HOA plans forum for Henderson candidates

By Jeremy Twitchell

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 | 5:15 p.m.

A group of Henderson homeowners is bringing together the 13 candidates seeking one of Henderson's three open offices in the upcoming municipal election.

The River Mountain Ranch Estates Homeowners Association, which represents residents in a rural neighborhood in southeast Henderson, arranged the candidates forum. It will be at 7 p.m. March 11 in the banquet room of the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino, 2800 S. Boulder Highway.

All five mayoral candidates have confirmed that they will attend, as have both candidates for municipal judge and five of the six candidates for the City Council seat in Ward III.

"We hope the public will take time from their busy schedules to attend and to vote," association President Diane Booker said. "It doesn't matter who you vote for; just that you take the time to vote."

Early voting for the primary election runs from March 21 to April 3, and Election Day is April 7.

Booker said the association began holding candidate nights in the 1990s at the suggestion of a resident and has held them on and off since then. She said this year's event is especially important because the election will have a major impact on the city's future.

In addition to deciding three open offices, the election could create an additional vacancy on the City Council if one of the two council members who are running for mayor is elected.

"We have many people who don't have the time to get the information they need," Booker said. "This is one way they can get to know more about the candidates and make a more informed decision as to who they're going to vote for."

Booker hinted that the city's finances will likely be a central issue at the event. Declining tax revenues, which are projected to continue to decrease, have caused the city to slash budgets and tap reserves to make up for a projected shortfall this year of $53 million, or 20 percent of the city's budget.

"We've got quite a bit of change going on with the economy going the way it is, and it's very important that we make an informed decision about who we think is best qualified to deal with these issues," Booker said.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.