Henderson candidates have plans for Ward 3 seat

A plan to build a billion-dollar complex that would be home to a number of professional sports teams.

A goal to build a billion-dollar medical campus with a hospital and health care centers surrounded by homes and businesses.

A $63 million push to build a space and science center that proponents say would attract multiple thousands of annual visitors.

Add an anticipated revenue shortfall of $27 million over the next two fiscal years, an unprecedented foreclosure crisis that has wreaked havoc with property values and tax revenues in the state's second largest city -- and the need to find a quality replacement for former Henderson City Council member Kathleen Vermillion becomes even more pressing for the City Council.

The list to replace Vermillion, who resigned her Ward 3 seat midterm effective Jan. 4, wasn't complete until shortly before Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline, giving applicants scant time to do much politicking ahead of time. Council members, who will make the appointment, haven't even met most of them and might not do so until a special meeting later this month.

But they're already familiar with a handful of the candidates. Some have run in past city elections. Others have been appointed to the city's Planning Commission by council members.

That's the route Ward 2 Councilwoman Debra March took. The former city planning commissioner was appointed to replace Andy Hafen after he was elected mayor in 2009. She easily won election to a full term in April.

In all, the City Council will have a buffet's worth of choices after 14 residents applied.

They range in age from 31 to 78. Two are involved with the city in a volunteer capacity and a third has an extensive history, with Henderson's parks and recreation system.

Three have sought public office in the past. And while the seat is nonpartisan, there are Republicans, Democrats and at least one Libertarian.

Ward 3 encompasses a good portion of Green Valley and tends to vote Democratic.

A HENDERSON VETERAN

Cathy Rosenfield came in second behind Vermillion in the 2009 five-candidate City Council race, earning more than 7,000 votes.

That campaign, while ultimately unsuccessful, enabled Rosenfield to build a base of supporters in Ward 3.

If appointed, Rosenfield said she would focus on job growth and education.

She is a longtime volunteer for the city who served on the parks and recreation board for a decade, including five years as its chairwoman.

She runs a vacation rental firm, a job she said that gives her the flexibility to focus on city issues.

Rosenfield, 53, said she has the time and energy to dedicate her efforts full time.

And she's been proactive.

"I've been meeting with department heads to learn what the issues are so if I do get appointed I can hit the ground running," she said.

FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY

Rosenfield isn't the only applicant with election experience.

Sean Fellows, 31, challenged incumbent April Mastroluca in an unsuccessful bid for the Assembly in 2008.

The Republican and Air Force reservist is the past chairman of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and sits on the city's Planning Commission.

The commission deals with development and zoning issues and reports to the City Council, which has the final say in such matters.

Fellows was appointed to the commission by Vermillion.

In his professional life Fellows is the government affairs director for the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors and is pursuing his master's degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"I want the city to help provide opportunities to business and people," he said. "Economic development and diversification are what's most needed."

FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS

John Marz, 65, is another Henderson planning commissioner. He was re­appointed to the position by Councilman Sam Bateman.

He served four years on the Nevada Tourism Board and also served on the Washoe County Planning Commission.

Marz has a professional background in advertising and once owned DRGM Advertising, which he said earned more than $70 million a year and was the second largest ad agency in the state before he left in 1998.

In 2005 he founded Marz and Company, a consulting firm.

"I have a vested interest in this city," the 26-year resident said. "My work experience and my work in the city give me the background I think they're looking for."

In his letter of interest, Marz said Henderson has an "incredible opportunity" to attract new business.

A 'BUG' TO SERVE

Milton "Milt" Doyle, 62, ran for the Clark County Commission in 1998, losing to Dario Herrera by 4,000 votes in the general election after winning the Republican primary.

He has considered another run at political office ever since.

"I got the bug to serve in public office then," said Doyle, a retired Air Force veteran who has lived in the valley for 40 years, earning his living in the insurance and real estate industries.

Doyle has served on a number of public and private boards, including a four-year term on the Clark County Community Development Block Grant Committee. He is currently on the board of the Women's Resource Medical Center, a nonprofit women's health advocacy organization. He has been a director for five years on the Opportunity Village board.

Other applicants are Erin Lale, 42, Kurt Faux, 54, an attorney; Jason Stoffel, 34, an attorney; Beverly Daly-Dix, 62, a retired educator; Rick Dreschler, 60, a retired banker; Gary Riggs, 52, who owns an insurance agency; Sam Elia, 78, a retired economics professor and investor; Thomas Haugh, 44, a manager at the Department of Veterans Affairs; Fred Honore, 73, retired; and John Kehoe, age unknown, a real estate broker.

The City Council will interview the applicants in a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23. The appointment will be announced prior to the Feb. 7 meeting, when the prevailing candidate would be sworn into office.

To retain the office, whoever is appointed would have to campaign for a full term in 2013.

Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.

A LOOK AT THE REST OF THE FIELD

ERIN LALE

Lale, 42, is a Libertarian. She is a self-published author of several nonfiction books and science fiction novels, a self-proclaimed "expert in frugality" and a practitioner of Asatru, which she describes as a European brand of Hinduism. "It's a form of paganism," she said.

Lale unsuccessfully challenged April Mastroluca for her Assembly seat in 2010, gathering 4.3 percent of the vote. She said she brings a combination of common sense and fiscal accountability to the table.

A former member of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Advisory Board, Lale advocated for victims. She also is involved in the local arts community and has owned her own business.

KURT FAUX

Faux, pronounced "Fox," is driven to give back. The attorney, 54, said Henderson has been good to his family. He and his wife raised four children in Henderson, having moved to the city in 1988.

"Two of my children have returned to Henderson after college to raise their families," he said. "I've got grandchildren here and my roots run deep."

JASON STOFFEL

Stoffel, 34, is an attorney. He and his wife, attorney Amanda Roberts, have their own family law firm. "I've always been interested in politics," said Stoffel. "I saw this appointment as the opportunity of a lifetime. Most people can't afford (to finance) a political campaign."

Stoffel has lived in Henderson since 2005.

He is a mediator and a truancy diversion judge working with troubled youth. He also works as a volunteer with the Clark County and Nevada State bar associations.

BEVERLY DALY-DIX

Daly-Dix earned a doctorate in education. The retired school principal, 62, considers filling the vacancy a challenge.

She has lived in Henderson for more than three decades.

"I like what's been done in recent years," she said. "But now, during this period of economic recovery, I want to be part of the decision-making process."

Daly-Dix is president of the Nevada State Medical Association Alliance and is the past president of several other state and local boards.

RICK DRESCHLER

Dreschler, 60, thinks his history in the banking industry can be a boost for the city.

"I'm retired," he said. "I thought it would be interesting."

Dreschler said Henderson has been good to him. "I wanted to give something back without running for election." he said. "I think I'd just finish out the term and be done."

Dreschler considers land use, business licensing, city ordinances and how the city handles its finances major issues.

GARY RIGGS

Riggs, 52, owns an insurance agency, but his background is in human resources.

He said he has considered a foray into politics for a number of years and sees the Ward 3 vacancy as an avenue.

The father of seven said he wants to help the city maintain its reputation as a family-oriented community. He has lived in Henderson for more than seven years.

SAM ELIA

"I'm serving for a purpose," said Elia, who was born to Greek parents in Lebanon 78 years ago.

"Henderson is my home, and we need to be of service when we are at home," he said.

Elia said he became a Democrat after spending most of his life as a Republican, but he still holds traditional GOP values.

He's pro-business and pro-life, he said, "Yet, I'm compassionate. I try to help people stand who really can't stand by themselves."

Elia is heavily involved in the state and local Democratic Party.

The retired economics professor also worked as an investor. He stated in his letter of interest that he is a multimillionaire who would donate his annual City Council salary to charity.

THOMAS HAUGH

Haugh, 44, is a manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In his letter to the council, he said he has a strong background in labor relations working with both employees and management, saying that experience gives him "a unique view of the complex problems that are faced by my employees and insight into resolutions that are agreeable to all."

He did not return phone calls seeking more details or comments.

FRED HONORE

Honore, pronounced "honor-ay," has long harbored a desire to get involved in public service.

"I've been interested in it for years," said the 73-year-old retiree. "But I was always too busy trying to make money for the family."

Honore said he doesn't see any pressing issues facing the city. "Henderson is pretty squared away," he said. "The cops don't shoot everybody up like they do in (Las Vegas). We have a nice town. I'm not a politician, but what I can see as a novice is there are no major issues."

JOHN KEHOE

Kehoe, age unknown, did not submit a letter of interest, but he did send a regular job resume with the listed objective of landing an instructor, management or sales position with unlimited income potential.

Under experience he listed jobs as a real estate and mortgage broker instructor in St. Petersburg, Fla.; a loan consultant in the same state, and the owner of a real estate firm in Wheaton, Ill.

He served with the Army's 82nd Airborne from 1966 to 1970.

He did not return phone calls seeking details or comments.