Mayor has no favorite for council seat

Sito Negron

Friday, April 2, 2004 | 9:47 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday he had no favorite to succeed Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald on the City Council.

"I'm like a coach -- I'm looking for the best athlete," Goodman said during his news conference Thursday.

He said while the candidates talked about publicly are people with ties to the development community -- for example, developer Todd Nigro, architect Craig Galati and current city planning director Bob Genzer -- others have expressed interest.

Whoever takes the job has to really want to serve, Goodman said. "It's a sacrifice," he said.

He also said it has to be someone who would be committed to running in the next municipal general election, scheduled for 2005.

Gov. Kenny Guinn appointed Boggs McDonald to the Clark County Commission seat vacated by Mark James, who resigned last month. Her last day as a council member is April 20, and city rules give the council 30 days to find her replacement, although Goodman said he didn't want to take the full amount of time allowed.

Of Boggs McDonald, Goodman said: "Nobody's indispensable, including me for sure."

Goodman did not directly answer whether he would support Boggs McDonald in November, when she has to run as a Republican to keep her District F seat, saying he was "sort of happy" that she was going to the county.

When asked whether she would be of help to the city in her position with the county, Goodman said with a smile, "I hope so ... Now I can be able to reach a consensus with her without breaking open meetings laws."

Goodman also addressed issues relating to Neonopolis and the Cleveland Clinic during his Thursday news conference:

Goodman said that it is meant to be an entertainment venue, and he needs to see evidence it's making progress. The city initially invested $32 million in the project. While the contract does not allow the city to take it over, Goodman said the mall owes the city $16 million to $20 million, which the city could pursue.

The project began under former Mayor Jan Jones. Goodman said Thursday he would protect the city's money, "even though it's not my project."