Councilman Kirk becomes third person to file for Henderson mayor

The upcoming municipal election could offer something voters in Henderson haven’t seen much of during the past decade or so: competition.

Former City Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers and current Councilmen Andy Hafen and Steve Kirk have emerged as candidates to replace term-limited Mayor Jim Gibson.

Hafen and Cyphers filed as candidates last week. Kirk officially joined the race today and is actively campaigning.

Unless one candidate can win more than 50 percent of vote in the primary, the mayor’s race will appear on a general election ballot for the first time since 1993.

In 12 years as mayor, Gibson never needed to campaign beyond the primary. He won the seat outright in the primaries of 1997 and 2005, and he didn’t even draw a challenger in 2001.

Those vying to replace him have similar records.

In more than 21 years on the City Council, Hafen’s name has appeared on the general election ballot exactly once. His five other terms were won in the primary.

Kirk, like Gibson, has never faced a general election contest. He captured his council seat in the 1999 primary, and has been unopposed in two elections since.

And Cyphers won two of her three council terms in the primary before she opted not to run in 2007.

The lack of drama has not done much for turnout in Henderson. Since 2001, voter participation in municipal primaries has ranged from just over 14 percent in 2003 to less than 9 percent in 2005.

“I don’t know what to attribute it to other than general voter apathy or perhaps they’re not familiar with the candidates,” said City Clerk Monica Simmons.

In an effort to boost turnout, Henderson will once again forgo the traditional method of assigning voters to a single polling place on Election Day. Instead, voters will be allowed to cast their ballots at any one of 15 vote centers throughout the city.

“I can’t imagine how we can make it any easier than it is today,” Simmons said.

The filing period for candidates in Henderson, as well as Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, runs through Feb. 6. In Boulder City, it will end on Feb. 5.

The primary will be April 7, with the general election to follow on June 2.

Henderson will offer early voting at City Hall, Galleria at Sunset mall and several rotating locations from March 21 through April 3.

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