Mayoral candidates’ positions on issues taking shape

By Delen Goldberg

Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 | 2 a.m.

It might seem as though the Las Vegas mayoral candidates, particularly the front-runners, sound eerily similar.

All tout job creation as their top priority. All pledge to continue to redevelop downtown. All promise to work with banks and neighborhoods to help communities riddled by foreclosures. And all agree that Nevada needs to diversify its economy.

That doesn’t give issues-driven voters a lot to go on.

But during three debates last week, the candidates answered nuanced questions in which distinct viewpoints surfaced. Two debates were hosted by neighborhood groups and one was hosted by a consortium of downtown business associations. The neighborhood forums were open to the public, and the Sun obtained a recording of the business association debate.

Taxes

Only Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani is open to tax increases for Las Vegas residents. She cited a UNLV study that found that a majority of city residents want to pay higher taxes if it means improved services, schools and neighborhoods. The city is facing an estimated $12 million budget deficit.

In some ways, the discussion of taxes is moot. Las Vegas has no power to raise taxes because state lawmakers deny it home rule.

But city officials can raise fees. And Giunchigliani proposes a streamlined “one fee, one form” process. Instead of businesses paying both the state and municipalities piecemeal fees for licenses, inspections, work cards and the like, Giunchigliani said she’d like to debate implementation of one fee charged by all governments and implement it. Giunchigliani fought for similar legislation several years ago, and it passed, but the city and other municipalities have since added fees, permit requirements and paperwork, so the legislation hasn’t kept pace with its intent.

Giunchigliani suggested working with Secretary of State Ross Miller, who is developing a “one-stop shop” computer program for businesses.

Las Vegas first lady Carolyn Goodman, County Commissioner Larry Brown and City Councilman Steve Ross all say they oppose tax hikes.

“It’s not going to jump-start the economy,” Ross said. “What you need to do is give businesses incentives and tax rebates for hiring and putting people back to work.”

Ross suggested that the city suspend all business license and building permit fees for a year to offset the contracted lending market.

Several candidates opposed to tax increases argued that families and employers are struggling in the down economy and increasing the cost of doing business will push them further underwater.

“You cannot get taxes from a turnip,” Goodman said.

Collective bargaining

All leading candidates are in favor of collective bargaining, although some were more enthusiastic than others.

Ross, a union electrician for 24 years, said that “belonging to a union is a choice and I wouldn’t take that away.”

Giunchigliani, a fierce union supporter, unequivocally stated her support for collective bargaining rights.

Goodman said she also supports it as long as “leaders of unions respond to the rank and file.”

Brown called for “common sense” in negotiating union contracts. Although he supports collective bargaining, Brown said “antiquated” longevity benefits should be eliminated and automatic merit and cost-of-living pay raises should be re-examined. “That whole culture of entitlement needs to stop,” he said.

Other candidates not considered to be front-runners blasted unions for gaming the system and failing to negotiate reasonably — a position likely to be popular with voters who are roiled not only about public employees’ high salaries but more recently about alleged sick leave and overtime abuses by county firefighters. A likely reason for the difference of opinion is the support the leading candidates need from unions.

Businessman George Harris has spoken several times about collective bargaining.

“The No. 1 cost in business is labor,” Harris said. “Collective bargaining has got to end.”

Pension funds

Giunchigliani is the only leading candidate in favor of public employees remaining in a defined-benefit retirement plan rather than a defined-contribution plan similar to a 401(k).

Many government leaders claim the state retirement system, which also manages municipal and teacher retirement programs, is insolvent. Some cited a $7 billion unfunded liability.

But Giunchigliani insists the system is viable. (Union leaders also dispute the unfunded figure.)

Giunchigliani said there had been problems with the system but the Legislature raised the retirement age last session, and the defined-benefit plan otherwise works.

“It is actuarially sound,” Giunchigliani said. “I don’t know anybody in this decline that did not suffer in their 401(k). I don’t want more people destabilized, and I don’t want more people having to have social services because they can no longer rely on their retirement.”

Giunchigliani said changing the rules governing the system would destabilize it. The other candidates agreed with that but said a crisis could be averted if changes were made over a longer time frame.

Brown suggested transitioning to a defined-contribution plan over the next decade.

Goodman called the retirement system “doomed” and said “new standards have to be set for new employees as they come in.”

Ross sidestepped the question, saying it’s an issue for the Legislature.

This is another issue in which public opinion is likely to be at odds with unions for reasons similar to collective bargaining.

Consolidation

Consolidating Las Vegas with Clark County has been debated for years as a possible way to cut costs by reducing duplicate services and management.

“Be careful what you ask for,” Brown said. “It’s not the panacea.”

Brown praised regional efforts, such as the Regional Transportation Commission and Clark County Regional Flood Control District, as common sense. Floods don’t care about city boundaries, he said.

But he warned against consolidating to disguise cuts. Rather, he said, officials should focus on combining only parts of government that are complementary and could be made more efficient.

Goodman argued that consolidation doesn’t always save money and could negatively affect constituents. Interestingly, her husband has long agitated for combining the city and county.

“Bigger isn’t always better,” she said. “A larger body doesn’t necessarily mean better services or saving money.”

Ross said he would vote for consolidation only if it saves money. He said he’s more in favor of shared services.

Giunchigliani is the only candidate to come out strongly for consolidation. She said she has been working to streamline government agencies and functions for more than a decade. She led the charge to consolidate the valley’s housing authorities and authored a regional spay/neuter law.

Giunchigliani argued that consolidation could improve services. Fewer agencies offering more services would result in people waiting in fewer lines and going through less red tape, she said.