Collins ends speculation on whether he’ll run for North Las Vegas mayor

By Ric Anderson

Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 | 9:56 a.m.

Former Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins told a radio audience this morning that he was planning to run for mayor of North Las Vegas in 2017 — with one big if.

Speaking on Nevada Public Radio station KNPR's "State of Nevada" talk show, Collins said he would be a candidate for the mayor's position as long as North Las Vegas was able to successfully contend with its financial problems and remain solvent.

"If the city is still around, I'm definitely going to run for mayor," he said, adding that he had recently raised $50,000 for a mayoral campaign at a fundraiser.

North Las Vegas' financial future has been in question since the Great Recession left the municipality with a budget deficit exceeding $150 million. The state considered taking over the city’s finances to handle the deficit, but backed off after North Las Vegas managed to reduce the debt by about half.

Collins resigned unexpectedly from the commission this month, citing "family matters that I will be dedicated to for the next few months.” Collins is currently caring for his elderly parents. Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed state Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick to fill his seat.

Before his resignation, there had been speculation that Collins would make a run for North Las Vegas mayor.

Known as the "Cowboy Commissioner" for his blunt, outspoken manner — often punctuated with profanities — Collins has been a fixture on the Nevada political scene for decades. He was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1992.

Before his resignation from the commission, county management blocked Collins from emailing certain staff members from his personal account after Collins sent profanity-laced messages to a county employee and county manager Don Burnette.

On KNPR, Collins said the email blockage as a pointless, politically motivated action. "I've been using profanities in emails for years," he said.

Collins said he was still working on his family issues but was nearly ready to start orchestrating his campaign for mayor.

"Once I get my dad relocated and my stepmom relocated, we're going to be in business," he said.