ELECTION 2011: What is the biggest challenge facing North Las Vegas, and how do you plan to address that issue if elected?

Jacob Stephens III Anthony Snowden Marsha Kimble-Simms Laurie Diefenbach Richard Cherchio Carl Gatson Linda Meisenheimer Pamela Goynes-Brown Wade Wagner Catherine Ramsey Tanya Flanagan Donishia Campbell Advertisement

View posed the question "What is the biggest challenge facing North Las Vegas, and how do you plan to address that issue if elected?" to all 14 candidates for North Las Vegas City Council wards 2 and 4 and Municipal Court judge department 1. Early voting for the primary elections runs March 16 through April 1. The election is April 5. Responses were collected via e-mail, and candidates were asked to limit their answers to 200 or fewer words. Responses were edited for punctuation and grammatical errors.

City Council Ward 2

Jacob Stephens III

"The biggest challenge facing (North Las Vegas) is jobs. Saving them and employment stimulus would be my primary goal. Retention of jobs can be achieved through fiscal analysis and fair distribution of tax dollars to keep private and public jobs safe. With this approach, the creation of jobs would take place from the review of the city budget and taxes by fresh eyes to be sure that monies are committed to projects and city personnel that can guarantee future employment absent consultants and retained experts."

Carl Gatson

"As a small-business owner, I believe the single biggest issue facing the city of North Las Vegas is more jobs. Without jobs, people can't pay their mortgages, and when people don't pay their mortgages, you essentially have broken communities. Today, communities are broken because the people in them are broken. When people are broken, you have an entire breakdown of institutions within the community as families, the economy, schools, and dare I say churches, are all broken! The truth is we're not victims of an unjust, oppressive and racist America, and the time is now that we as a people stop placing the blame and start fixing the problems. If elected, I plan to incentivize the ones who are going to jump-start the economy: the small-business owner and the consumers of Ward 2. First of all, the small-business owners are the engine that drives good economies, so using the city charter to grant them some relief can be done almost immediately. Second, because of so much mistrust in the way the government functions, I believe an internal cleansing of the city is necessary to restore confidence in the people!"

Linda Meisenheimer

"The biggest challenge for North Las Vegas has to be the effects the economy has had on our community. With unemployment in NLV at an all-time high, many residents have been affected by the loss of income, homes are being foreclosed and crime rates have increased. Home values have depreciated, yet the cost of goods and services has skyrocketed while income stays the same or is decreased. The economy has had a profound impact on new businesses throughout our community. Lending institutions have virtually stopped providing start-up loans or working capital loans, which has stifled businesses' ability to create new jobs in the private sector in our community as well as across the country. As a Realtor, I have seen firsthand the impact this economy has had on our community. Working with other city council members, we will make sure we bring in new businesses to NLV that will stimulate the economy, like the recently voted Gensler Project, which will bring much-needed construction jobs as well as permanent jobs. It will also bring taxes for NLV. We need to rein in spending and balance the budget so we can begin to grow and prosper again."

Pamela Goynes-Brown

"The biggest single challenge facing North Las Vegas is the creation and stabilization of jobs. My focus, if elected, will be to search for the most responsive and feasible path to creating jobs. With high unemployment comes harmful economic and social consequences. Families, businesses and the government all suffer when we have unemployed citizens. In the short term, I will look at where there are revenue streams available to begin projects, public works projects, and fast-track those so we can begin to hire workers. Part-time work should also be considered where possible. Part-time work may be a good way for companies to begin to hire during the recovery period. In the long term, I will reach out to existing business owners and seek their assistance in identifying their vendor or industry associates to see if it makes sense for them to move to North Las Vegas and open a branch or relocate a headquarters to our community. I will work with our Economic Development Department to ensure we are not leaving any stone unturned when it comes to getting in front of companies looking to move. I will set aside specific hours each week to focus on creating jobs."

William E. Robinson II (photo unavailable)

"I think that the biggest challenge facing North Las Vegas is obviously the economy, which brought about the record unemployment, and subsequently, the foreclosure crisis. We need to bring more accountability to city government, and bring city spending in line with our new economic reality. I want to mandate that the city's checkbook be posted online so all citizens can see how their tax dollars are spent. I will fight for more transparency in city government by proposing to make government more accessible by broadcasting City Council meetings over the Internet. There will be no end to the foreclosure crisis that is destroying our home values if our citizens can't find work. We just can't move forward without finding a way to generate new jobs, and I will advocate for incentives to small businesses that relocate to North Las Vegas and cut bureaucratic red tape for businesses already operating here. I understand the issues and challenges that North Las Vegas faces, and I have the passion and commitment necessary to tackle them head on. These are just some of my ideas, and I look forward to starting a new conversation about the future of our city so that together we can develop other ideas as well."

Anthony Snowden

"The biggest challenge facing North Las Vegas is (an) overwhelming amount of foreclosures within the neighborhoods and the need to connect families, communities and neighborhoods with information, resources and services to help them during this difficult time. In terms of foreclosures ... I would call for an audit of the federally funded (Neighborhood Stabilization Programs) to determine (the) number of homes that have been purchased, retrofitted and made available for purchase on the private market for first time home buyers to stabilize the tax base to ensure that some funds were being generated for the city. I would request that the city submit a substantial amendment to (Housing and Urban Development) to reprogram a portion of those NSP funds to provide "bridge loans" to families at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure and collaborate with the (state's) Housing Division to (provide) information to the community to enable them to access those resources and not fall victim to the home loan re-modification predators. ... The city needs to be more responsive and responsible to its citizens by creating a climate which encourages business to want to come and operate in NLV."

Tanya Flanagan

"The biggest challenge facing the city of North Las Vegas pertains to the fiscal management and viability of the city. A partial solution rests with economic development and evaluation of the current budget to determine the best way to allocate and manage resources. If I am elected, I will work with the Council to make the city an inviting place to do business. I would look to create small business incentives that enhance the environment for existing businesses and attract new businesses to the city. I envision a business corridor in North Las Vegas similar to the Howard Hughes Center designed to attract corporate offices and further diversify our economic base. Last, I see our city benefitting greatly from destination attractions such as that the city of Henderson has with The District and Las Vegas with Boca Park. North Las Vegas is a great place to visit, and I believe we will do well in the future by having an attraction that our residents, neighboring city residents and tourists can enjoy."

City Council Ward 4

Wade Wagner

"I believe there is not one single biggest challenge facing our city. I believe there are a four major challenges that are all intertwined. Economy and jobs: I would like to create an environment that is business friendly. Streamlining the permitting process, reducing fees and offering tax incentives are ways to attract businesses to North Las Vegas. I would also like to see language in project labor agreements that would require the hiring of local workers. Public safety: Our citizens should feel safe in their neighborhoods, and businesses should feel safe moving here. We need more law enforcement officers patrolling our streets. Foreclosures: Foreclosures are littering our city, inducing crime and reducing the value of our homes. I support the creation of a foreclosure database to help police monitor those areas hardest hit by foreclosures. I would like to pass ordinances to force landlords (whoever they are) to maintain vacant properties. Fiscal responsibility: City leaders have an obligation to the taxpayers in North Las Vegas to spend their money wisely. The investments made by our local government must be both creative and fiscally sound."

Richard Cherchio

"I've spent my life delivering for my family and neighbors, and I've brought that same spirit of service to City Hall. ... On city council, I've fought to balance the city's budget without raising taxes or fees. I've worked with my colleagues (to) eliminate government waste, asked city employees to accept cutbacks in wages and worked to cut red tape and other hurdles so businesses can create jobs. I'm proud to fight every day to bring our economy back. Looking at new ideas to get the economy moving again, like the business corridor master plan we just established. As one of the few municipalities in Clark County with room for businesses to locate and grow, North Las Vegas has unique advantages, and we are now poised to capitalize on them. Creating jobs, like we did when the city lured solar manufacturer Amonix to North Las Vegas, is my top priority. As I have done for the past decade, I will continue to vigorously fight for a better North Las Vegas. Whether it's working with police to expand citizens on patrol, or working with the fire department to update old and antiquated codes, I'm ready for the challenge to bring North Las Vegas back and keep delivering for our citizens."

Goldie Pitchford (photo unavailable)

"First, managing the impact of the economy on city services. We need to support the business community to ensure the city of North Las Vegas remains a destination where people want to visit, live and spend money. Small infrastructure projects such as trees, lighting and facade programs contribute. Important city council actions should include: Continue to control and monitor expenditures; support staff in implementing the cost controlling measures of 2010-2011 budget while minimizing reduction of force; look for partnership opportunities with surrounding towns and cities with similar community value; continue to educate the residents that the money spent in North Las Vegas directly fills the city's general fund (and) maximize technology to reduce costs. The General Plan, Zoning and Ordinance needs continued monitoring for compatibility of uses and a business-friendly revenue-generating economy. There are solutions, preferably without tradeoffs. I support zoning that entices new businesses to North Las Vegas. We need a council that gives confidence to investors, entrepreneurs and citizens in North Las Vegas. The city should not risk taxpayer dollars underwriting small-business loans."

Municipal Court Judge Dept. 1

Laurie Diefenbach

"One of the biggest challenges facing the city of North Las Vegas is the lack of funding. This could cause reductions of essential services, including the Municipal Court system. Instead of expanding programs to reduce incidences of repeat offenders and to address the underlying causes of crime, the city's funding problems would put such efforts on hold. One way to address the lack of funding for valuable court programs would be to investigate and apply for alternative sources of funding, such as grants, or imposing fees on the users of Municipal Court. Should alternative sources of funding be unavailable, then an effort must be made to identify and prioritize these programs so that when the funding crisis eases, these programs are not forgotten but implemented."

Marsha Kimble-Simms

"The biggest issue facing North Las Vegas is fiscal. If elected, I would work to preserve existing resources and seek new sources of revenue to preserve public safety jobs so that seniors, families and business owners feel safe in North Las Vegas. I would speak before (the) city council requesting funding to maintain the court system. I would go to Carson City and request that the city receive its fair share of state sales tax revenue. The city's share of sales tax is based upon a 1989 survey. I would seek federal funding to support programs for victims of domestic violence and continue the Life of Crime Program for first time offenders. If they complete the program, their case is dismissed. I would work with community groups, churches, and charitable organizations with existing programs that provide counseling, detoxification, job training and support to repeat offenders to break the cycle of criminal activity. This reduces crime and cuts expenses by reducing case loads. North Las Vegas Municipal Court is the busiest court in the state. I would recruit volunteer bilingual court advocates. People fluent in English and Spanish learn courtroom procedure, explain the court proceedings to defendants and help people through the court process."

Donishia Campbell

"The economic crisis of the last few years continues to plague our city. Hard-working people, families, continue to struggle just to make ends meet. One of the most obvious reminders of this crisis is the foreclosure rate in our city. We are all impacted in some way. Clearly, those most directly affected are the families that have lost their homes. However, the entire neighborhood feels the ripple effect of vacant houses on the block. These vacancies threaten the safety of our community because they attract vandals, thieves and even squatters. From the bench, I will devise and support sentencing alternatives that will allow people to maintain the jobs they have struggled to find. Community service or intermittent jail terms would be utilized reasonably. This keeps working people working. Of course, people who need to be punished by lengthy jail sentences will be. However, it is fiscally irresponsible to use jail time in lieu of fines for minor charges and traffic tickets. This costs our city, because the fines still go unpaid and the city foots the bill to house the inmates. I understand the importance of maintaining one's livelihood. I will be firm but fair."

Catherine Ramsey

"The biggest challenge facing North Las Vegas is the budget crisis, which is a direct result of the same monetary problems facing all citizens and businesses in our city. It is important to elect people knowledgeable and capable of dealing with the obstacles facing the city in the future. I am the best candidate to help find solutions to the questions we will be facing because I am the only one with direct knowledge and experience in the very court in which I am a candidate. I have 25 years of legal experience, nine as an attorney in civil service and four as an attorney for the City of North Las Vegas. I have the ability to listen to facts, fairly assess the circumstances, and (am) quick to suggest appropriate and fair resolutions. I believe in equality for citizens and justice for the community. I have worked with juveniles to deter them from crime and will lend my hand to make funding possible to continue Life of Crime, a youth diversion program. As a former deputy district attorney, I have been said to be "the only choice" and "fair and equitable" by colleagues. Please see my website for more information: www.catherine ramsey.com."

To register

Anyone who needs to register to vote in North Las Vegas' municipal elections may do so in person from March 6 through March 15 at the City Clerk's Office, 2200 Civic Center Drive.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting for the primary begins March 16 and ends April 1. The election is April 5. Voters can cast their ballots at North Las Vegas City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive, at any early voting site location or on Election Day at their polling places.

Early voting sites:

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 19 and March 20 -- Albertsons, 3010 W. Ann Road.

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 21 -- Sun City Aliante Community Center, 7390 Aliante Pkwy.

*10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 22 -- Alexander Library, 1755 W. Alexander Road.

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 23 and March 24 -- Trailer at Cheyenne Point Shopping Center Parking Lot, 2155 E. Cheyenne Ave.

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 25 -- Trailer at Food 4 Less, 2255 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 26 and March 27 -- Trailer at Park Central Plaza, 5960 Losee Road.

*10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 28 -- Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Way.

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 29 and March 30 --Silver Mesa Recreational Center, 4025 Allen Lane.

*9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 31 and April 1 -- Trailer at Lowe's, 2570 E. Craig Road.