Honored with humor

Friends, family and fellow politicians show appreciation

GV/AN/VIEW--Henderson councilman Andy Hafen sits with his wife Debi Hafen at a dinner thrown in his honor by the Henderson Senior Auxiliary. The councilman was recognized for 18 years of service to the community. Wednesday, May 4,2005--View photo by shelly donahue

When it comes to city councilman Andy Hafen, Mayor Jim Gibson wonders if the reason Henderson has the highest bond rating in Nevada is because Hafen opts for fast food over restaurant dinners when traveling.

"We're going to a nice restaurant, and Andy opens up a Big Mac coupon," Gibson said. "I understand now why we have the rating we have."

Former Mayor Lorna Kesterson remembers Hafen, a Henderson native, as the smart young boy down the street.

"I thought my son was a genius, but he told me he had to defer to Andy to get some help in his classes," she said.

These were just some of the funny and complimentary stories shared about Hafen, a city councilman since 1987, at the Henderson Seniors' Auxiliary's Roast, Toast, Thank Councilman Andy Hafen event, held May 4 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 Water St.

With all proceeds going to the Henderson Senior Center's food programs, about 100 people, including many community leaders, gathered to honor Hafen's 18 years of service.

The event put the quiet politician in the spotlight, a place he usually avoids.

"I hope you know everything I say tonight is going to be the truth," Kesterson said. "I was looking for something spicy about Andy. I called 100,000 people in Henderson, and I didn't find out anything."

Sitting in the "love seat of honor" on stage with his wife, Debi, Hafen listened on as colleagues and friends described his personality.

"He's quiet until he needs to assert himself," Gibson said, having worked with Hafen for the last eight years.

"I feel that when Andy tells me something I can take it to the bank," Kesterson said. "His integrity can't be questioned, which is refreshing in this day."

KTNV-TV, Channel 13, weather forecaster Mark Pfister emceed the roast.

"We've run out of people to honor," he said. "Next week we're getting the cable guy from down the street. Now I'd like to introduce Bruce Woodbury, the only one not heard on FBI tapes recently."

Woodbury, the Clark County commissioner who serves with Hafen on the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada board, said he'd go easy on Hafen because he's been honored with similar events in the past.

"It's my observation Andy's in government and politics for all the right reasons," he said.

Hafen holds the longest tenure on the Henderson City Council, having been re-elected to his fifth term in Ward 2 in 2003.

Perched on a stand beside him on stage was a blown up picture of Hafen, his wife, son and five daughters in 1987 wearing "Hafen for Council" T-shirts.

"They're all registered voters now," Hafen said of his children, when Pfister asked him how many relatives came out for the roast.

A 1972 graduate of Basic High School, Hafen, 51, has lived in Henderson his entire life, with the exception of one year spent in Las Vegas while attending UNLV.

Giving back to the community was always practiced in the Hafen household, with several relatives having served in the Utah and Nevada state legislatures.

"In my family, we were always brought up to serve your fellow man, your community, to be of help," Hafen said. "It's just been expected of me my whole life, kind of the way we were raised. Give back to the community because you've been given so much."

Having served one-third of his life with the City Council, Hafen estimates he's been involved in about two-thirds of city planning.

Henderson's population growth is one of the most obvious changes he's witnessed over the years. He said when he was first elected to council, the city was home to fewer than 50,000 residents, and now it's approaching 250,000, as the second largest city in Nevada.

Hafen attributes the population surge to master-planned communities introduced in the mid-1970s, laying out where and how neighborhoods, parks and schools would be built.

"It was right for the time," he said. "Out of that came the parks we have in the community. We're well-known for our parks and recreation department. We have the best department. I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging. It's just a fact."

Hafen said Henderson also has turned into a bedroom community.

"We have transcended from an industrial, blue-collar workforce to a bedroom community, more professional," he said. "They live here and play here, but they don't work here. The plants were the big Henderson employers, and that's not true anymore."

A retiree, Hafen served for more than 20 years in special investigations for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and worked as a clerk for the FBI for four years.

Besides his continued work with the council and the RTC, Hafen also serves on many boards, including the Henderson Planning Commission and Redevelopment Agency.

To this day, his family still owns OK Tire Store on Lake Mead Parkway, a business his father opened in 1953.

Othena Williams, president of the Henderson Seniors' Auxiliary, requested a standing ovation for Hafen at the roast.

"He's done so much," she said. "He's been in the service of the city for 18 years, and no one's ever given him a pat on the back. We needed to make sure he knows he's loved and appreciated."