Challengers look to oust Henderson councilwoman

The race for Henderson City Council in Ward 2 includes a retired UNLV administrator, a former city construction manager and a contract manager for the newest resort on the Strip.

But the three candidates all share one thing: None of them has won an election before.

Debra March was appointed to the vacant Ward 2 seat in 2009, after then-Councilman Andy Hafen moved over to the mayor's chair. That makes her something of a rarity: an incumbent who has never run for elected office before.

The former planning commissioner will try to defend her seat from Henderson native and former city construction manager John Simmons and Cosmopolitan contract manager Kevinn Donovan.

Early voting starts Saturday for the April 5 primary election. If no one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to the general election June 7.

March said she has earned a full, four-year term because she "stepped up and delivered" during her two years in office.

During her time on the council, Henderson has cut $90 million -- or roughly one-fifth -- from its budget without seriously affecting services or the quality of life of residents, she said.

For proof, March pointed to a recent independent survey of 1,000 randomly selected Henderson residents in which 96 percent said they were "satisfied" or "highly satisfied" with their community.

"The public is happy," she said, and if that's not an endorsement of city leadership, she doesn't know what is.

If elected, March said, she would "continue to be a prudent fiscal manager" while working to "incubate and grow" new businesses in the city and attract existing firms from outside Southern Nevada.

The 21-year resident of Henderson said the city has never been so marketable.

"Frankly, housing and commercial real estate have never been more affordable," she said

The 58-year-old moved to Nevada from her native Detroit in 1973. She has worked extensively for the state of Nevada, including a stint as head of the Nevada Real Estate Division's Las Vegas office.

From 1996 until she retired to serve on the City Council, March headed up the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Simmons, 53, has lived in Henderson his whole life. His more recent experience as a small-business owner sets him apart from his opponents, he said.

"I know what it's like to sign both sides of a paycheck," he said.

After a 23-year career with the city, including 10 years as construction manager, Simmons owned and operated a downtown coffee shop and ran his own construction management consulting firm.

If elected in his first run for public office, he said his primary focus will be on economic diversification and redevelopment, especially downtown. He thinks the city can do a better job luring new businesses by strengthening its relationship with the Nevada Development Authority.

Simmons also wants to see a new police substation in Anthem and infrastructure improvements in and around Lake Las Vegas to help the financially troubled development get back on its feet.

He insists he is not in the race for a paycheck, and if he wins he said he will immediately propose a 10 percent pay cut for council members, who are paid $44,288 a year plus benefits.

"You're asking everyone else to take cuts. You should take one," he said.

His high school sweetheart and wife of 32 years, Monica Simmons, worked for Henderson for more than 30 years, including 12 years as city clerk, before accepting a buyout last year under the city's budget-cutting voluntary early separation program. She has since been hired as city clerk for Seattle and now splits her time between Henderson and Washington state.

Win or lose, Simmons said, Henderson will always be his home. "We're not going anywhere. I'll be here another 53 years."

At 35, Donovan is the youngest candidate in the race, but has experience of his own he said his fellow candidates can't match.

Donovan was working as a private construction manager in 2009 when building activity all but stopped in the valley. He was laid off and spent five months out of work.

"Both my opponents are on public retirements," he said. "I'm the only candidate who's been laid off. I'm the only candidate who knows how hard it is to find a job."

Donovan said city leaders don't have their "fingers on the pulse" of the local business community as evidenced by the recent loss of two major employers, Ford Motor Credit and online shoe retailer Zappos.com.

His focus, if elected, will be to "stimulate job growth and get our city growing again."

One way to do that is for the city to partner with the Clark County School District to support and promote Henderson's public schools. He said that by next year all four of his children will be in school, and so far he has seen a lot worth crowing about at the city's schools.

Donovan sought appointment to the Ward 2 seat in 2009 but lost out to March.

Last year, he ran unsuccessfully for state Assembly as a Democrat.

Donovan first moved to Henderson in 1998, then moved away for about three years before settling back in the city for good.

"We're fortunate to have moved to Henderson twice," he said of himself and his wife.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.