Two candidates for Las Vegas mayor, Victoria Seaman and Shelley Berkley, recently discussed their policy stances during a forum sponsored by The Nevada Independent. The forum, which lasted 90 minutes and took place at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, covered various topics including public safety, homelessness, affordable housing, and a dispute over land use around a former golf course that could cost taxpayers between $450 and $650 million.
Over the next six weeks, voters will decide who will lead Nevada’s largest city, which has been under the leadership of Oscar Goodman or his wife Carolyn for the past 25 years. Berkley led the pack of 15 candidates in the June primaries, receiving nearly 35.7 percent of the votes. She returned to the political stage after serving in Congress for 14 years and losing a high-profile Senate race, ending her seven terms in Congress as a Democrat.
Seaman, on the other hand, has been a member of the city council since 2019 representing District 2 in the southwest of Las Vegas. She came in second in the June election with 28.9 percent of the votes. This mayoral race marks the first time in 25 years that a Goodman family member is not running for office. Oscar Goodman was the mayor from 1999 to 2011, and his wife Carolyn has been in office since then.
Regarding public safety, both candidates expressed their commitment to working closely with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and Sheriff Kevin McMahill. Seaman defended her comments about increasing crime in southern Nevada, despite reports showing a decrease in robbery and non-violent crime rates. Berkley emphasized the need to ensure LVMPD has the necessary financial resources, manpower, and technology to keep the community safe.
On the topic of affordable housing, Seaman pledged to support builders with tools and incentives to expand affordable housing opportunities. Berkley agreed with a recent city council ordinance that eases certain construction restrictions to allow for more affordable housing options.
Homelessness and mental health were also discussed, with both candidates acknowledging the connection between the two issues. Seaman proposed working with Governor Joe Lombardo to establish a branch of Haven for Hope, a transformation campus based in San Antonio, Texas, for the homeless population in Las Vegas. Berkley criticized the city’s spending on homeless services and noted that the number of homeless individuals has nearly doubled during Seaman’s time on the city council.
In conclusion, both candidates highlighted the importance of addressing these pressing issues in the city, with Berkley emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the homelessness crisis. As the mayoral race continues, voters will have to consider these candidates’ proposals and track records when deciding who should lead Las Vegas into the future.