Editorial: Weekly a solid choice

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

From his days in the early 1990s as a member of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library Board and president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, to his current position as a Las Vegas City Council member, Lawrence Weekly has earned high marks as a public official and community leader.

We believe his appointment to the Clark County Commission, announced Monday by Gov. Jim Gibbons, was a logical choice. Weekly's consistently solid record stood out from among others who had been mentioned for the seat. Weekly will replace Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who announced Jan. 16 that she will step down March 2 after serving on the County Commission since 1993.

After voters approved an expansion of the City Council in 1999, adding Wards 5 and 6, Weekly was chosen by the council to represent Ward 5, which takes in West Las Vegas and sizable portions of downtown. Since then he has been elected to his council terms by wide margins.

A graduate of Western High School in Las Vegas and Grambling State University in Louisiana, Weekly began working for the city's Neighborhood Services Department in 1995. At the time of his appointment to the council, he was serving as a neighborhood liaison for Councilman Gary Reese.

Weekly demonstrated a low-key but accomplishment-oriented style while serving on the City Council. Particularly experienced in the areas of neighborhood revitalization and economic development, Weekly has many other positive attributes, including a penchant for staying in touch with his constituents and providing strong support for positive community organizations such as the Shade Tree women's shelter.

We agree with County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, who said Weekly will bring experience and a thorough knowledge of his constituents' needs to the commission.