Four candidates file early for municipal judge seat

Judy Odierna

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

The competition for a vacant municipal judge seat is shaping up as the city of Las Vegas' most crowded race in the upcoming election.

The seat for Las Vegas Municipal Judge Department 6 had drawn four candidates after Tuesday's first day of filing. The seat was vacated by Jessie Walsh, who was elected to District Court in November,

Those seeking the seat so far are: Bill Gonzalez, a Clark County public defender; Bill Henderson, an attorney who has run unsuccessfully for several judicial seats, most recently last November for Family Court judge; attorney Stefany Miley; and Abbi Silver, who is currently a chief deputy district attorney. Silver ran unsuccessfully for district attorney last year.

The last day to declare a candidacy is Feb. 7. The primary election is April 8, and the general election is June 3.

"I'm just ready to take my experience to the bench right now," Silver said. "I'm very excited about the race. I'm just looking at taking the bench at the end."

Incumbents in the other three municipal judge seats, which are open, also filed Tuesday and are currently running unopposed. They include: Toy R. Gregory for Department 1; George Assad for Department 3; and Bert Brown for Department 4. All of the seats are for six-year terms, except for Department 3, which is a two-year term.

As of Tuesday, the only Las Vegas City Council incumbents who had filed were Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilman Michael McDonald, but councilmen Lawrence Weekly and Gary Reese are expected to run again as well. Their seats are four-year terms.

Goodman and McDonald have drawn opponents.

In the mayoral race, longtime City Hall watcher Tom McGowan threw his hat into the ring. McGowan ran unsuccessfully against Goodman in 1999 and raised no campaign contributions during that race. Goodman has already raised more than $750,000 for his re-election campaign.

Because he is running for office again, Goodman's weekly news conferences will not air on KCLV Channel 2 per the city's communication policy.

McDonald will face Paul C. Chomintra, an political newcomer, in Ward 1.

McDonald was surrounded by a slew of supporters, from relatives to union representatives, when he declared his candidacy. He said he plans to run an aggressive campaign.

"It wasn't too long ago that I was a virtual unknown," McDonald said. "We don't take anything lightly."

In North Las Vegas, only City Council members William Robinson and Shari Buck filed to run for re-election.

In Henderson, incumbent Councilman Andy Hafen will face challenger Rocco Tucker for the Ward 2 seat. Councilman Steven D. Kirk also began his bid for re-election to Ward 4 and Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers is expected to run again for Ward 1.

Douglas Hedger filed to run for municipal judge in Henderson. The position is currently held by John Provost.

Boulder City Mayor Robert Ferraro will run for another term in and so far has no challengers.

Roger Tobler, Anthony Pakula and Scott Beringer will vie for the two seats on the Boulder City Council. Candidates run at-large. Councilmen Bryan Nix and Doug Scheppmann, who was appointed to the council after Joe Hardy was elected to the state assembly, had not filed as of Tuesday.