Commissioner Brown plans run for mayor in 2011

Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown said Tuesday he plans to run for Las Vegas mayor next year.

The former Las Vegas city councilman is the first candidate to announce for the job. Brown, 53, is in his first term on the commission.

Mayor Oscar Goodman cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

"The commission has been wonderful, and I will continue to serve full time here," Brown said.

But "this is a great opportunity," he said of the open mayoral race. "This is certainly a larger scope, a broader perspective."

As a councilman he represented about 100,000 people, and as a commissioner he represents 300,000. Las Vegas' mayor is elected at-large for a population of about 600,000.

"I say it's a great opportunity and the timing's right for a specific reason," Brown said. "With the current economy and the current state of affairs, it's a great opportunity for the city to redefine itself, to focus on the core services that people expect (and) to come out of this economy more efficient."

Public safety, roads, sewers and parks are all core services, and "beyond that is where we have to identify the role of the city."

Brown said downtown development -- something that Goodman has pushed for, especially in the development of Symphony Park and a new city hall on Main Street -- "will be a focus."

"That is critically important to the health of the city," Brown said.

Brown, a former professional baseball player, has worked for the Las Vegas Valley Water District. He was elected to the City Council in 1997 and successfully ran for County Commission in 2008.

Brown and Goodman are Democrats.

City elections are nonpartisan. Brown and any other candidates who file will compete against one another in the April 5 municipal primary. If no candidate receives a majority then, the top two finishers will compete in the general election June 7.

When it comes to public personas, Brown is the polar opposite of Goodman, who is known for bold suits, martinis, showgirls and occasionally shooting from the hip.

Brown is one of the commission's least vocal members and is not known for championing any particular causes. He sees himself as being prudent about spending the public's money. He pushed through a three-month moratorium on fee increases this year.

Through a spokesman, Goodman said Tuesday that he would support any mayoral candidate "who is committed to continuing the renaissance of downtown."

Brown at least promised that if elected, he would be better than Goodman at throwing first pitches at baseball games.

"I can guarantee one thing: Big League Weekend down at Cashman Field, I will throw a first-pitch strike," Brown said. "He's one for 23."

Review-Journal writer Scott Wyland contributed to this report. Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or at 229-6435.