Ramirez challenges Montandon

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 | 11:08 a.m.

Mike Montandon

Age: 41.

Occupation: Sales and marketing for Nevada Construction Services.

Endorsements: North Las Vegas Police officers, Metro Police Protective Association, Metro Police Manager Supervisor Association, and Nevada Concerned Citizens.

Andres Ramirez

Age: 27.

Occupation: Strategic planning consultant.

Endorsements: North Las Vegas city employees Teamsters Local 14, U.S. Senator Harry Reid, Democracy for America, New Democrat Network, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 357, Nevada Council of Carpenters, United Food & Commercial Workers, Southern Nevada Central Labor Council, International Union of Painters, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4041, and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 720.

Since 2002 and through March, Mayor Mike Montandon has raised more than $352,000 and said he is likely to bring in an additional $150,000 for his re-election bid.

By contrast, Andres Ramirez has raised more than $52,000 through March. He said he expects to double that amount by June 7.

Montandon won in 2001 with 64 percent of the vote when he defeated three challengers. The mayor said he's confident of his re-election, but while Ramriez said he hasn't done any polling, expects a grass-roots campaign to be the difference.

Ramirez hasn't been shy about criticizing the incumbent, including referring to him as a "dictator" of the council who tries to silence fellow council members or citizens if they oppose him.

"I sincerely believe Montandon has shown very poor leadership over the past eight years, and someone needs to address that," Ramirez said. "I have severe disagreements with him about his character, personality and how he is leading the city."

Ramirez has criticized Montandon for not disclosing campaign contributions from developers before voting on zoning changes and projects. He also blasted the mayor for not initially disclosing in his financial statements of his involvement as a board member in the Tonopah & Tidewater railroad company venture in North Las Vegas.

Montandon said the criticisms levied against him by Ramirez are unfounded and that he has been successful as mayor. He said Ramirez hasn't had much success raising money and is now playing politics and saying anything he wants in hopes that it will stick.

"I don't think I have ever seen him in the crowd at one council meeting," Montandon said. "Not only is what he is saying unfair but untrue. Andres is making up lies and trying to get it into print.

"He announced in November that he would have the most aggressive fundraising campaign this city has ever seen. After two or three months, he didn't have much success and decided to change tactics and attack my fundraising."

Montandon said it is impractical for elected officials to disclose campaign contributions they have received from applicants before casting a vote. It is not required by law, and Montandon said no one could remember every contribution they have received. He added that council votes aren't decided by contributions.

As for the railroad company, Montandon said he was asked to be on the board last fall but forgot all about it when he filed his financial disclosure statements. He said there hadn't been any meetings at the time, and he is subsequently resigned as a board member. An amended filing included the board listing, he said.

Ramirez said there's plenty of evidence to show leadership and vision have been lacking in North Las Vegas. He said the city has allowed a hodgepodge of development such as apartments next to industrial zones and said there is overall poor planning.

The city has neglected mature areas of the community by not providing them the services they need, Ramirez said. A bill pending in the Nevada Legislature calls for electing North Las Vegas City Council members by voters within a ward as a way to get more services in older areas of town.

"You have residents living in the mature areas that feel overlooked," Ramirez said. "We have the highest tax rate in the valley, but people feel like they are not seeing anything for what they are paying."

Montandon said the city has said no to zoning changes that create incompatible uses, but admits zoning approved several years ago by past councils have led to inconsistency in the community.

The mayor said no section of the community is being overlooked when it comes to providing services. He criticized Ramirez for playing politics and pushing for a change in state law that would create the ward system.

"I think they just want to make him look better," Montandon said of North Las Vegas Democrats sponsoring the bill.

Taxes and city spending has been a big issue in the campaign, especially when Montandon told state lawmakers to be wary of capping assessed values. He said the city should get to enjoy the economic boom that would generate more tax revenue for the city.

Ramirez said there should be more than enough revenue for hiring more police officers and making improvements the city needs. He said he doesn't know enough about the budget makeup to recommended where cuts can be made, but he said he will put together a team to find the solutions.

Montandon smiles when he hears of Ramirez' proposals for hiring more staff and adding services and facilities so readily. He said funds are limited and costly, saying it costs roughly $1 million to landscape a mile of streets.

"He is going to be a hoot around budget time," Montandon said. "He is not involved and doesn't understand how the process works. Everything is a matter of prioritization."

One way to improve the city, Ramirez said, would be for North Las Vegas to go to a strong-mayor form of government that would hold the elected officials accountable, he said. The mayor should have the right to bring in his own administration.

"The president can bring in his own team, and you have that accountability," Ramirez said. "The average person blames the mayor and not the city manager, and if the public is going to hold you accountable, we should have some of the accountability of who is running the ship."

Montandon said that would be a bad idea for running the city. With a strong mayor, there would be people on the government payroll depending on the re-election of the mayor. Not one person's job is in jeopardy now if the mayor is defeated, Montandon said.

Montandon said he doesn't believe Ramirez has any idea of what a leader is. The mayor said he's shown he's one in serving eight years as mayor.

"I can only imagine that any changes he suggests we make would make us less successful," Montandon said. "We would like to think that we have had a great deal of success."