You can’t get enough of Mayoral Mondays, right? So let’s look at last week’s Mayoral Forum, hosted by the Nevada Independent at the Fontainebleau. Candidates Shelley Berkley, Cedric Crear, and Victoria Seaman faced moderator Jon Ralston.
🤔 You’ll learn a lot about a candidate’s priorities through the topics voluntarily brought up. For Victoria Seaman, it was crime and homelessness. For Shelley Berkley, it was education, health care, and transportation. Cedric Creer referenced homelessness and mental health.
🍸 It’s hard to escape the shadow of Oscar and Carolyn Goodman when talking about the mayor’s office. When asked about actions by the Goodmans they’d handle differently as mayor, Creer declined to answer. Berkley said she’d handle Carolyn Goodman’s infamous Anderson Cooper interview during the pandemic “in a different manner.”
⛳ Seaman challenged the current mayor’s role of “failing to be at the table” in the Badlands fiasco, which led to an extended discussion on a topic that Ralston was clearly saving for later. It was a misstep. Few voters understand Badlands or consider it a priority. However, Ralston was good here, pressuring the candidates to define vague language.
🏠 The homeless issue wasn’t addressed until 47 minutes in. Seaman reaffirmed her support of the camping ban. Berkley recited a list of local nonprofit services, prompting a word of thanks by Crear, who noted most of them were active in his ward.
📚 Crear was strongest in discussing education, mentioning the ReInvent Schools program between the city and CCSD as well as the Becker Technology Center and Recreation Park. Seaman is big on charter schools.
🚔 Ralston, surprised that candidates use hyperbole in campaign mailers, questioned Seaman on crime rhetoric. It merely gave the candidate an opportunity to talk about her relationship with Metro, although Berkley smartly challenged Seaman’s attempt to tie organized crime to shoplifting.
🏟️ Ralston asked about the fate of Cashman Field, which Berkley and Seaman agreed would be a good spot for a children’s hospital. Crear suggested housing, soccer, or restaurants for the site. Nobody said the A’s should build their stadium there instead of on the Strip.
⛰️ No questions by Ralston on the current Mormon temple controversy in Lone Mountain, traffic congestion, or transportation, although Seaman’s support of bringing the Vegas Loop downtown would’ve been a good place to start.
🗳️ Berkley scolded the moderator for asking about the presidential race, saying the question undermined the nonpartisan nature of the mayor’s office. (Berkley and Crear are for Biden. Seaman is for Trump.)
🤝 Do these three like each other? Berkley and Seaman had a few hostile exchanges. Seaman and Crear acknowledged mutual respect and a good working relationship at City Council.
