North Las Vegas elections changes discussed

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Four Democratic Assembly members and a former assemblywoman told the Senate Government Affairs Committee on Monday that the election process should be changed in North Las Vegas.

Too much of the political power is now centered in the developing area north of Cheyenne Avenue, and the older sections of the city are losing out, said current Assembly members Kelvin Atkinson, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Bob McCleary and Moises Denis and former Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning.

They supported Assembly Bill 197 that would require that the four City Council members be elected from their districts. The Assembly members have all or part of North Las Vegas in their districts.

However, North Las Vegas officials told the committee that there has not been a call from citizens to change the present makeup in which City Council members live in the district they represent but are elected at large by the entire city population.

North Las Vegas City Manager Gregory Rose said the city developed a "vision" plan during the past 20 months with numerous meetings and the involvement of many citizens. He said there was never any discussion about changing the city's election system.

Rose said North Las Vegas was being singled out because other cities have the same election system.

The committee is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday.

Kirkpatrick said 70 percent of the population lives north of Cheyenne Avenue, and those below that street "are not getting full representation."

Atkinson said said the city's population is now 165,000 and each ward would have about 41,000 people.

McCleary said although a councilman must live in a district now, he or she must spend most of their time in the growing area.

Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, said her city has the same system as North Las Vegas does now. She said there is less divisiveness and less bickering on the council.

Former North Las Vegas Police Chief and Gaming Control Board Chairman James Avance, who has lived in North Las Vegas, advocated keeping things the same. He said there are 14 parks and two swimming pools south of Cheyenne Avenue and 10 parks and one pool north of the street. He said many of the public buildings are in the "mature" section of the city.

But Atkinson said Avance's daughter Shari Buck now serves on the council that is opposed to any election change.