Gibson reflects on 12 years as mayor of Henderson

By Jeremy Twitchell

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | 11:44 a.m.

After 12 years in Henderson’s top office, Mayor James B. Gibson woke up Tuesday to the morning of his last City Council meeting.

“I have mixed emotions about it,” he said as he drove to work yesterday. “I look forward to change like most people do. I have a lot of confidence in those who are left behind and the staff we’ve assembled. But predictably, I have mixed emotions.”

By the time the meeting was under way Tuesday night, those emotions ranged from somber expressions of thanks to off-the-cuff jokes with Councilman Jack Clark, who was also at his final meeting.

As the pair posed for photos with representatives of Nevada’s two senators and three representatives — each of whom sent a staffer with a letter or proclamation of thanks — Gibson quipped, “I want to Photoshop this so that I’m as tall as Jack.”

Clark immediately responded, “I want to Photoshop this so that I’m as thin as the mayor.”

During his tenure, Gibson has been tasked with managing and shaping Henderson through an unprecedented period of growth, one that has seen its population go from about 148,000 to about 280,000.

Gibson credits a steady approach to development policy and hard work by city staff and elected officials for turning the city into one that has won awards for its parks system, its customer service and its community planning.

“We had a focus and it was on the quality of community that we wanted,” Gibson said. “We haven’t taken our eyes off that mark.”

Of course, the growth has come with its detractors — residents who have questioned the wisdom of the city becoming involved in the development of the struggling Lake Las Vegas project or approving residential developments on former industrial lands in east Henderson that will require environmental remediation.

Gibson, however, said the city has “proven them wrong” with the types of neighborhoods it has created and will be vindicated when the projects become reality. He said the city has a responsibility to partner with the private sector and environmental interests to see that industrial lands are properly cleaned and restored to use.

“I’m very happy with the things we’ve accomplished,” he said. “In the final analysis, when things are completed, I think that they will be worth the approvals that we gave them.”

One of the hallmarks of Gibson’s tenure has been the city’s efforts to increase sustainability and reduce its environmental impact. In recent years, Henderson has embraced green building practices for city buildings and undertaken citywide energy and water conservation measures. Last month, the City Council adopted a Sustainability Action Plan that will guide future efforts.

While Henderson wasn’t the first to undertake such efforts, Gibson said, he believes the city has been at the forefront of the movement.

“All of this is something that the entire community can be proud of,” he said. “In the future, sustainability will be the measuring stick by which communities are judged. ... I think we’ve only seen the beginning of the kinds of things that in the future will be part of our everyday lives.”

Among the city’s other major strides in the past 12 years, Gibson lists its infrastructure development, its educational programs and partnerships, its investment in parks and recreation and its financial preparation.

Henderson has faced a revenue shortfall of almost $60 million this budget year. But it has been able to manage thus far in part because of its $12 million rainy day fund and a few other funds — such as the city vehicle shop and building construction funds — that had saved money.

Gibson and other city officials have cautioned, however, that any further revenue shortfalls would require more aggressive actions, and the possibility of layoffs and program cuts have been mentioned.

“One thing we’ve worked very hard on is our finances, to put ourselves in a position to weather the storm,” he said. “Now, if the 100-year flood becomes a 1,000-year flood, I don’t know what anybody could have done to prepare for it.”

As for his future, Gibson said he will focus on his career and enjoy his family. The one-time candidate for governor — he lost to Dina Titus in the 2006 Democratic Primary — said he isn’t eyeing anything particular, but he isn’t closing the book on his political career, either.

“I don’t have any plans for other political office, but if there were something for which I was the right person, I would consider it because I consider it a high honor to serve the people,” he said.

In the meantime, Gibson said, he plans to remain involved in the community by helping Nevada State College grow and working with the city’s APPLE children’s literacy program. He is also the chairman of the recently formed Henderson Space and Science Center Advisory Board, which will guide the city’s efforts to build a center on city land at U.S. 95 and Galleria Drive.

As he prepared to leave office, Gibson said he hopes that residents will remember him as their representative.

“I want people to know that I desired to represent everybody, not just an entitled few,” he said. “I appreciate the faith and confidence that the people of Henderson have given me over time, and I appreciate the great support that they’ve given me. It’s a blessing in anyone’s life to be able to serve.”