LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A brand new face on the Henderson Metropolis Council won’t solely give politics in Nevada’s second-biggest metropolis a brand new look, however, it may end in a stalemate when the town’s mayor recuses herself or in any other case can not vote, interviews performed by the 8 Information Now Investigators reveal.
Monica Larson, a relative newcomer to the Las Vegas Valley, dubbed a longtime incumbent – Dan Shaw of Ward II – in November’s election, profitable the favored vote by 13 proportion factors and about 5,000 votes. Shaw, Mayor Michelle Romero, and councilmen Jim Seebock and Dan Stewart usually vote collectively, in line with one other member of the council, Ward II’s Carrie Cox.
Cox – who received a contentious election of her personal because the final at-large candidate ever to be seated on the board – stated the addition of Larson to the council may break up what she says is commonly a four-to-one voting block with herself usually voting no when the others vote sure and sure when the others vote no.
When it’s 4 to 1, then these are these are laborious odds,” Cox said. “And I get round that generally and I can get issues completed. However when it is three to 2, it may change the dynamics and I believe that that can be useful.”
Cox stated when the mayor recuses herself from voting – as she usually does on the recommendation of the town lawyer throughout votes involving Las Vegas Paving, the place her husband and son work – it would pressure the councilmembers to work collectively to come back to an inexpensive end result when the eventual vote finally ends up two-to-two.
“I think it’s going to give some more negotiating leverage,” Cox stated. “You know, with each other, that we’re going to be able to not have a foregone conclusion of. Well, they can put anything through pretty much with a 4-1 vote.”
Larson, who informed the 8 Information Now Investigators she will not be effectively acquired by the council after unseating Shaw, stated she appears to be like ahead to creating progress on the council in a few of her key areas, together with public security, schooling and beginning the conferences within the night as an alternative of within the afternoon.
When requested if she thought the dynamic may very well be contentious, Larson stated, “It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest bit.”
Larson started her foray into Henderson politics by attempting to contact Shaw to deal with public issues of safety – speeders in her neighborhood, particularly – and her emails and telephone calls went unanswered. So she started attending the town council conferences each different Tuesday and ultimately determined to run in opposition to Shaw.
“I was determined at that point because you’re a public servant and you’re a public official,” Larson stated of Shaw. “You serve the people you don’t serve yourself. And I was determined to make an example out of them to let them know we the people don’t subscribe to that.”
Cox stated Larson picked up on a key to success in native politics – being attentive to constituents.
“Everything, our economy growth, everything impacts and effects, our residents, our constituents,” Cox stated, not unaware of Larson’s genesis from constituent to councilwoman.
Shaw, who together with all metropolis councilors except Cox, didn’t reply to a written request for an interview for this story. Romero supplied the next assertion, seen right here in its entirety:
“We congratulate Dr. Monica Larson on her successful campaign and look forward to welcoming her to the Henderson City Council when she takes the Oath of Office on January 7, 2025. She will have our collective support as she represents the residents and businesses of Ward II and the interests of our great City. We also extend our deep gratitude to Councilman Dan Shaw for his dedicated service to our community, beginning in 1987 with the Henderson Parks and Recreation Board, 11 years on the Planning Commission, and serving on the City Council for the last seven years.”
Shaw’s final council assembly is December 17.
