Comments (9) | Add a comment
EDITORIAL
To the polls
Tools
Elected officials have plenty of opportunities to cut government expenses and find savings for taxpayers. Elections should not be among them.
The Las Vegas City Council acknowledged as much Wednesday -- barely -- when it voted to hold a special election to replace outgoing Ward 2 Councilman Steve Wolfson, who will vacate the office to become Clark County district attorney.
Appropriately, Mr. Wolfson broke a 3-3 tie with his vote, provided over the telephone from Hawaii, where he was vacationing. Eight years ago, Mr. Wolfson became a councilman by winning a special election to replace Lynette Boggs McDonald, who resigned to accept an appointment to the Clark County Commission.
The 2004 vote to hold a special election was the right decision in booming economic times, when the city was flush with cash. And Wednesday's decision was the correct call, even if it costs taxpayers some $75,000 during a stalled economy, when the council is cutting back.
The alternative to a special election was to have the council appoint someone to complete Mr. Wolfson's term, which expires next year. That would have allowed the mayor and the council members elected by the city's other five wards to decide who represents Ward 2, a back-room process that leaves an appointee loyal to other council members instead of voters.
Direct election leaves the decision in the hands of thousands of citizens, not six politicians. Allowing the public to decide who represents them and carries out their business is one of the most essential functions of a republican democracy.
It's full speed ahead in this campaign. Candidate filing will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, and the special election will be held March 20.
Ward 2 residents should take the time to learn about each of the candidates so they can cast an informed ballot.
Trending topics:
Comments
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The Review-Journal does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please use the Report Abuse button.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
@mrs ed ---- kudo's, Well Written !!!
March 20, how appropriate. It is one of my normal trash days. $75K to get to pick something off of the trash heap. That adds $200 a day to the remainder of Wolfson's term. Shouldn't he or his new employer pay this?
None of these clowns are loyal to voters anyways!!!
is this the path to corruption ??
never vote for anyone in elected office .i will never do this again .
to:Lv facts101
precisely which ugly assertion needs to be backed up? That there was no election for D.A.? That the city has paid many $$$ for settlements of law suits related to Metro?
Perhaps you don't read enough or perhaps you are trying to defend Mr. Rogers.
Does it really matter what Democrat they place on the City Council?
Both the city and county have done such a wonderful job with planning. Just look at how the city is thriving and how great traffic flows. Thank you but I think I have to watch grass grow so I can't make it to the booth. By the way, staying home is a form of protest and should be exercised more often.
More sour grapes from mrs ed. Slandering those you don't like without a shred of proof is a hallmark of crackpots. How about some facts to back up your ugly assertion, mrs ed? Put up or shut up!
Of course Wolfson was appointed to be DA (after Rodgers ripped off the taxpayers). why didn't they have an election for that. Given the amount f money paid for the cops misdeeds and criminality, elections are a drop in the bucket.