Withers tries to thwart third term on council for Smith

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 | 10:58 a.m.

Stephanie Smith

Democrat.

Age: 47.

Occupation: Orchestra teacher at Saville Middle School in Las Vegas.

Endorsements: North Las Vegas Police officers, North Las Vegas firefighters, Central Labor Committee, and Metro Police Manager Supervisor Association.

Jean Withers

Republican.

Age: 64.

Occupation: Housewife and hostess for U.S. Homes.

Endorsements: 100 Black Men4s Club and Black Real Estate Brokers.

Jean Withers said North Las Vegas Councilwoman Stephanie Smith has done a good job, but that hasn't stopped her from trying to unseat the two-term incumbent.

Withers said the reputation of the city and its credibility has improved, and she wants to keep the community on that track.

"We are two different people, and we don't have the same ideas," Withers said "In some ways, it can't hurt to bring in fresh ideas on the council."

Smith, a former assemblywoman, said the city is on the right track and she wants to do more in a third term such as focus on improving streets and parks and building a senior center. She admits Las Vegas Valley cities have been behind the growth curve for a long time, but they are going as fast as they can to catch up and meet the needs of residents.

"We have had successes, but there is still a lot of work to be done," Smith said. "We have grown 100,000 in the last eight years, and when you are dealing with that, you can be the best government in the world and you are going to have problems. All those people coming in here have instant demands and everything follows behind."

To be elected, Withers will have to overcome Smith's incumbency that has given her name recognition and with it plenty of cash in her campaign kitty. Since 2003 and through March 24, Smith has raised nearly $170,000. That's well above the $5,950 raised by Withers, most of it her own funds.

The Nevada lawmakers are considering legislation that would require council members be elected from voters within a particular ward than the city as a whole, and Withers said she supports that concept. She said she agrees with complaints that mature areas of the city have been overlooked and haven't received enough funding and support from North Las Vegas.

"There are some roads in disrepair that have terrible potholes and rough surfaces and need to be improved," Withers said. "We need a general upkeep of buildings and not allow them to be left vacant for the homeless."

The city needs to consider strengthening its codes so property owners do a better job of maintaining their buildings, Withers said. She also criticized the city for allowing haphazard zoning and approving zoning changes from residential to commercial and vice versa.

Smith said no areas of the city are being neglected but that doesn't mean more can't be done. Some problems are tough to overcome because of the difficulty of regulating how people care for their properties, Smith said.

As for the proposed legislation, Smith said the city should ultimately go to a ward system with council members elected by residents within it. But she said it's wrong for lawmakers to single out North Las Vegas for the legislation, and that it should apply to all cities over a certain size, including Henderson.

"Otherwise, it seems like what they are doing is political," Smith said.