Goynes-Brown, Ramsey take election victories

The face of the North Las Vegas City Council will change July 6 when its new members are sworn in.

There will be many challenges ahead for this council.

In May, the financially strapped city adopted a $736.8 million budget for fiscal year 2011, about 10 percent less than 2010's adopted spending plan.

The city faces more layoffs -- the adopted budget eliminates 204 city jobs by the middle of this month. Another $10 million more must be trimmed. Al Noyola, the city's assistant director of administrative services, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May that based on projections, another $41.8 million will have to be trimmed from its 2012 budget and another $29.7 million in 2013.

The city devastated by the foreclosure crisis won't expect to see any relief soon. Housing prices are expected to hit a new recession low, according to this month's Standard & Poor's National Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Las Vegas home prices have fallen below their January 2000 level, according to the report.

But the new Veterans Administration hospital is expected to attract health care professionals and retired military veterans. And in this economy, "jobs are everything," according to city officials.

Voter turnout on Election Day hovered at 19 percent valleywide, according to figures from the Clark County Election Department. In North Las Vegas, that number was about 11 percent. In the highly contentious Ward 4 race, political newcomer Wade Wagner edged incumbent Richard Cherchio by one vote. Cherchio refused to concede and said he planned to file for a recount.

Cherchio out-raised Wagner by almost $25,000, according to campaign finance reports filed May 31. Cherchio also spent the most money this reporting period at $67,216.44 -- the majority of which was used for campaign advertising. Wagner spent $48,064.28.

In the Ward 2 race, candidate Pamela Goynes-Brown garnered 59 percent of the vote and raised and spent more than opponent Linda Meisenheimer. Goynes-Brown reported $51,635 in contributions and $24,281.48 in campaign expenses. Meisenheimer, who received 41 percent of the vote, reported $28,116 in contributions this period and $12,950 in expenses.

In the North Las Vegas Municipal Court race, Catherine Ramsey raised and spent more than Marsha Kimble-Simms. Ramsey, who received 58 percent of the vote, reported $19,200 in contributions and $19,321 in expenses this period. Kimble-Simms, who received 42 percent, reported $8,525 in campaign contributions and $5,725 in expenses.

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.