Las Vegas City Council to fill Ward 2 vacancy via appointment rather than special election

By Dana Gentry

Nevada Current

The Las Vegas City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint a replacement for Victoria Seaman, who resigned from the position last week to become a regional director in Denver for President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services.

The council rejected the prospect of holding a special election, which is projected to cost $467,000, according to city officials.

The council is seeking applicants interested in temporarily representing Ward 2. The application, which is posted on the city website, includes a pledge from the applicant that they will not run for election to the council next year.

“There’s nothing that we can do to enforce that. Is that correct?” Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong inquired of the city attorney, who agreed the appointed councilmember could not legally be prohibited from running.

“While it’s not legally binding, it’s very important, from my perspective, that this council not engage in any electioneering or trying to give one candidate an advantage over another,” Councilwoman Francis Allen Palenske responded.

Appointed council members are historically at an advantage in subsequent elections.

In 2004, newly appointed Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson faced 11 challengers in the city’s general election, but prevailed and went on to win another two elections to the seat. 

The city intends to advertise the council opening on its website today through 5 p.m. Friday.

Applicants must live in Ward 2, which encompasses much of Summerlin.

The mayor and council will individually review the applications and resumes and submit their top three in ranking order to Human Resources by Sept. 7, according to Human Resources Director Vince Zamora. Based on the council rankings, HR will forward the top three finalists for discussion at the Sept. 17 City Council meeting.

In the event of a tie, finalists will have three minutes to present their qualifications at the meeting and the council will vote.

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Dana Gentry is a native Las Vegan and award-winning investigative journalist. She is a graduate of Bishop Gorman High School and holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.