Municipal elections endorsements

You probably didn't know it, but there's an election coming up. In fact, early voting for local municipal races starts this week. Voters in North Las Vegas and Henderson will select a new mayor, among other representatives, and those who live in northwest Las Vegas will elect a new member to the City Council.

Former Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown has moved on to the Clark County Commission, leaving Stavros Anthony and Glenn Trowbridge to compete for his seat. Mr. Anthony is a 30-year Las Vegas police veteran who also serves on the university system Board of Regents. Mr. Trowbridge is a former director of Clark County's parks and recreation department.

Both men are certainly qualified. But we believe the affable Mr. Anthony is more likely to challenge ongoing assumptions downtown -- his opposition to the mayor's new City Hall plan is a good example. And as a police officer, he has hands-on experience with the concerns about traffic and crime that tend to dominate many local neighborhoods.

We recommend a vote for Stavros Anthony.

In North Las Vegas, incumbent City Council members Shari Buck and William Robinson are seeking to replace term-limited Mayor Michael Montandon.

Mr. Robinson has been dogged of late by stories of his involvement in a 1990s FBI sting. Ms. Buck, meanwhile, is a reliable supporter of open government, responsive to her constituents, vows not to raise property taxes and takes a pragmatic approach to controlling public-sector salaries and benefits. "Let's not be outrageous" on pay, she said.

Shari Buck is the better choice.

Henderson voters also have a choice between two longtime council members, Andy Hafen and Steve Kirk, to replace a term-limited mayor, Jim Gibson.

Mr. Kirk brings to the race the advantage of a career spent in the private sector. "I know how raising taxes can affect a struggling business, a business owner trying to meet payroll," says the three-term city councilman.

Mr. Kirk also was the sole dissenting vote when the city decided to hire former police chief -- and former state Assembly speaker -- Richard Perkins "for $10,000 a month to go lobby for us in Carson City." Mr. Kirk is skeptical about the value of that expenditure.

We urge a vote for Steve Kirk.