Henderson names new city manager

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 | 9:54 a.m.

Las Vegas Sun

Henderson City Manager Mark Calhoun

The Henderson City Council unanimously voted to take the interim out of Mark Calhoun’s title of interim city manager, appointing him to the city’s top non-elected position for a three-year period Tuesday night.

City employees in the council greeted the appointment with applause, though the drama that has surrounded the city manager’s office in the last two months is still far from resolved.

Calhoun replaces Mary Kay Peck, who the council unanimously fired April 14 after accusing her of mismanaging the city’s budget situation and creating a “culture of fear” among city employees.

Peck has disputed the allegations, saying she was never given a review nor a chance to respond, and filed a lawsuit against the city Friday.

In his new position, Calhoun will receive the same $225,000 annual base pay that Peck did in her 18 months in the post.

After his appointment, Calhoun thanked the council and his fellow city employees.

“I have a great respect and appreciation for each and every member of our city staff,” he said.

After quipping that city officials had asked him if he was sure he wanted the position, given the city’s financial struggles, Calhoun expressed confidence in Henderson’s ability to navigate the economic downturn.

“I know this isn’t the very best time to be a city manager … but with the people we have here, I believe we can get through this rough time with minimal impact,” he said.

He concluded by pledging to be a good steward of tax dollars and to run a transparent operation.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By maybevegas

5/20/09 at 10:28 a.m.

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I'm happy for Mr. Calhoun, but it makes no sense to me why you would pay an engineer $225k to start off with. How about a grow-in period? You could have saved some of the budget problems, by offering him $25k to $50k less?

Mr. Hafen/Kirk?
By formervegas76

5/20/09 at 11:21 a.m.

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to much money, people out there hurting and you pay a guy $225k to start. sick and tired that we have to pay a big salary or we don't get quailified people.
By Purgatory

5/20/09 at 12:46 p.m.

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...to the Honorable Members of the Henderson City Council...I promise to a better job at $75k less than you will pay Mr Calhoun...please call...
By bdover

5/20/09 at 6:54 p.m.

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Ahh, they finally got their boy in there. Now the Union loafers will be in control again. Mediocrity will rule, and leaning on a shovel will become the exertion of the day. Thank God that the 120G a year ex police chief lobbiest didn't convince the state to give Henderson more money to waste-Henderson is summa cum laude at that, you know.
By johnqpublic

5/21/09 at 1:14 p.m.

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How is it that in the private sector it is considered okay for a CEO to make millions of dollars and yet the CEO of a government organization is so highly scrutinized for the income they make that is much lower than the CEO running a similar sized organization in the private sector?