Goodman bids Las Vegas planning director farewell, calls her ‘the best’

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Margo Wheeler, the outgoing director of the city's planning and development department, engaged in a "best-fest" Wednesday.

"And here's the hard part," Wheeler said, choking up at the end of a morning ceremony acknowledging her work for the city. "To the mayor: I love you and you're the best!"

"She's the best," responded the mayor. "She is the best."

Wheeler, who joined the department in 2001 and was appointed director in 2005, is headed to San Bernardino, Calif., to head the planning office there.

"I don't know why she would ever leave us, except for the fact that they offered her several million dollars to head up their office down there," Goodman quipped. "Margo has done an unbelievable job. She has forged the way to make the city the wonderful place to live it is today."

Her replacement hasn't been named yet. City spokesman Jace Radke said it is not known yet whether the city will search outside for candidates or promote from within.