Almost anyone can run for Las Vegas mayor, as long as you’re an adult U.S. citizen and have a hundred bucks. With a pivotal election season upon us, City Cast Las Vegas is launching a new series — Mayoral Mondays — that takes an in-depth look at the office as 14 candidates campaign for it this year. We begin with KTNV Senior Political Reporter Steve Sebelius, who shares some thoughts on Oscar and Carolyn Goodman, a power duo who collectively controlled the mayor’s office for a quarter of a century.
What is the legacy that the 25 years of Goodmans has left in the Las Vegas mayoral office?
“(Oscar) got new business, he reinvigorated Downtown, which was the one campaign promise he really made when he ran in 1999. And he got the ball rolling on the current sports enterprise that we see in Las Vegas … So a lot of that can be traced to the Goodmans, especially Oscar Goodman.”
Do you think the Goodmans changed the role of Las Vegas Mayor?
“I do. I think Oscar Goodman especially made it into a huge thing, far beyond what any previous mayor had ever even dreamed of. Oscar took it to a whole new level, just because of his natural showmanship, his healthy ego, and this ability he had as a courtroom lawyer to make the case. Las Vegas was essentially his client and the world was his jury.”
Is the role of mayor of Las Vegas important to everyone in the valley (beyond the official city boundaries)?
"The importance [is in] this bully pulpit role of the mayor. And I think the candidates recognize that too. Cedric Crear, in his first television ad, recognizes the fact that he wants to be an ambassador for the entire city. What he really means is an ambassador for the entire valley.”
- Hear the full interview as Sebelius discusses the 2024 race with City Cast co-host Sarah Lohman in the inaugural Mayoral Mondays episode. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
