Street preacher files for mayor
Colorful longtime advocate for the homeless John 3:16 Cook is running for mayor of North Las Vegas.
The street preacher known for once operating a homeless shelter on Bonanza Road, several failed bids for local political offices and his marriage to Magickal Marissa -- a witch, metaphysicist and astrologer -- filed his candidacy Monday afternoon.
He joins City Council members Shari Buck, William Robinson and Stephanie Smith in the race to replace term-limited Mayor Michael Montandon in this year's municipal elections.
Cook, 76, could not be reached for comment.
Ned Thomas, a former North Las Vegas planning commissioner, is expected to file his candidacy for mayor today.
City Councilman Robert Eliason filed his candidacy Monday for re-election to the Ward 1 seat he has held since 2001.
Eliason, who chairs the city's Redevelopment Agency, faces two challengers so far: Rolando Cruz and Jeffrey A. Eggeman.
A fourth candidate joined the race for Ward 3. Felix Acevedo Jr., a management analyst for Clark County, filed his candidacy Monday.
Three other candidates filed previously for the seat: Angelo Carvalho, Michael Little and Anita Wood.
City Councilwoman Smith's third term representing Ward 3 expires this year, and she is prohibited from running again because of term limits.
Also Monday, two more candidates joined the race for a pair of open seats on the Boulder City Council.
Matt Di Teresa, 51, and Anthony Pakula, 80, filed as candidates for the seats soon to be vacated by Mike Pacini and Andrea Anderson.
Di Teresa is a 16-year resident of Boulder City who helped found and wrote for the now-defunct BC Free newsletter.
Pakula is a 29-year resident who worked at the Hoover Dam for 13 years and formerly served as a police officer and an elected school board member in Detroit.
They will be joined on the ballot by John Schleppegrell, a Planning Commission member, and Duncan McCoy, former director of the Boulder City Library District.
No one filed Monday for public offices in Henderson or the city of Las Vegas.
Filing opened Jan. 27 and closes Friday.
The primary is scheduled for April 7, with the general election June 2.
Review-Journal writer Henry Brean contributed to this report. Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-0285.
