Training officer, Caesars EMT enters Las Vegas mayoral race

The Las Vegas mayor's race has yet another contender.

Tim Gamble, a training officer and EMT for Caesar's Entertainment, filed for the office on Thursday. That brings the field of candidates so far to four, with at least four more names expected by the time filing ends Thursday.

"I came to Las Vegas just like everybody else, looking for a better start," said Gamble, who moved here from Southern California. But the economy soured that: "I've had to watch friends, family, acquaintances have to leave Las Vegas."

He said a high-speed rail link between Las Vegas and Los Angeles "is one of my favorite ideas," and like other candidates said downtown revitalization is one of the keys to the city's future.

Also filing Thursday was Randy "Mr. Randy" Voyard, who is challenging Ricki Barlow for the Ward 5 City Council seat. He could not be reached for comment.

The hot race in Henderson so far is in Ward 1, where incumbent City Councilwoman Gerri Schroder drew her third challenger on Thursday.

Las Vegas police officer Thomas Wagner filed his candidacy in Ward 1 after two previous attempts at the council seat in Ward 2.

In 2007, Wagner came within 85 votes of upsetting then City Councilman Andy Hafen. When Hafen was elected mayor in 2009, Wagner was one of 14 candidates for appointment to the Ward 2 seat that eventually went to Debra March.

Wagner was the only candidate to file in Henderson on Thursday.

North Las Vegas City Councilman Richard Cherchio on Thursday drew a challenger for his Ward 4 seat. Wade Wagner, a North Las Vegas dentist, made good on his promise and filed to run against Cherchio, who was appointed to the City Council in 2009 after his predecessor, Shari Buck, was elected mayor.

Candidate filing in North Las Vegas runs through 5 p.m. Feb. 4.

The primary for all the municipal elections will be April 5. In races where no one gets a majority, the top two vote-getters will compete in the June 7 general election.