot to do with what everybody's day is going to be like every morning."

James said he thinks the responsibilities of the commission are "rife with challenges."

"In this area of land-use, I really want to listen to the people who elected me and to their concerns," James said. "I'm going to bring some new ideas to the county."

James also said he wants to have a meeting among staff, the town boards, planning commissioners, citizens and developers to discuss land-use issues and potential reforms.

Woodbury, James and Reid will be joined on the commission by flower shop owner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, the new chairwoman of the board; Yvonne Atkinson Gates, an employee of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Chip Maxfield, an engineer; and retiree Myrna Williams.

Reid, Kincaid-Chauncey, Atkinson Gates and Williams now will make up the Democratic majority on the commission, but the commission typically acts in nonpartisan fashion.