EDITORIAL: Steady steering needed in North Las Vegas

The city of North Las Vegas is out of the intensive care unit and in recovery. The threat of imminent state receivership is gone. Mayor John Lee, halfway through his first term, has outlined a vision to strengthen the city’s foundation and grow its economy.

This year’s municipal election lacks the urgency of the 2013 campaign, but voters have powerful reasons to pay close attention to the two City Council races on the April 7 primary ballot. North Las Vegas needs capable stewards who understand that city government has precious little budgetary breathing room and no shortage of opportunities to become a better place to live and work. The Review-Journal offers the following endorsements for North Las Vegas City Council.

In Ward 2, incumbent Councilwoman Pamela Goynes-Brown is seeking a second term against three challengers: military veteran Richard Carreon, transit supervisor Richard Moyer and city Planning Commissioner Laura Perkins. There are no bad candidates in this race. All are highly engaged and deeply concerned about their city’s future. However, Mr. Carreon hasn’t lived in the city for very long — a little more than a year — and Ms. Perkins and Mr. Moyer lack strong arguments for why they’d be better than the incumbent. Voters have no reason to get rid of Ms. Goynes-Brown, a Clark County School District assistant principal. She supports Mr. Lee’s plan to attract new industry to Apex while redeveloping older, depressed parts of town, and she works hard for her ward. The Review-Journal endorses Pamela Goynes-Brown for North Las Vegas City Council, Ward 2.

In Ward 4, which is being vacated by Councilman Wade Wagner, retired mail carrier and former Councilman Richard Cherchio is running against chiropractor Matthew Anderson. No one understands the value of each ballot as well as Mr. Cherchio, who lost to Mr. Wagner in 2011 by a single vote. Mr. Cherchio’s previous service on the council was defined by his willingness to make tough decisions during the depths of the Great Recession. Despite his loss, he has been a regular attendee at council meetings. He’s up to speed, and he knows “the city doesn’t have its sea legs yet.” Mr. Anderson touts his small business experience as a key difference between himself and Mr. Cherchio, but we’re concerned that he’s more sympathetic to the city’s employee unions than its taxpayers. The Review-Journal endorses Richard Cherchio for North Las Vegas City Council, Ward 4.