Giunchigliani ad hits Goodman on foreclosures

Chris Giunchigliani continued her attack on mayoral opponent Carolyn Goodman on Tuesday with an ad claiming that Goodman doesn't understand home foreclosures as an issue.

The ad is posted on YouTube and uses snippets of statements Goodman made during television debates. She said she would "work with the banks and move up the foreclosures" and noted, "The prices are back where they were in the '70s. What a wonderful opportunity for people to come here."

Goodman's campaign called the ad "desperate" and noted that the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors has endorsed Goodman's candidacy.

The Giunchigliani campaign did not respond when asked whether the ad will run on television.

The tone of the spot echoes a previous ad, probably the most negative of the campaign, that tried to mock Goodman for running for an office currently held by her husband.

Goodman already has met with banking leaders to discuss keeping people in their homes instead of foreclosing on them, according to a campaign statement. And part of her campaign has focused on encouraging people to move to Southern Nevada to take advantage of low housing prices and low taxes, among other enticements.

"This in turn will lead to job creation and the absorption of the existing housing inventory," said the statement from campaign manager Bradley Mayer.

Giunchigliani, a former longtime state legislator, is now on the Clark County Commission. Goodman founded the Meadows School and ran it until she retired last year.

Early voting in city races started last weekend and continues until June 3. The general election is June 7.

In a statement, Giunchigliani said the city should work with neighborhood groups to maintain the "curb appeal" of empty houses, enlist the Las Vegas Valley Water District to ensure that vacant houses had water to maintain landscaping, and use city and police resources to combat squatting and other problems.

Las Vegas has already taken steps to address problems with foreclosures. For several years, the city has threatened and sometimes levied heavy fines on property owners -- including banks -- if empty houses are not secured and maintained to city code.

The city also has a website, www.stopnvforeclosures.org, that directs people who are about to lose their homes to free foreclosure counseling.

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@review
journal.com or 702-229-6435.