Higher, but not high, turnout seen

About $34.

That's what North Las Vegas spent per voter to conduct its last municipal elections, a high figure resulting from the low turnout.

A mere 2,415 residents in Nevada's fourth-largest city voted in the 2007 primary, followed by a measly 1,402 in the general. Total cost: $130,000.

This year, higher turnout is likely because of a citywide mayoral race, with two City Council contests and a judgeship.

Higher, but not high.

"Most voters don't know there's an election on," said Gary Gray, a campaign consultant to council candidate Anita Woods.

Municipal elections are traditionally sleepy affairs. But this year's are almost comatose.

"I don't see any real vigor in any of these races," Gray said.

That might be because the "big" race for term-limited Mayor Michael Montandon's seat drew five candidates -- three City Council members, a former planning commissioner and a colorful activist for the homeless -- who already are "known quantities" and haven't stirred up much excitement, Gray said.

Twelve others are quietly, cheaply campaigning in the city. Incumbent City Councilman Robert Eliason is running for a third term against two challengers. Municipal Court Judge Sean Hoeffgen is hoping for a second term; he too drew a pair of challengers. And a half-dozen people are vying for the City Council seat to be vacated by Stephanie Smith, who's running for mayor.

Voter apathy hits low-profile candidates, who have little cash and less name recognition, particularly hard. First-time candidates short on political savvy especially struggle to distinguish themselves from the pack and, sometimes, to clearly express their own views on issues.

Such candidates typically must work harder for a shot, said College of Southern Nevada history professor Michael Green.

"The most important attribute for campaigning is a comfortable pair of shoes," he said.

Early voting in the city began Wednesday. By 5 p.m. Thursday, 129 people had voted. The city government is closed on Fridays. Early voting will end April 3.

For hours and locations, visit www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com and click "elections." The primary is April 7.

Following are snapshots of the three non-mayoral races. (The Review-Journal profiled mayoral candidates March 16.)

CITY COUNCIL WARD 1

Two first-time candidates hope to spoil City Councilman Robert Eliason's plans for a third term.

Rolando Cruz, who works in sales, and Jeffrey A. Eggeman, an out-of-work bartender, say they can do a better job.

"He (Eliason) is an ineffective politician who hasn't been able to move any agenda forward," said Cruz, 36, who moved to the city from southwest Las Vegas in 2005. "He's not much of a leader."

Cruz and Eggeman both said the city's budget is their top concern. Amid declining revenues, the city trimmed $16.4 million from its 2008-09 budget and plans to prune about $23 million from next year's budget.

Cruz would continue the city's hiring freeze and aggressively pursue downtown redevelopment to bring in money and jobs.

Eggeman, 40, supports postponing major projects, such as a planned new city hall.

The eight-year resident of the city said his National Guard experience, with his UNLV bachelor's degree in business administration, qualifies him for the council.

He criticized Eliason for taking contributions from developers and "casino mogul" Jack Binion.

Eliason, who rarely returns the Review-Journal's calls, was the only candidate who couldn't be reached for comment over a two-week period.

The 46-year-old, first elected in 2001, is a longtime resident of the city. He chairs its Redevelopment Agency and serves on the Regional Transportation Commission and the Clark County Regional Flood Control District's board of directors.

Eliason raised $33,500 last year toward his campaign, compared with Cruz's $1,001. Eggeman said he hasn't raised funds.

"I'm not taking any special-interest donations," he said.

CITY COUNCIL WARD 3

A half-dozen candidates are vying for the open seat. Felix Acevedo Jr., 39, says he is the most qualified.

"I've served my country; now it's time to serve my city," said the Clark County management analyst and retired Air Force chief master sergeant, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration.

Acevedo is among several candidates who said the city should discuss possible contract "concessions" with employee unions to save money, talks that reportedly are already under way. Such concessions could include temporarily decreasing or eliminating cost-of-living and other raises.

Angelo Carvalho, a 41-year-old small-business owner, Army reservist and chairman of the city's Planning Commission, is the only candidate who raised significant money toward his campaign, with $25,100 in funds.

He said he wasn't sure his financial advantage would help because campaign funds don't vote.

Carvalho, who ran unsuccessfully for Assembly in 2006, wants to control city spending in part by no longer hiring consultants.

"A lot of out-of-state firms come in and tell us, 'We're number one in growth,' or 'Our roads aren't big enough,'" he said. "We have highly qualified staff members to do that."

Jack Kelso, 70, is an architect who was a senior planner for UNLV's planned 2,000-acre north campus near the northern Las Vegas Beltway and Interstate 15.

Kelso, a five-year resident, said he would form a citizens committee to review all planning initiatives and zoning before they go before the city, something he said helped years ago in his former home of Fairfax, Va.

"Everything went forward with full public support" because of the committee, he said.

Mike Little, a 49-year-old environmental developer and entrepreneur who moved to the city last year, also supports renegotiating union contracts.

The former Reno resident said he can bring new jobs to town by growing his own business, Landfill Alternatives, and building a plant that turns trash into energy.

"It's going to take somebody in local government that has knowledge and understanding in sciences" to move the city forward, he said.

Kimberly McKinney, 40, also would focus on bringing new businesses to the city. The hospital financial eligibility counselor wants to offer incentives such as tax breaks and fee waivers to draw them.

"We have to make it more attractive," the Clark County native said. "Why should I come here when I can go to Summerlin?"

McKinney plans to graduate this year from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a bachelor's degree in public administration.

Anita Wood, a 45-year-old stay-at-home mom and former planning commissioner, said years of activism in the city set her apart.

The 15-year resident has served on the board of Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada, the city's Citizens' Advisory Committee and Utility Advisory Board.

Wood, who also unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 2001, would hold town hall meetings to gather cost-saving ideas from residents, she said.

She's also concerned about "incompatible zoning" in the city, including some three-story apartments "looking over a single-story subdivision."

"We are not protecting our residents," she said.

MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT 2

Judge Sean Hoeffgen drew two challengers: police officer Christopher Cannon and local attorney Marsha Kimble-Simms.

Cannon, 33, has been a police officer in the city for a decade and is a member of the State Bar. The 2005 graduate of UNLV's Boyd Law School said his experience as a cop makes him the best choice.

"I have more insight because I've been out there," he said. "I know what cops and citizens go through."

Hoeffgen, 40, a 1996 graduate of University of San Diego School of Law and a 10-year resident of the city, was elected in 2005.

He has brought to the city the Habitual Offender Prevention and Education Program (HOPE), which requires repeat, nonviolent offenders to seek jobs, do community service and take drug tests while serving one-year probations. He said he also started night and DUI courts in the city.

Hoeffgen said he should be re-elected to continue improving the court system.

"I'm proud to have gained a reputation as someone who is working to make North Las Vegas a safe place to live," he said.

Kimble-Simms, 48, a University of Detroit Mercy School of Law graduate licensed to practice law in Nevada in 2003, is an attorney with Simms Law Firm. She has lived in the city nine years.

Kimble-Simms previously worked as a prosecutor and last year ran unsuccessfully for justice of the peace.

She thinks the court under Hoeffgen has levied excessive fines and too-lengthy jail sentences for nonviolent misdemeanor offenses.

"Not one person says positive things about the North Las Vegas court system," she said. "I will work toward changing that."

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.