ELECTIONS 2009: Candidate discusses family, history

Councilwoman a mother of four kids

CRAIG L. MORAN/ViewNorth Las Vegas councilwoman and mayoral candidate Shari Buck stands in her North Las Vegas home. Buck credits her parents with teaching her the value of hard work. Advertisement

Editor's Note: This is the first article in a weekly four-part series profiling candidates in the general municipal election.

North Las Vegas mayoral candidate Shari Buck, 48, may be hot on the campaign trail until June, but the certified scuba instructor and mother of four is intent on not losing sight of what is really important in life: the prosperity of her family and the community as a whole.

"I want this community and its people to succeed," she said. "That has always been my goal."

Buck grew up with parents who were high school sweethearts, and she credits the pair with instilling in her the value of hard work and public service.

"Both of my parents were and are active public servants," she said. "I grew up in the atmosphere of looking to the welfare of others."

Buck was born in North Carolina and lived on the base at Camp Lejeune for the first six months of her life.

Buck's family made the move to North Las Vegas soon after her birth, where her father took a job on the police force and eventually became police chief.

At an early age, Buck discovered and nurtured a love of reading that eventually led to earning a bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University in 1982.

"For the first few years I was out of college, I couldn't bring myself to pick up a book," she said. "Which was a shame because I love books so dearly. But, I was worn out from reading so much material for my classes."

She has since recovered her love of the written word and has been especially fixated on Victorian period literature of late.

"There's this romantic quality to Dickens and Brontë you can't find in much of today's literature," she said. "As a hobby, I'd say this is one of the most enjoyable there is."

Buck has been married to the same man, Keith, a rugged Idaho cowboy-type who she met after graduating from college, for nearly 30 years. Buck said she has never been much for the outdoors, but that on their first date and until they became engaged, she overcame her fear of horses to ride with him.

"He loved it, so I faced that fear to do something that made him happy until we got engaged," she said. "Then I had him hooked, and I didn't need to ride anymore."

The couple moved to Pocatello, Idaho, not long after being married. Through the years, four children came along, one of the greatest blessings in her life, according to Buck.

"I got to stay home with my kids," she said. "I realize how lucky I was."

In 1998, Buck joined the work force by substitute teaching and gained what she describes as a healthy respect for what teachers do every day.

"They're definitely underpaid," she said.

Buck began traveling in semi-political circles and was introduced to Mayor Michael Montandon, who later appointed her to the planning commission.

"Shari is a great person," Montandon said. "She really cares for the people in this community."

In 1999, Buck ran for City Council and defeated the incumbent.

"I must have lost 20 pounds that year from walking," she said. "We knocked on so many doors. But the community was smaller then. You could reach a lot of people that way."

Buck said that in five years, she sees herself as the busy mayor of North Las Vegas, bent on creating a community where neighbors care for neighbors and a feeling of closeness permeates.

"That's my goal," she said. "I want to bring people together."

Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.