LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Justin Jones is not going to search re-election to the Clark County Fee in 2026, he introduced on social media Monday afternoon.
A bitter battle towards a developer who finally gained approval to construct homes close to Pink Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space got here with a political value. A federal court docket Justice of the Peace’s ruling that Jones deleted textual content messages that favored builders resulted within the county approving an $80 million settlement with the corporate owned by Jim Rhodes, who has been making an attempt to construct on Blue Diamond Hill for many years.
Jones additionally did professional bono work for Save Pink Rock, a conservation group shaped to cease the event.
Jones narrowly prevented disbarment, receiving a reprimand as an alternative from the State Bar of Nevada.
Blue Diamond Hill will be seen within the heart of this picture taken from contained in the scenic loop space of Pink Rock Canyon. (Picture: Duncan Phenix – KLAS)
Opponents have had their eyes on the District F fee seat. Republican Heidi Kasama is stepping away from the Nevada Meeting to run for the submit. And whereas it isn’t a partisan race, a victory by Kasama would put a second Republican on the fee, which has lengthy been managed by Democrats.
Kasama introduced her candidacy on Sept. 2 after Victoria Seaman exited to take a federal job out of state.
In a press release posted on Fb at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jones stated he would work to elect one other Democrat to his District F fee seat and “continue the progress that I and my colleagues have made for Southern Nevada.” His full assertion seems on the backside of this story.
Clark County Supervisor Kevin Schiller stated the choice to pay $80 million to Gypsum Sources, Rhodes’ firm, was made as a result of the county stood to lose $2 billion if the case went to court docket.
Funds for brand new county parks — lengthy a precedence for Jones — had been reduce considerably within the effort to give you cash to pay the settlement. Most of these cuts had been to tasks in District F, which incorporates the Mountain’s Edge and Southern Highlands areas within the southwest valley, areas west of Durango Drive and alongside the 215 Beltway as much as Charleston Boulevard, in addition to neighborhoods north of Flamingo Highway extending to I-15.
Rhodes made a number of concessions to the county as a part of the settlement settlement, together with a discount within the measurement of the event. What was as soon as a 5,000-home growth will as an alternative be 3,500 items.
Jones was reprimanded by the Nevada Fee on Ethics for misconduct within the matter.
Ethics officers are anticipated to problem an opinion quickly on whether or not Jones and a number of other different commissioners violated ethics guidelines after they accepted four-day tickets to the 2023 Method 1 race in Las Vegas, which officers stated had been valued at $10,000 every.
Jones’ full assertion:
“It has been the dignity of a lifetime to serve Nevada in elected positions on the state and native stage and I’m pleased with the work I’ve accomplished to advocate for higher infrastructure, improve housing affordability, increase entry to parks and pure areas, diversify our financial system, and increase behavioral well being providers. I consider that I’m however a caretaker of a legacy far larger than myself and the time has come for me at hand off that baton. After weighing the trials of one other marketing campaign and discussing with my household, I’ve determined not search reelection in 2026 and can as an alternative work exhausting to elect one other Democrat in District F to proceed the progress that I and my colleagues have made for Southern Nevada.
That stated, I’m not going anyplace simply but! I’ll dedicate my remaining time in workplace centered on key priorities for District F and Clark County, and even after my time period ends, will proceed combating for a similar priorities that I’ve whereas serving the individuals of Nevada and Clark County.
I need to categorical great gratitude to the household, associates and supporters who’ve been there for me for years, by means of good instances and dangerous. I wouldn’t be right here right this moment with out you!
Now again to work for Clark County!”
