Chris Giunchigliani knocks Carolyn Goodman for foreclosure comments

By Delen Goldberg

Published Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 11:29 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 1:12 p.m.

Las Vegas mayoral candidate Chris Giunchigliani has released a second campaign commercial slamming her opponent Carolyn Goodman.

This time, it's about foreclosures.

The ad quotes Goodman as saying the city should "work with the banks and move up the foreclosures." Goodman also says housing "prices are back where they were in the 70s. What a wonderful opportunity for people to come here."

Goodman made the statements during recent debates. She said cheap housing could be used to lure new companies and residents to the state.

But Giunchigliani uses the quotes to point out that Goodman is out of touch with the Las Vegas economy. More than 80 percent of residents are under water. Many have lost their homes. Those who have staved off foreclosure have seen their property values tank.

"Families losing everything," the Giunchigliani ad says. "Another issue Carolyn Goodman doesn't understand."

It's the latest salvo in the increasingly contentious mayoral race.

Last week, Giunchigliani released a commercial accusing Goodman of riding her husband’s coattails and of being unprepared to be mayor. Goodman shot back with an ad that portrayed Giunchigliani as mean and hard to work with.

To coincide with the debut of her latest ad, Giunchigliani released a list of proposed ideas to combat falling housing prices. She suggested working with homeowners associations to maintain homes' curb appeal, coordinating with the Las Vegas Valley Water District to ensure that trees and shrubs are watered, using the city business licensing department to crack down on illegal and unethical mortgage companies, and looking into establishing a registration process for banks so that the city can hold them accountable for houses they own.

“Home ownership is the largest, most significant investment most Las Vegans make,” Giunchigliani said. “The city cannot sit idly by as thousands of vacant homes fall into disrepair and drive down the value of adjacent homes."

Goodman spokesman Bradley Mayer said Giunchigliani took Goodman's statements out of context and misrepresented her position.

"Carolyn Goodman knows that we need to stabilize our housing market before our economy can begin to recover. Stabilizing the housing market is going to require participation from the banks and that’s why Carolyn has said as mayor, she will be a voice to hold the banks accountable to make sure they are doing everything they can to keep people in their homes," Mayer said.