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Saturday, May 28, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Richard Cherchio
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- 259 could be laid off in cash-strapped North Las Vegas (5-17-2011)
- Layoffs possible in North Las Vegas amid $22.6 million shortfall (4-7-2011)
- NLV City Council again delays action on firefighter contract (4-6-2011)
- Union says North Las Vegas firefighters average 4.3 sick days annually (2-14-2011)
- North Las Vegas seeks audit of firefighter sick leave, overtime (2-2-2011)
- North Las Vegas firefighters’ union reaches agreement with city (1-11-2011)
- North Las Vegas approves tentative agreement with police union (1-5-2010)
- Police union, North Las Vegas reach tentative agreement (12-16-2010)
North Las Vegas’ Ward 4 City Council race is as much a contest between incumbent Richard Cherchio and local unions as it is between Cherchio and challenger Wade Wagner.
The city’s police and fire unions have waged a brutal campaign against Cherchio, one that will test the bargaining units’ power and likely shape future elections across the Las Vegas Valley.
Simply put, the unions want to oust Cherchio because he has called for public safety layoffs if union concessions aren’t made to aid North Las Vegas, which faces a $30 million deficit. The unions say they have agreed to millions in concessions, and further cuts will harm residents.
Cherchio says the unions are being greedy and unreasonable, and their leaders care only about protecting members’ incomes and benefits. An example he cites: Police and firefighters, most of whom don’t live in North Las Vegas, suggested a property tax increase to generate added revenue needed to cover their salaries.
The race’s outcome directly affects North Las Vegas residents but might have wider implications as municipalities throughout Clark County negotiate with public employee unions. A Wagner victory could highlight the power of unions and embolden them. A Cherchio victory could put them on notice that their political might goes only so far.
Cherchio is the first council member targeted by police and fire officials. Members say they hope to go after Councilwoman Anita Wood next.
“It really comes down to control. It doesn’t matter who you are. Anybody who says no to them winds up being a target,” Cherchio said.
Wagner and union leaders say police and firefighters are doing their part. Police have agreed to three major concessions in two years.
“The (firefighters) just came up with a 5 percent pay reduction,” Wagner said. “I think everyone realizes they have to tighten their belts.”
But the unions are campaigning against Cherchio, issuing attacks that have crossed legal and ethical lines.
They distributed a flier showing a masked intruder with a crowbar smashing a window. It says crime in North Las Vegas spiked 50 percent because of policies implemented by Cherchio.
In fact, crime has not jumped 50 percent and is down in many neighborhoods, according to the police department.
A flier paid for by the police union’s political action committee claims criminals want voters to choose Cherchio because he “voted for an ill-conceived plan that allows criminals to get out of jail two and three times faster than before. He has increased credits for inmates to $200 per day served.”
But the plan was an administrative decision, not made by City Council vote. A judge raised the credits inmates receive to counteract overcrowding. Most of the prisoners affected committed traffic violations.
Another set of mailers accuses Cherchio of approving $150 million in spending for a new City Hall and $295 million on a water reclamation project. Both votes were taken two years before Cherchio was appointed to the council in 2009.
A lawyer for Cherchio’s campaign warned the unions to stop making the claims or face a defamation suit.
The unions also came under fire for not complying with election law. Their PACs did not file expense and contribution reports as required and were found guilty by Secretary of State Ross Miller. He fined the police PAC $1,375; the case against the firefighters’ PAC is unresolved.
A Cherchio supporter filed a second complaint with Miller’s office, accusing the unions of violating campaign law by donating more to Wagner’s campaign than allowed under contribution limits. During the primary, more than half of Wagner’s contributions came from union sources.
Union officials stand by their ads and say their failure to file financial reports on time was a calendar mix-up. They insist they aren’t out to get Cherchio, they just favor Wagner’s focus on public safety.
“You need to prioritize in life,” Police Officers Association President Mike Yarter said. “I don’t think that parks, libraries and some of the other frivolous spending at City Hall are priorities. Public safety is the priority. Without that, all the other stuff is inconsequential.”
But an email sent by a union representative in September seems to support the claim that police leadership planned to target any council member who threatened its livelihood.
“The PAC recommended the union spend up to $100,000 (in a campaign) if a City Council member votes to lay off officers,” the email reads.
Yarter said the woman who wrote the memo no longer works for the department or serves on the board. He would not comment further.
The vigorous campaigning by the unions has led some to worry about Wagner’s independence if he is elected. Will he feel the need to “repay” the unions, they ask.
Wagner said he makes only one promise to residents: “My door will be open and you can come in and talk to me anytime.”
Cherchio doesn’t buy it.
“The union heads are scaring people to protect what they have,” Cherchio said. “If the wrong person gets in this seat, over the next fours years I can assure you that public safety will dominate and all of the other services we provide — clean parks, code enforcement, working streetlights — will fall by the wayside. There just isn’t enough money to do it all.”
Unions again trying to railroad someone they can't control. But it won't work cause corruption is now exposed.
This is exactly why at the very least public employee unions should not be allowed to engage in political activities, there is simply too much conflict of interest!
To be fair, I also think that corporation should also be banned.
In my opinion, only eligible voters should be allowed to contribute or engage in active campaign activities.
Unions, corporations, PACs are not citizens! They should not have a say in our political process, just like someone from a foreign country has no say in the donating to a campaign. Once again, "If you are not a person and/or a citizen/resident of the place you want to contribute, then you have no opinion in their process!" That should be a Constitutional Amendment!
Interesting article that sums up the problems with unions.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/reigning-i...
So what do you guys make? Sergeants 150k, detectives 100k plus, even some patrolman made over 100k, lieutenants 150k etc....Sounds to me like you got really fat and over-extended your wages to the point you think that you are above giving back. Instead you would rather see the city go into bankruptcy....Anyone that says anything needs to be voted out of office and a "Yes person" voted into office....What are you going to do if you lose the election and don't get Ramsey into office?
Oops it is Wagner that you are pushing into office not Ramsey....
Get rid of the UNION THUGS, not the councilman!
Less people, fewer businesses, means less crime, less cops = less crime. We need fewer arrogant cops that think they are God's gift to mankind, the libraries, people who fix pot holes and the programs for the kids are more important.
Time to have the FBI investigate the cops for RICO violations. Also, cops should stop demanding free stuff from area businesses. I have cameras trained on a local restaurant that gives 1/2 price meals to cops.
I'm going to review local companies with union affiliation and stop buying their product. FREE AT LAST!!!
Wagner and his union supporters have waged a dirty campaign against Richard Cherchio from the very start. The hidden agent behind this rampage is no one other than Mayor Buck who is a political buddy of Wade Wagner, Cherchio's opponent. Buck in my opinion has no interest in seeing North Las Vegas be a dynamic and well balanced city. She is simply out to cut the throats of anyone who will not vote her way--Cherchio and Anita Wood both fall into that category, and both are outstanding council persons who go the extra mile for North Las Vegas and its citizens. Cherchio and Wood are both stand up people. They are both vitally needed in North Las Vegas. If there were some way to throw Buck out the door, and never see her return, that would be a significant energizing impact on the City. Buck needs to go, her puppet Wagner needs to be soundly defeated and Cherchio and Wood(who is up for later election)both have to stay.
Police and firefighter unions "issuing attacks that have crossed legal and ethical lines" (most of us call it "lying") to line their own pockets, at everyone else's expense, seems to fit right in with the accepted way of doing things in Clark County.
Richard Cherchio is trying to fool everyone, he is supported by every union out there except for the police and fire unions. He has appointed his good friends to the planning commission and will say and do whatever it takes to keep his council seat. He is controlled by the largest union in Nevada, THE TEAMSTERS. Cherchio is a union puppet.
This story is nonense on a lot of fronts. Cherchio has waged a "brutal" campaign against Wagner too, wrongfully accusing him of being a union puppet, wrongfully claiming he wants to raise taxes, etc. This story doesn't mention how the Chamber of Commerce is in bed with Cherchio trying to get him to take away wages and benefits from middle class workers and give the surplus to the private sector. This story doesn't mention that the reason the City of NLV is so deep in the hole is because of the outrageous spending on unncessary capital projects like the brand new City Hall. Rather, there are a lot of half-truths and innuendo in this totally biased report.
this article was on the Las Vegas Sun front page but now is harder to find. It shows 9 Clark County high schools rated as top performers. Why doesn't the school board bench mark these schools for key success factors then implement them into the other CCSD high schools?
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may...
I usually don't vote regularly but this time I will make sure that all my family vote for anybody not endorsed by the so powerful unions.
Richard Cherchio is endorsed by the Teamsters, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Sheet metal workers union, Painters and Allied trades union, the Bricklayers and allied Craftsworkers union, the Associated General Contractors union, the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers union, the Plumbers and Pipefitters union and the LAS VEGAS SUN. This article fails to mention that. It also fails to mention how Cherchio claims to have brought hundreds of jobs to North Las Vegas via the solar plant. That was a lie. It doesn't say anything about how the city council has never voted to lower their own pay and fringe benefits.
This story is written for a purpose and its to losing politician playing the political game in order to try and get votes. This isnt about the unions. Its about people who have been entrusted with a task and those people not getting the job done. Cherchio, Wood, Robinson, Eliason and Buck have effectively driven this bus into a ditch. Give the keys to a new driver whether thats Wagner, Goynes-Brown or anyone else with a fresh mind that can lead this city back from the brink.
If you would remember, stories were written by this paper about how Sharron Angle was the best person for the job in the Senate elections. Any reasonable person should be able to see through the slant and make an informed decision.
The bill is due North Las Vegas and we can no longer afford to allow Cherchio or Wood to hold the credit cards or checkbook.
Unions want power as evidenced by this 1 minute youtube clip. Take a look.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCIlpb1d5...
One other thing this article fails to mention is how 40 firefighters are on the block to be let go in a few weeks. This after the City Council and the fire union agreed on concessions to save the city money. The author wrote about how this money was only enough to save the unions membership. It doesnt mention how the amount given up was the amount that the CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS told them they would need to save the previous 33. The CITY told them what they need to give up and thats exactly what the firefighters did.
If the firefighters DO get laid off, that means that alot of the ambulance calls would go to a private service like MedicWest or AMR. If MedicWest contributed to that campaign of anyone running for office and they get to profit from the firing of the firefighters and paramedics, isnt wrong.
This reporter had a chance to do a thorough investigative reporting job and chose to write an article that is severely slanted to paint one person in a very negative light while the others seems like a savior or sorts. Thats pretty low budget if you ask me.
tellitlikeitis...did you actually read the article? it mentions the new city hall, and how it was voted on before Cherchio was a commissioner.
Also, most of those other unions are not public sector unions supported by tax dollars.
Most of these guys don't live in north las vegas, yet they are putting out lies and false info to get their shill elected.
Everyone must get out and vote, and get out and support cherchio.
public unions just want more of our money. their phoney concessions are meaningless. it is a show to fool the taxpayer, just like the false ads they put out.
voter turn-out will be low, so it is important to get out and support cherchio!!
Churchio is trying to undo the damage done by all the previous administrations in NLV that ruined the city.
Almost no-one in the unions attacking him live in NLV. maybe 10% of all cops and firefighters live in NLV that work there.
If there was ever a reason to make sure you vote, this is it
First of all the Teamsters are supported by tax dollars. But the articles is titled Unions Target incumbent. It doesn't mention the ones that support him. Thus article us meant to paint unions ins negative light. It's not accurate at all. Tbvegas your response is an insult. Cherchio is trying to fix the city? By spending millions of dollars to have his new office fixed cause it was smaller then the others in the new city hall. Or by spending 25 million to have that rec center built on the air force base that his constituents can't use? The previous administrations have nothing to do with the millions that THIS administration has squandered. If u did your research about North Las Vegas instead if coming on here and writing nonsense u would know. How come bin of the other cities aren't in the distress that NLV is in? Because they have business minded people running there cities. We have people who still haven't figured out how to run their own finance let alone our city. But u just keep drinking the kool aid my friend.
All of these comments about how Cherchio is a savior and is trying to undo what the prior councils have done. Shouldn't he be voting against his fellow council members then? He is a union punk from way back, and is as dirty as the rest of the city council. You have some of the best Firefighters and police officers in the nation working in NLV. Why?, because the wages were a little higher than anywhere else. Wake up people, Cherchio and the rest of the current city council need to be voted out or recalled. But if you choose to be sheep and follow what they are telling you then good luck when you have private security firms (owned by Chechios friends) guarding your streets and inmates, and you get bills from Las Vegas and County fire for their services because Cherchio and the rest of the council thought it would be cheaper and in YOUR best interest.
I am so glad that someone finally set the record straight! Are firefighters and police unions so selfish that they would rather close our parks and libraries (which actually help families to create good citizens!) than to give up some of their cushy perks?!?! What good are a bazillion policemen if we have no places worth protecting? Quality of life matters for all of us, not just cops and firefighters!
And as for all the comments about the Teamsters and other unions - they have been the ones taking this burden on. They are our code enforcers, our park cleaners, our graffiti crews, etc. They have had to take cuts that the fire and police unions still refuse to take themselves! Everyone needs to help save this city, but we have to make sure there are parks and libraries and community events worth saving!
Councilman Richard Cherchio was appointed by the City Council in July 2009 to fill the City Council Ward 4 seat. Councilman Cherchio has been a resident of North Las Vegas since 2001. Councilman Cherchio civic involvement began in 2001, shortly after moving to North Las Vegas when he took the post of president of The Parks Homeowners Association. Councilman Cherchio is a hand's on type of guy, he is not scared to get his hands dirty and stand up for what he believes is right not what he believes people want to hear. Councilman Cherchio is a supporter of a uniformed gun law for North Las Vegas and we would like to see North Las Vegas adopt the same laws as the city of Las Vegas.
North Las Vegas COUNCIL - WARD 4
Councilman Richard Cherchio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2fHaKTs...
Did I read that right? According to POA Chairman Yarter, quality of life concerns like Parks and Libraries are "frivolous?" Without quality parks and recreation programs and without open and accessible libraries, the city will have more problems. If we can't keep kids occupied in a constructive manner, what do you think they'll do? Oh yeah, cause trouble.
Mr. Cherchio's opponent has been hand-selected by the Police Officers Association, International Association of Firefighters and Mayor Buck specifically for his "pliability." And he wants to raise property taxes? North Las Vegas already has the highest property tax rates in the Valley.
The Mayor is already on the record for SHUTTING DOWN all other city departments and outsourcing them in order to keep her Police and Fire patrons happy.
The city needs responsible leadership Councilman Cherchio and Councilwoman Wood provide that. They are the responsible adults in the room. Without responsible leadership, NLV property values will continue to drop and what little respectability the city has earned in recent years will be flushed down the toilet.
Public sector unions are a money laundering business for the Demorat party! Fire frauds and cops pay union dues, these union dues are then funnelled to the Demorat party as campaign donations. They also campaign for anyone that will support their conspiracy and continue the money laundering scheme. This article shows exaclty how this scheme works. Taxpayers need to wise up and vote these thugs out of office.
Looks like Wagner's flacks are showing up on this forum, posting as readers. "Tireoftheslant," a hypocritical user ID if there ever was one, registered to post TODAY. Same for "stinky66." In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they are one and the same campaign staffer/police or fireman's union flack.
Hey, I don't have a dog in this fight as I'm a resident of Las Vegas. But the police and fireman of NLV are richly compensated and that just won't fly in these extremely lean times. Oh, and the lie about Cherchio's "$800,000 houses" is just that, a lie. The Cherchios had ONE (1) house, which they lost to foreclosure. The $800K figure was on paper only, during the bubble that inflated all property values around the Valley. In any event, they lost that house. Stop the spreading of lies. Compete on the facts.
prime reason to get rid of collective bargaining...
Wade Wagner has my support. He is an established businessman with a very sucessful practice and has shown himself to be a class act. Just look at who is supporting Cherchio, the largest union in the state, the Teamsters. They are the LARGEST Public employee union in the city with over 900 employees.
Cherchio also somehow bought over a million dollars in real estate on a retired postmans salary?? Yeah right, he is from New Jersey, and should go back.
Smith,
STOP LYING about the real estate. I've already addressed the lies you and your "class act" Wagner spin. Put up (and show proof), or shut up.
Not to he overlooked is the race for the council seat in North Las Vegas WARD 2 between Pamela Goynes-Brown and Linda Meisenheimer. In this race LINDA MEISENHEIMER is the independent- thinks -for herself candidate who is not beholden to Mayor Buck or the Union interests who are backing Goynes-Brown. Meisenheimer is a true fiscal conservative who will vote according the interests of North Las Vegas, seeking what is right for the citizens and the City and not a mark for the highly limited and controlling aspirations of Mayor Buck and the sole interests of the unions. MEISENHEIMER , a realtor, understands the underlying problems facing the citizens of North Las Vegas and is prepared to face the issues squarely and objectively as an independent representative of the people.