Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Retired car salesman enters Las Vegas mayoral race

Eight candidates so far have filed for seat now held by Oscar Goodman

A 67-year-old retired car salesman is the latest contender to enter the race to succeed outgoing Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Joe Falco, one of several candidates who ran against Goodman for mayor in 2003, filed Tuesday morning to run in the April 5 city primary.

Falco became the eighth person to file for the seat now held by Goodman, who can't run again because of term limits.

Those in the race include Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross, both of whom filed Monday.

Others who filed last week are Katie Duncan, Marlene Rogoff, Abdul H. Shabazz, Tim Gamble and Larry M. Jeppeson.

Clark County Commissioner Chris Guinchigliani is also expected to run for the office. The filing deadline is Friday.

Falco, who works as a school crossing guard for Metro Police and as a substitute teacher for the Clark County School District, said one of the reasons he wants to run is to improve fiscal responsibility in the city's budget.

"We need someone who is a fiscal conservative and will not waste any money," he said. "The street cleaner comes by my house on Sundays, and for that I think they get time and a half. I would stop that. I would stop any waste of overtime."

Falco also promised that if elected mayor, he would give 10 percent of his salary back to the city every year, plus 10 percent to charity.

He said the first year, he would give 10 percent to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure breast cancer foundation, the second year to the Clark County School District, the third year to a "non-kill animal foundation," and the fourth year to the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon.

"I would also challenge Gov. Sandoval to give 10 percent of his salary to the schools," Falco said.

He also said he would ask the state utilities not to raise their rates for two years and would call for a two-year freeze on any increases in city fees.

"I not only want to be the happiest mayor, I want to be the smartest financially and the friendliest to all the citizens of Las Vegas," Falco said.

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