Campaign season begins as candidates file for office

Judy Odierna and Dan Kulin

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

The 2003 campaign season in Southern Nevada cities officially opens today, with the beginning of candidate filings at area city halls.

The mayor's office is at stake in Las Vegas and Boulder City, and both Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Boulder City Mayor Robert Ferraro have announced their intentions to seek re-election.

Goodman, who has already raised more than $750,000 in campaign contributions, was expected to file this afternoon. Ferraro filed early this morning.

Ten city council seats and five Municipal Court judge positions are also up for grabs in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City. Many incumbents are expected to run again, and several challengers have emerged in some races.

Primary elections will be held April 8. General elections will be June 3. Candidates in Las Vegas and Henderson can file at their respective city halls 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through Feb. 7. In Boulder City, it's 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday through Feb. 6, and in North Las Vegas, it's 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday through Feb. 7.

In North Las Vegas council members William Robinson and Shari Buck filed for re-election this morning, and both are expected to face competition.

Nelson Stone, a member of the city Planning Commission, has announced his intention to run against Robinson in the city's Ward 2, which Robinson has represented since 1983.

In Ward 4 Bill Dolan has mounted a challenge against Buck, who is ending her first term in office.

In the Las Vegas municipal election, Councilmen Michael McDonald of Ward 1, Gary Reese of Ward 3 and Lawrence Weekly of Ward 5 are planning to run for re-election. McDonald was expected to file at 10 a.m. today with a throng of supporters in tow.

Several Las Vegas Municipal Court judge positions area also up this term. They include Department 1, currently held by Toy Gregory, Department 3 held by George Assad, Department 4 held by Bert Brown, and a vacant Department 6, which opened up after Jessie Walsh was elected to District Court in November. Each term is for six years except for Department 3, which is a two-year term.

In Henderson, council members Amanda Cyphers, Andy Hafen and Steven D. Kirk see their terms come to an end this year.

Rocco Tucker, a small-business owner and former Marine, filed a challenge to Hafen this morning in the city's Ward 2. Hafen also filed this morning.

Cyphers is also expected to seek re-election.

Henderson Municipal Judge John Provost also must decide whether to seek another term. This morning Douglas Hedger filed for the seat.

In Boulder City voters will decide how to fill the seats of Councilmen Bryan Nix and Doug Scheppmann for the next four years. Nix is expected to run again, but Scheppmann is filling the unexpired term of Joe Hardy, who was elected to the Assembly. Roger Tobler filed this morning for a council seat.

The filing fees for all candidates is $100, except in Boulder City, where it is $50. North Las Vegas candidates pay an extra $25 fee if they wish to post political signs.

Those wishing to seek a council seat in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson must reside in the ward they are running in for at least 30 days before the Feb. 7 deadline. Boulder City does not have wards.

Each candidate for Municipal Court judge must be an attorney licensed to practice law in Nevada and must live within the city for at least 30 days before the Feb. 7 deadline. Judges are elected citywide.