Jack Clark leaves Henderson City Council after 16 years

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Councilman Jack Clark and Mayor James Gibson laugh Tuesday during their final City Council meeting.

By Jeremy Twitchell (contact)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | 11:19 a.m.

A few days before his final meeting June 9, Henderson City Councilman Jack Clark had his city office stripped bare except for a few odd charts and maps related to the upcoming meeting.

Gone were all the souvenirs, trinkets and random odds and ends he had collected over his 16 years in office — the die-cast cars, the Elvis head, the stuffed monkey — things he allowed to accumulate to give the office a homey, welcoming feel.

Over the years, Clark developed a reputation as the council’s brawler, the member known to verbally joust in public meetings with developers, attorneys, club owners — anyone who was selling something he wasn’t buying.

Contrary to popular opinion, Clark said, he doesn’t like to fight. But, he quickly adds, he’s not afraid to, either.

“My problem with typical politicians my whole life is that they pander to the person who stands in front of them,” he said. “I promised myself that when I came in that I would always be honest and that I would always say what was on my mind.”

Now ready to hand over the reins of Ward 3 to Kathleen Boutin, who won the seat in the June 2 election— Clark, subject to term limits, could not run again — he said he hopes that is how people will remember him.

“I would hope they remember me as a strong voice,” he said. “I’ve never wavered. Maybe I’ve learned to compromise a little over the years and learn to do things differently in some cases, but I can say that I’m still the same guy I was when I was elected.”

Clark said it’s difficult to say whether he would have run again had he not been facing term limits. In a way, he sounds relieved that the decision was made for him.

“Sometimes, when you’re in a situation where you’re comfortable and you enjoy what you do, it can be difficult to get out and look for what’s next,” Clark said. “Now, suddenly at 50 years old, I don’t know what my next is. Literally, for the first time in my life, I don’t know what my next is. But finding it is going to be an interesting journey.”

Clark plans to stay involved with the city. As a councilman, his pet project was the creation of a space and science center on city land near U.S. 95 and Galleria Drive. In recent months, that dream has made major strides to reality, as the council has set aside the land, hired a consultant to help plan the project and created an advisory board to guide the process — of which Clark and outgoing Mayor James B. Gibson are members.

Though some residents have questioned the expense of the project at a time when the city is in dire financial straits, Clark said he sees the center as an investment that will reshape the future of Henderson.

“When it’s built and when it’s completed, it will be without a doubt the most important thing I’ve done in my public life,” Clark said. “It will provide educational opportunities at a time when educational opportunities are struggling.”

He said he plans to serve on the advisory board until the museum opens — which the advisory board estimates is still likely five to six years away.

During his four-term tenure, Clark has been witness to the most rapid period of growth in the city’s 56-year history — a pace so rapid that for a time earlier this decade Henderson held the title of the fastest-growing city in the country.

Not every decision the city has made has been perfect, Clark admitted, saying that there have been a few times he’s driven past a project that didn’t turn out how it was envisioned and wished he could have the vote back.

But overall, Clark said, the city’s rapid growth is a product of its master plan communities and development code — and not the other way around.

“It’s not cheap to develop here,” he said. “But the developers still want to build here and because of the communities we’ve created, people want to move here. That’s why we’ve grown so fast.”

As he prepares to hand over the reins to Boutin, Clark said he only had one piece of advice — the same one he gave her when she began her campaign. “Listen to your heart first, your advisors second and your friends third,” he said.

Clark said Boutin began preparing her campaign three years ago, and that she has worked hard to get where she is and has demonstrated that she will be a good representative.

“I think she’ll do fine,” he said. “I think she’s a strong, independent thinker and that she’ll bring a fresh perspective to the council, which is always a good thing,” he said.As for his own plans, Clark will continue his full-time job as an investigator with Metro Police and look for a new second job. He hasn’t ruled out politics, but said it’s not very likely, either.

For now, his political aspirations don’t reach beyond his memories.

“I loved it,” he said. “It was a blast. For somebody like me to serve in this position 16 years with the kind of people I’ve worked with has been truly an honor.”