Candidates rush to file for April municipal elections

The rush to file for municipal offices began Tuesday, drawing filings for every office on ballots for the April 2 primary election.

In Henderson, the incumbents in all three seats up for grabs have said they want to keep their positions.

And all three incumbents drew challengers Tuesday, the first day of the candidate filing period.

Car dealer Joe Scala, who spent thousands of dollars on a failed attempt to recall Las Vegas Ward 6 Councilman Steve Ross last year, officially filed as a candidate in the Henderson mayoral race.

Andy Hafen, who was narrowly elected mayor in 2009, also filed for the seat. Hafen began serving on the Henderson City Council in 1987.

Although the mayoral race is nonpartisan, Scala's campaign website prominently features the Republican symbol - a red, white and blue elephant.

"I don't recall ever seeing that," City Clerk Sabrina Mercadante said late Tuesday.

Mercadante said she planned to check with the city attorney and Clark County Election Department to ensure that Scala's website complies with election laws.

Municipal Judge Mark Stevens filed for the Department 1 seat, as did two challengers: Gary D. Thompson and Terry Jones Zach. Stevens was elected in 2007.

Author and publisher Erin Lale filed for the City Council seat in Ward 3, which is held by marketing consultant John Marz. The City Council appointed Marz a year ago to the seat vacated by embattled Councilwoman Kathleen Vermillion.

Marz has said he wants to keep his seat, but he has not officially filed yet.

Lale, a Libertarian, ran unsuccessfully for an Assembly seat in 2010. She also applied for the appointment that Marz received last year.

The first day of filing for North Las Vegas municipal elections kicked off with candidates staking a claim for each available seat.

Incumbent Mayor Shari Buck filed Tuesday. Former state Sen. John Lee announced his intentions on Jan. 9 but has yet to file with the North Las Vegas city clerk.

Jeff Eggeman filed for the open Ward 1 City Council seat. Current Ward 1 Councilman Robert Eliason has reached the end of the 12-year term limit and is ineligible to run again.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Anita Wood filed her re-election bid with the clerk Tuesday afternoon.

Wood was challenged by Tony Gales, who also filed for election Tuesday. Gales listed his profession as a teacher and CEO of Skool Bandz on the paperwork filed with the clerk.

In Las Vegas, all three incumbents and three challengers filed for candidacy for City Council seats.

In Ward 2, Councilman Bob Beers filed for re-election, and Fayyad Raja filed as a challenger.

In Ward 4, Mayor Pro Tem Stavros Anthony filed for re-election and has not yet drawn a challenger.

In Ward 6, Councilman Steve Ross filed for re-election. He will be challenged by Suzette LaGrange and Paul Rodriguez.

Candidates have until Feb. 1 to file for races in North Las Vegas and Las Vegas. Henderson filings close Jan. 31.

Early voting starts March 16.

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Laura Phelps at lphelps@viewnews.com or 702-477-3839. Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.