Fifth candidate files to run for North Las Vegas mayor

Former Planning Commissioner Ned Thomas on Tuesday became North Las Vegas' fifth mayoral candidate, revealing his "true grass-roots campaign" on the steps of city hall.

After filing his candidacy, Thomas, 43, had a rally before some 40 supporters, his wife, who is also his campaign manager, and their four children.

Thomas, an urban planner for Henderson, said he will focus on fiscal responsibility, listening to the concerns of residents and bringing new businesses to the city to help shore up the local economy.

"Times have changed," he said. "We are at a new threshold. Growth has slowed down, and we need to decide what is going to define us in the years to come."

Thomas has a bachelor's degree in geography from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in urban planning from Harvard University. So far Thomas faces four challengers: City Council members Shari Buck, William Robinson and Stephanie Smith, and homeless advocate John 3:16 Cook.

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon's term expires this year and he is prohibited from running again because of term limits. Montandon plans to run for governor in 2010.

Also on Tuesday, Sam Christos filed to run for Las Vegas' Ward 4 City Council spot, bringing to five the number of candidates for the open seat.

Christos, who teaches English at Cheyenne High School, deals blackjack part time and is a licensed real estate agent, described himself as progressive and said he's very familiar with the problems confronting Nevada workers: layoffs, pay cuts, reduced hours and plummeting real estate values.

"These are the worker bees who keep our city going," he said. "If we don't treat them right, they will leave Southern Nevada, along with the young people who won't want to spend their futures in an under-funded Nevada."

While he's in favor of downtown redevelopment, Christos said projects, including a proposed new city hall, should be shelved for now: "Let's postpone our excitement and not rush to relocate city hall."

The other candidates in the race are Stavros Anthony, a police captain and university system regent; Gary Hosea, a Clark County employee who ran for commissioner last year; Yvonne Karim, a United Airways flight attendant; and Glenn Trowbridge, a former Clark County executive who sits on the Las Vegas Planning Commission.

In Boulder City, Joe Roche became the fifth candidate for two open seats on the City Council. Roche is a six-year resident who has a nursing degree and touts a background in recycling and municipal waste management.

The race to replace outgoing council members Andrea Anderson and Mike Pacini also includes Matt Di Teresa, Duncan McCoy, Anthony Pakula and John Schleppegrell.

Review-Journal writers Alan Choate and Henry Brean contributed to this report. Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.