Henderson in strong shape during downturn

By Nicole Lucht

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Henderson’s conservative fiscal policy is making it possible for the city to provide services during economic uncertainty, Mayor James Gibson said during his 12th and final State of the City on Feb. 5 at Green Valley Ranch.

The challenges facing Henderson, he said, are “not unlike those being faced everywhere. If there isn’t cash out there in the system, then the retailers are going to suffer, and if there isn’t credit, then the wholesalers and the manufacturers are going to suffer.

“The key thing for us, and we all have our fingers crossed here, is that the stimulus package will do what we see needed at the local level, and that is, keep us at capacity to really put money in the hands of workers. We need job creation, we need to be able to generate sales taxes and room taxes and all the rest of it. It’s not going to come unless the stimulus really gets jobs created.”

Gibson is Henderson’s longest-serving mayor, taking office in 1997. He is unable to run again because of term limits.

During his tenure the city grew from 144,000 residents to 280,000.

Four candidates are seeking to replace Gibson: Henderson Councilman Andy Hafen, who’s been on the council since 1987; Councilman Steven Kirk, who’s served since 1999; former Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers, who was on the council from 1995 to 2007; and the lone City Hall outsider, attorney Richard Sipan.

Already, the city has taken action to bridge the gap left by a $53 million budgetary deficit this fiscal year, Gibson said.

“We know that it’s not over,” he said. “As difficult as economic times are today, what will eventually emerge will be an unprecedented level of renewal and recommitment and revitalization, which will allow our community to move forward.”

Gibson chided a recent Forbes article listing Henderson as one of the most boring cities.

“We might not be, as Forbes pointed out, one of the most exciting cities in America, but in these difficult economic times, we are one of the most solid.”

The mayor made note of the recession, but said the city is committed to its “core principles.”

“Certainly we’ve seen our share of difficulties, just as all of you have probably seen in your own lives and businesses,” Gibson said. “We’ve encountered circumstances that will require that we change in order to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. But the foundation on which our city is established is stable, it is sound and our future is bright.”

While the city aggressively pursues new business, “in the new market, there are very few businesses that have the resources, without credit, to do a move,” Gibson said. “We’re talking to people all the time. We have a couple of foreign companies that have contacted us, and over time, we hope that they will be able to expand here. We’re continuing to do everything that we can. It’s not a change in plan, we’re just working as intensively as we can.”

Gibson humbly rejected any notion of a legacy his tenure with the city will leave.

“In the terms of things we as a city have accomplished, I mentioned a lot of them in the speech,” he said.

When suggested to Gibson that he will leave a legacy, he said he believes that his legacy will be that of the city as a whole.

“What happens to us, if we’re focused on an individual legacy, then we tend to put our own ambition in front of what the community objective ought to be,” he said. “I so want this place to be the right place for my grandchildren to live, that it’s easy not to worry too much about how things reflect on me. Quite honestly, my experience is that if you’re focused on the community then all boats rise and you get whatever get from that. And so, it’s been a wonderful run.”