Race to follow Goodman in Las Vegas draws interest

Now that the cacophony of the 2010 elections has died down, you might think it's safe to admit you're a registered voter.

You might be wrong. Cue the "Jaws" soundtrack, because here they come: the municipal elections! Filing for offices starts today and runs through Feb. 3 in Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas.

Not excited? You're not alone.

Since the races are held in odd-numbered years and are purely local and nonpartisan, they generally do not attract the attention or the voter participation of elections that feature state and national candidates -- although people may be more aware of one particular race this year.

That would be the contest to succeed Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. There also will be three Las Vegas City Council seats and three Municipal Court judgeships before voters.

The contest to follow in Goodman's footsteps has already drawn several interested parties.

They include sitting Councilman Steve Ross; Clark County Commissioner and former Councilman Larry Brown; real estate agent Marlene Rogoff; Katherine Duncan, who founded the Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce; and Anthony Werneke, a self-proclaimed underdog in the race. Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani is considering the contest as well.

Term limits are also keeping Gary Reese, a City Council member since 1995, from running again. Former state legislator Bob Coffin and Planning Commission member Steve Evans have already started campaigning to replace him in Ward 3.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian and Ward 5 Councilman Ricki Barlow also plan to seek re-election.

Department 2 Municipal Judge Betsy Kolkowski is retiring. Deputy District Attorney Susan Roger has indicated an interest in the seat, as has arbitrator Robert Kurth.

Judge George Assad, from Department 3, and Cedric A. Kerns, from Department 5, plan to run for re-election.

In Henderson, three of five City Council seats and one municipal judge seat will be up for grabs.

The only race without an incumbent is in Ward 4, where Councilman Steve Kirk is being forced from office by term limits.

Ward 1 incumbent Gerri Schroder and Ward 2 incumbent Debra March have announced plans to run again, and both are expected to draw challengers.

Department 3 Municipal Judge Diana Hampton also said she will seek another six-year term on the bench.

In North Las Vegas, two City Council seats and a Municipal Court judgeship are up for election.

Seven-term Councilman William Robinson must surrender his Ward 2 seat because of term limits. His son, William Robinson II, has said he will run for the seat, as has John Stephens, a library reference assistant.

Councilman Richard Cherchio is campaigning to keep the Ward 4 council seat he was appointed to in 2009 after his predecessor, Shari Buck, was elected mayor.

Cherchio, a 64-year-old retired letter carrier, recently incurred the wrath of the city's police and fire unions after butting heads with union leaders during contentious contract talks. The unions went door to door to tell residents about Cherchio's "serious ethics complaint."

The complaint, filed with Nevada's Commission on Ethics, involves Cherchio's failure to comply with a state law requiring him to disclose several properties he owns.

Cherchio said the omission was an oversight and filed an amended declaration form with the state.

North Las Vegas dentist Wade Wagner has said he plans to challenge Cherchio.

Residents will also choose a successor for Municipal Court Judge Warren VanLandschoot, who is retiring in June. Catherine Ramsey, a deputy city attorney in North Las Vegas' criminal division, said she plans to run for the seat. Marsha Kimble-Simms, a lawyer in the city, on Monday also announced her plans to run.

Reporters Henry Brean and Lynnette Curtis contributed to this report. Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.