Las Vegas City Council picks Seaman’s interim replacement

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday selected an interim replacement for former Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, who stepped down from her elected position to accept a job with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Kara Kelley, who will represent Ward 2 on the council until the 2026 election, will take the oath of office during a special meeting slated for Sept. 30.

She thanked the council for a “vote of confidence.”

“I am going to be dedicating most of my time to serving this ward,” Kelley said.

Councilwoman Nancy Brune said that the candidate had expressed that she would be tackling the role full-time and that she’s been a “lifelong” nonpartisan.

Kelley is the vice chair of the Colorado River Commission of Nevada and previously held the position of CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, where she worked from 1995 to 2010, according to her resume.

She is the founder and CEO of The Kelley Co. LLC, a consulting firm.

No special election

Earlier this month, the council decided to appoint an interim council member to serve out Seaman’s term rather than calling for a special election that would’ve cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to city officials.

Responding to criticism about skipping an election, Councilman Brian Knudsen defended the stance, noting that the process would have delayed filling the seat for months.

He added that filing for the election would have followed shortly after in March.

“And so it just didn’t seem prudent,” Knudsen said. “And so that was one of the biggest considerations for me, is just trying to be as fiscally conservative as we can.”

A three-day open application term attracted 57 candidates, 17 of whom didn’t meet Ward 2 residency requirements, officials said.

Kelley would be a “caretaker” of the seat and pledged not to run for the position next year or interfere in the race, an unenforceable requirement from the city.

She was chosen among 40 viable candidates, which the City Council narrowed to three.

Like Kelley, Las Vegas Planning Commissioner Serena Kasama and Tom Warden, a consultant for The Howard Hughes Corp., presented their case to the council Wednesday.

Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske first motioned for a Kasama vote, which failed 2-4. Kelley then received a unanimous vote.

Kelley has three decades of experience in leadership roles and holds degrees in political science and communications from UNLV, according to her resume.

She’s a 23-year resident of Ward 2, which represents about 127,000 residents in southwest Las Vegas, and has nearly 30 years of leadership experience, her application said.

“What draws me to this appointment is not ambition, but service,” she wrote. “The open seat provides a chance to step in quickly and contribute in a direct, meaningful, and practical way.”

The next council member could be elected as early as June if they get more than 50 percent of the primary vote. If no one does, the top two candidates advance to a November runoff.

The candidates for the interim position were asked in the application how they would approach approval for a controversial project in Ward 2.

“Listen. Engage. Acknowledge. Decide,” Kelley wrote. “When a controversial project arises, unanimity is an unrealistic goal. However, it is important to ensure all voices are heard and respected. Policy consensus is difficult even in the best of circumstances.”

The position pays nearly $110,000 a year, according to the city.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.