LAS VEGAS -- In just two weeks, Las Vegas residents with aspirations to become the city's next leader will be able to officially file to run for mayor. Mayor Oscar Goodman's reign as mayor will come to an end this year due to term limits.
Already, many are lining up to put their names on the ballot to be the next mayor. There are five people who have publicly announced their candidacy. If one of them doesn't get 50 percent of the vote on April 5th, then two remaining candidates face off June 7th.
The race to replace Goodman officially begins January 25th, when candidates can file for office. Some, like Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, are already campaigning.
Brown, a former Las Vegas city councilman, is running on experience and envisions cutting costs at city government.
"Are there services that the city has grown into that we should get out of? Is there something in the private sector that we're doing and competing with the private sector and if so, why," he said. "Privatization and public-private partnerships are something we should aggressively pursue."
Current City Councilman Steve Ross says he plans to expand Goodman's downtown redevelopment to other Las Vegas neighborhoods.
"We've been in the process of streamlining our government to make it easier to do business with the City of Las Vegas and we've got to have that mentality. We've got to have that attitude. We're a customer service driven government and we need to be that way," he said.
Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce President Katherine Duncan's first proposal is to help residents save money with a home weatherization effort, while highlighting what she calls a neglected area of the city.
"We like to develop the historic Westside school neighborhood. There's a tremendous development opportunity there that I think will not only bring tourism to Las Vegas, but will also create a whole new identity for this particular historic neighborhood," she said.
Anthony Wernicke has never held office, but views it as a strength as he takes his signs to the corner of Alta and Jones.
"Small businesses in Las Vegas don't have a chance. Other than the Fremont Street Experience, you don't have a chance as a small business. You have to go through all the red tape. As your mayor, if you come to me and say, 'Wernicke, I'm a little guy like you. I'm a small business. I'm going to open downtown.' I'm going to make it easy for you," he said.
The fifth announced candidate, real estate agent Marlene Rogoff, could not be reached for an interview. She has a website that lists her proposals.
