Political campaigns grow along with cities

By Mike Trask (contact)

Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 | 7:02 a.m.

Explosive growth in Henderson and North Las Vegas is reshaping political campaigns in those once-sleepy desert outposts, with the communities responding in vastly different ways.

As Henderson's population sprints toward 300,000, the length and cost of its campaigns have grown. Henderson candidates seem to view those changes as inevitable, and even as a sign of the rising importance of the city.

Gerri Schroder announced her candidacy for Henderson City Council in October - four months before the deadline to file for office. She has already raised about $125,000, which puts her within $50,000 of the $178,000 that Henderson Councilman Jack Clark raised for his entire 2005 campaign. The same year, Mayor Jim Gibson raised more than $433,000.

That kind of money means the local barber or the concerned PTA mom have a tougher time making a serious run at a seat - which is why voters in North Las Vegas have taken steps at reform.

The winning candidates in 2005 each raised more than $150,000 in North Las Vegas. Concerned about those costs, voters in November passed a ballot measure dividing the city, the second-fastest growing in the nation, into council districts. Previously, all seats were citywide and all candidates elected at-large.

Voters hoped that carving up the city would give candidates a chance to meet with a larger percentage of voters, and ease the impact of political money.

Here's a look at races in those two cities at this early stage:

Three seats are open in Henderson. Andy Hafen and Steven Kirk plan to seek re-election. No opponents have announced. Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers will not run for re-election in Ward 1 and is supporting Schroder.

Schroder hopes to raise $300,000. The 42-year-old has had her eye on the City Council for more than a decade.

"I knew I wanted to be on the City Council 12 years ago, but I knew I wasn't prepared for that," she said.

So Schroder, now a staffer for Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, joined the city's beautification committee and got active in a range of community groups, from the Japan American Society of Nevada to S.A.F.E House Inc., a group providing help to victims of domestic violence.

Now she'll have her name on signs all over the 90-square-mile city.

"It will be very exciting to see my name out there, finally," she said.

In North Las Vegas, council seats occupied by William Robinson and Shari Buck will be in play. Robinson has not announced his candidacy. Buck will run for a third term.

Richard Cherchio, a retired postal worker and union president, has been the first to challenge Buck.

Cherchio, who has not begun fundraising, hopes the new election rules work in his favor, allowing him to crisscross his district to make personal contacts with voters.

He already has an extensive network from his role as organizer of the North Las Vegas Alliance of Homeowners Associations and Concerned Citizens. He also serves on the North Las Vegas Police Chief's Advisory Board.

Buck did not return several phone calls to her home and office last week.

Candidates have until early February to get their names on the ballot. Municipal primaries will be held April 3; the general election is June 5. Las Vegas and Boulder City will also hold municipal elections next year.