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Carolyn Goodman, wife of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, waits for her husband to deliver the annual State of the City address at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011.
By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Published Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 | 9:54 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 | 5:06 p.m.
Mayoral race
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KSNV coverage of candidate filings for Las Vegas mayoral race, Feb. 2, 2011.
With her husband at her side, Carolyn Goodman filed Wednesday afternoon in the Las Vegas City Clerk's office for mayor, the post her colorful husband, Oscar, has held for nearly 12 years.
"I am going full force out," she said, promising to continue the vision her husband has toward redeveloping the downtown and bringing culture, medical facilities, research and professional sports to Las Vegas.
"I love this city and I have a passion for it. I am so excited about the rich redevelopment that is going on," she said. "This is just such an exciting time to keep going forward."
The announcement that she planned to file drew a packed room of reporters, photographers and videographers who watched as she completed paperwork and paid the $100 filing fee.
Carolyn Goodman, who retired in June as president of the Meadows School, the nonprofit private campus she founded in 1984, said she had been considering running for the past six to eight months.
As her husband's term was coming to a close, she began wondering who was going to take his vision forward. But her husband didn't think she would be the one to carry it on.
"This morning he woke up and he said, 'You know, I've really been thinking about it. And don't do it,'" Carolyn Goodman said.
"And I said, 'you know it's interesting. I thought about it all last night too. And I'm going to file.' And he looked over at me and said, 'You go for it, girl.'"
Sun columnist Jon Ralston reported Wednesday morning that Oscar Goodman walked into Councilman Steve Ross' office and told him that Carolyn will run because she was worried Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani would win the race.
Giunchigliani announced Wednesday morning at a Hispanics in Politics breakfast that she is running for mayor. Ross also is a candidate in the race.
Others in the race so far include Deborah Love, who filed this afternoon; Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown; Joe Falco, a retired car salesman; Katie Duncan, a west Las Vegas businesswoman; Marlene Rogoff, a real estate agent; Abdul H. Shabazz, a local businessman; Tim Gamble, an emergency medical technician; and Larry M. Jeppeson, a retired teacher; and Angel Vasquez.
Caroline Goodman admitted that her last name would give her an edge. She and her husband have lived in Las Vegas for 35 years.
"Everything that we are is largely Las Vegas," she said.
Asked if her campaign was like giving her husband another term in office, she said "I think that would be sort of cheating."
"Everybody that knows both of us would know that the reason we have this wonderful relationship is because we share, but we each have our own lives and our own brains and our own thoughts about how we do things," she said.
She said the city's growth and excitement "is the result of his vision and passion."
"I'm not that person at all," she said. "But I adore him and I think everything that he's done has been fabulous with the council and everybody else who has taken a shoulder in the city."
Carolyn Goodman said her vision is "to follow along and continue the momentum that has already been created in these past 12 years."
She said it would be difficult to run against friends.
"I think the voting public is smart," she said. "I know I never try to miss an opportunity to vote. I don't think that's going to be a difficulty. I respect them and I respect the job that they would each do."
She said she intends to keep pushing to bring Las Vegas great culture, great medical services, great research, great businesses and professional sports.
"I can't say that I have the same excitement and bravado and approach to everything that he does," she said. "And I keep trying to figure out how to take those showgirls with me ... I'm still working on that."
Carolyn Goodman said she would try to find an inventive way to make appearances with the showgirls "if I could figure out a nice way to do it," she said.
Asked if she would bring along Chippendale's dancers, she quickly said "No," getting laughs.
"How could I do this when I have this wonderful man here," she said, patting her husband, who laughed and said "How do you like that?"
Race is over, Carolyn Goodman WINS... Excellent News for LAS VEGAS!
Thanks goodness for Carolyn Goodman! We've got ourselves a lady-mayor..!
That's good news. Giunchigliani pretends to be amazed at the recent revelation that sick- and overtime abuse by employees of the Clark County Fire Department was massive and widespread. That happened directly under her nose and on her watch.
The City of Las Vegas can't afford to elect her and suffer from the same mismanagement.
I like Giunchigliani, but Brown is probably a better choice. Sorry Goodman, but even though I think your hubby did a fine job, it doesn't qualify you for the spot, and it would really just be some more years of him at the helm anyway with you being more of a figurehead. It's time for a change. Let's see what others can bring to the table, and not let this turn into a dynasty like Chicago did with the Daley family.
Ms. Goodman will be our next mayor. The entertainment in this town never ends! ;-)
Mr. Goodman has done a great job as our mayor. The downward spiral had nothing to do with him being in office and he has done more for downtown then anyone ever has.
Ms. Goodman will continue in his footsteps and add her good sense. This is a lady that already has done more for Las Vegas then most people ever do in a lifetime!
Back to Iowa with you Stephen. You don't like Vegas and have no clue how it works.
I think Oscar Goodman has been good for this city and I have lived here long enough to know. I am definitely looking forward to hearing more from his wife.
Also, anyone that thinks Ms. Goodman will be a figurehead for Mr. Goodman has no clue what they are talking about and who Ms. Goodman is.
This is a lady that stands on her own in this town and with his backing, she will be our next mayor.
Hey Sun (Tim), can you suspend mred's posting privileges for a couple days for giving us that mental image?
Once made the mistake of asking the mayor for help with a miniscule local redevelopment/TV project which would have benefitted much of Las Vegas business before he'd figured out how to keep his mayor job by running his wife. Will support him AND his wife the same as he did us then:
"WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK; MAZELTOV"
What a joke, I am not going to run, oh no, I am going to run. No comment!!!!
Please enough of the Goodman games for the "GOOD" of the City.
Our next Mayor!!!!!!!!
Oh, this is a sad development for Las Vegas---time to sign up for Chris G.'s campaign!
Is she running in order for her name to be on the new downtown arena that will be built with taxpayer money?
A lot of gamesmanship with announcements. First by Giunchigliani -- she knew she was running since much earlier, then by Caroline Goodman.
Steve Ross kinda got stabbed in the back by this. I think if Goodman was going to run, she should have said so, earlier. But, such is politics. Ross is a big boy.
Ross is also who I am supporting. He's the straightest shooter of the major candidates out there.
Is being mayor of Las Vegas so unimportant, that now you can just pass it off to your spouse. No offense,( which means this is offensive) but you're to old and your ideas are to old to lead this city into the future. The Las Vegas they grew up in is dead and buried, hell the LV I grew up in is dead and buried and I am a lot younger than the Goodmans. Top casino companies will only have a presence here, making most of their money in Asia. The majority of careers and jobs will be technology based. The dynamics of educating our children will have to be changed. MOB MUSEUMS AND STADIUMS WON'T CHANGE THAT!!!!!
Skid,
That was an excellent post.
Of course, Caroline Goodman will run on the fact that she founded and ran a school. But that school was an elite, pricey, private school which doesn't speak to the public school experience and needs for the rest of us in Las Vegas. Plus, there have always been rumors that her school was built with "mob money."
Since she's declaring herself a candidate for public office, I, for one, would like to know where, in fact, did she ever get the money to buy land and build a school campus.
And no, we do not need a "dynasty" inheriting the office of mayor, in this town. Who would be next, Ross Goodman? We are not North Korea, here.
Skid may have something here - ageism is alive and well in these parts nowadays. Geezers are still geezers, however endowed with community spirit, good nature and understanding. But it's still early, no pun intended.
Jest think of it:
Twelve years of Oscar Goodman.
Twelve years of Carolyn Goodman,
Twelve years of Younger Goodman,
Twelve years of Younger Goodman's wife...
Hell, the town could save money bcz it wouldn't even need to hold elections.
Vote for who you want, we're moving somewhere that our kids have a chance at an education.
Great idea!
Wow, too many people educated in the Clark County School District having access to the forums...
When was the last time you saw any state of the city speech covered by international news? Other than Oscar's in Las Vegas, never.
Do you think CNN or any other news organization would have covered the Zappo's announcement if anyone else was Mayor? Not hardly.
That publicity caused by Goodman will go a long way to help the city attract new non gaming business to Las Vegas. It's still the buzz of the business world and it would not have happened if some publicity shy, no name, had been mayor.
Having the PR of the Goodman name attached to it, does the city and the businesses in the city, a lot of good.
Goodman has helped this city in more ways than you will ever understand. Having his wife in the hot seat just adds to the long list of contributions.
With her background in education, community relations, politics and public relations, she will be better for this city and the county than the other no names trying to get elected.
Just for the record, she stands on her own, not in the shadow of her husband.
Why am I not surprised? No change; just a sex change.
Good for her!!! And, it will be good for Las Vegas.
Better than the alternative in Larry "I'll sell out Red Rock Canyon to a developer" Brown.
Whatever you do, DON'T AskMrMark.
Not only has Mark bought a bill of goods, he even bought what wasn't for sale. "It would not have happened if some publicity shy, no name, had been mayor."
WRONG. Goodman had nothing to do with Zappos' relocation. Git yer facts, straight. Michael Cornthwaite of the Emergency Arts and Andrew Donner, the CEO of Resort Gaming Group hatched the plan with Zappos owner Tony Hsieh. Cornthwaite and Donner are the ones who had been promoting the idea to Hsieh. Then at the public announcement, Goodman came along and glommed on to the publicity.
Don't forget, Jan Jones is the actual mayor who conceived and started the Downtown renewal effort. Goodman actually ridiculed it, especially the Neonopolis. And the Neonopolis isn't doing much, right now. But neither are all those luxury hi-rises Downtown, that are sitting vacant, going bankrupt, and destroying property values in the other Downtown residences. That's right -- what was pitched as a separate market, appealing to a separate class of buyers, has fallen so low in value that it's inventory is now competing at the same price point as single family homes.
THANK YOU, Oscar Goodman. Empty hi-rises are your legacy. Fleeting national attention as a buffoon mayor have done nothing. And thank you ignorant voters, who 'think' you know what's going on, and play right into the Goodman's gool ole' boy, back room wheeling and dealing with our city. Enough is enough.
good luck mrs goodman VEGAS NEEDS YOU ~~phil uk
where can i volunteer for Mrs. Goodman?
Just promise you will build " LITTLE AMSTERDAM!"
I think that is supposed to be: "Lil' Amsterdam."
If publicity is all we want as citizens of Las Vegas, then lets start a write-in campaign for P.T. Barnum.
Excellent post by "IowaGuy" Las Vegas needs a change at City Hall. Not another Goodman, not at this time or anytime soon. The city needs and deserve better leadership and political identification. The Goodman's are not what we need, nor Chris or Brown. These are old dogs that cannot and will not learn new tricks. We need new ideals from a new face with fresh thinking outside of the old boys and girls network.
A legitimate person is needed as our new mayor. Legitimate is the key word.
mred had a comment removed? I just dropped my Kool-aid.
Um, Mrs. Goodman? Are you going to remove the illegal barricades along Main St. and Foremaster?
Are you going to install soap dispensers in the DTC men's room to stop the spread of disease? And are you going to bring public buildings up to health code?
Are you going to replace the vending machines, pay phones, newspaper stands in the lobby?
Are you going to continue or end the abusive and illegal actions against the homeless and poor citizens of this city within the city limits?
Are you prepared to defend the city in a federal lawsuit due to the city's illegal and unconstitutional actions against the homeless and poor citizens of this city?
We're listening, Mrs. Goodman.
Mayor Goodman has done more for Las Vegas than 10,000 angry, anonymous online haters ever will. If he could run again, I'd be right there supporting him. Again.
This indeed makes things interesting.
Hey, Cliff, will you please spell out for us what you've done lately for the "homeless?" Slipped a bum at a freeway off-ramp a buck or two? Maybe you've a vacant bedroom in your residence that you could offer a vagrant to sleep in. My wife & I contribute to Shade Tree, Opportunity Village & others. If street-corner beggars are truly indigent & need help, there are many agencies, tax-supported and charitable, that will offer them assistance.
Might as well have a intern for mayor. We have one for president and look at the bang up job he's doing !! lmao !!!
No doubt she has done wonders, no miracles for and in this city for a long time...including lifting the face of private education...you can't question or argue with that, nor should you want too .....however, she also gave us Betsy Kokolski...one of the worst rated judges in recent history,(look at the ratings) because she was a friend,she asked her husband to appoint her after the death of Seymour Brown. Kokolski almost tore Municipal Court apart...and that woman's insecurities are legendary!!! This public servant was a Prima Donna without the necessary prerequisites, in any category. But she was a friend who had never realized any major career goals. So what's a friend for if you can't help? Being a great person does not make you an adequate much less a superior elected official...if it did, my minster would run :). We need the best we can get.
One Mayor Daley (from Chicago) benefited more than all the rest of the Chicago Mayors combined. I think Goodman is the exact image of what Las Vegas should be portrayed as (for tourism) so I think that even if he's in the background his influence will continue to be a good one. Vote Carolyn Goodman!
It's clear that all those who constantly like to jab at someone for their age, for being 'too old' don't plan on living to a nice, ripe old age themselves. If they did, they'd have more respect. Enjoy your short, young lives.
Hey Jerry, don't insult me! So you give so you can have a tax deduction, good for you. That's very nice of you.
I give direct-to-the-streets to 100s of homeless people weekly, sometimes daily and I and my friends volunteer our time, not the thousands of dollars in salaries your "charities" charge and we don't make tax deductions.
It's none of your business what I do to help the homeless. My charges toward the city and the administration are the illegal and abusive activity that they conduct against the homeless.
What you don't know or want to understand is that the "system" is broken.
All you people that stereotype and rant about homeless people asking for handouts that don't deserve them are too ignorant to understand we have a system in place costing billions of dollars, a safety net, that doesn't work that REFUSES service to the truly qualified. Not your qualifications, Jerry, but the qualifications of federal law.
You concern your self of what I do which is immaterial. The facts are this city and county are defrauding federal taxpayers out of paid-for services by not rendering them to the qualified needy and in addition conducting unconstitutional and unlawful acts against the homeless and poor citizens of this community.
The elected and appointed officials of this community know full well of what I am talking about and it is not my job to educate you or anyone else on the matter, Jerry.
If Mrs. Goodman is prepared to take over her husband's legacy, then she needs to prepare to inherit his liabilities.
Oscar Goodman, was an experienced Trial Attorney who knew the City and clearly had the experience and leadership abilities. Carolyn Goodman, has no such background for Mayorship-however she is qualified to be a Councilwoman. The most qualified is Larry Brown, who has served as City Councilman. He will be our Next Mayor.