Open seat only question on Las Vegas City Council

The campaign trail leading up to a general election is typically grueling. For Lois Tarkanian and Ricki Barlow, it will be a breeze. In fact, it will be effortless.

It quickly became clear Tuesday evening when early voting results were counted that the Las Vegas City Council incumbents would keep their respective seats for another four years. To win without going to the general election, candidates must collect more than 50 percent of the primary votes.

Tarkanian leaped ahead of Ward 1 opponents Margarita Rebollal and Doug Ward, quickly claiming 74 percent of the votes. Barlow grabbed 73 percent of the votes, leaving behind Ward 5 opponents Richard Deeds, Randy Voyard and Stanley Washington.

The two were able to sit back and watch the battle for Ward 3, whose seat became open when term limits prohibited incumbent Gary Reese from running for re-election. Seven candidates piled into the race for City Council, a job that pays $49,665 a year.

Headed into the general election for the Ward 3 seat are Bob Coffin, an eight-term state legislator, and Adriana Martinez, the former head of the state Democratic Party.

As voters weighed in Tuesday on who would next represent their old yet charming neighborhood just east of the Strip, the question that rattled around in their minds was this: Who is Bob Coffin?

As far as name recognition, Coffin, who collected 34 percent of the votes, certainly had an advantage over Martinez, who garnered 33 percent. But that wasn't enough for all voters.

Some residents who voted at Griffith United Methodist Church, on Oakey Boulevard near 17th Street, expressed concerns that Coffin is simply a seasoned politician who would back his cronies.

"From what I've seen, nothing really stood out about him," voter Steve Monroe said. "He seems to have a power base. She (Martinez) sounded like she could do some good. If she does what she said she'll do, I think she will be good."

Pamela Finlay thought differently.

She surmised that Coffin has already lived out his life in politics and at this point in his life, the 68-year-old would have no reason to vote to further his political career.

"He's not looking to climb the political ladder," Finlay said. "I just felt like he would be good for the neighborhood, that he would pay attention, and that is important concerning revitalization projects that have happened here."

Ward 3 neighborhoods are some of the city's oldest and have been hit hard by the recession. Finlay said that like her neighbors, she is concerned about crime and vacant homes, which are vulnerable to vandalism and blight.

Coffin is confident he is the most qualified candidate in the race, mostly because of that experience in Carson City and dealing with hard economic times.

"The problems in local government are so severe, it takes someone experienced with the problems and someone willing to tell employees and the public the truth," Coffin said.

Coffin was not surprised that Martinez captured so many votes, claiming she is backed by City Hall because everyone fears change.

"She is part of the good ol' boy network down there; she's a good ol' gal," Coffin said. "She's not going to rock the boat. I'm not going to rock the boat hard, but someone has got to bail it out."

Martinez, who serves as Tarkanian's community liaison, said she is determined to make positive changes to the ward. She emphasized that in his two decades in office, Coffin never offered to help local officials improve Las Vegas communities.

"He has been a legislator for 20 years and has just now noticed that parks need to be taken care of and that there are cracks in the sidewalk," Martinez said. "This is what I do. When there is an issue, we fix it."

Regardless of who is elected, the council will have its first Hispanic member. Coffin's mother is Hispanic.

"I guess the issues that affect Hispanics are basically the issues that affect us regardless of our ethnicity," Martinez said. "That is what it comes down to, my love for my community."

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@review journal.com or 702-387-2904.