North Las Vegas city officials sworn into office

By Jeff Pope

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 | 8:20 p.m.

Family, friends and local dignitaries filled the North Las Vegas Council Chambers at City Hall Wednesday to watch one new and three returning public officials be sworn into office.

Shari Buck became the first elected female mayor of the city, moving over from the council seat she filled for the past 10 years.

Earlier in the day, Buck called the mayor’s office to ask a question and her secretary answered the phone.

“She said, ‘Mayor Buck’s office.’ I thought, ‘That sounds pretty good,’” Buck said.

Buck said she is in office to serve and will encourage residents to also serve their city and community.

“Government can’t serve every need of every individual, but it must inspire in all of us the best that we can be,” she said. “We can serve them and if not provide for every need, provide them the opportunities they deserve for their own needs.”

Buck replaces Michael Montandon, the city’s 12-year mayor who could not seek reelection because of term limits. He is running for governor.

Ward 1 Councilman Robert Eliason was reelected in the municipal primary election in April. Eliason is in his third four-year term, which will be his last because of term limits.

He said the latest campaign has made him reflect on his time in office and departing council members Montandon and Councilwoman Stephanie Smith.

“With Stephanie and the mayor, it’s been interesting and fun times, and it’ll be interesting and fun times I’m sure in the next four years for me,” he said.

Former Planning Commissioner Anita Wood won her first election and takes over the Ward 3 seat occupied by Smith for the past 12 years. Smith could not run because of term limits and failed in her bid for mayor.

Wood is the first new Council member since Eliason joined in 2001.

“I’m very honored and humbled to be elected to this position and that I will work very, very hard for the residents of Ward 3 and the residents of North Las Vegas,” she said.

Municipal Court Judge Sean Hoeffgen was sworn in for his second consecutive six-year term. Hoeffgen created the Habitual Offender Prevention and Education Court program, which assists participants gain steady employment to reduce recidivism.

He also started DUI Court in North Las Vegas, enabling harsher consequences for offenders.

He thanked his family and campaign workers.

Buck is the second female mayor for North Las Vegas.

The first, Dorothy Porter, was elected to the council in 1953 and was appointed as mayor in February 1955 to fill in for Mayor Earl J. Webb, who left office after about a year.

Buck’s former seat remains vacant. Twenty-four people have applied to represent Ward 4 and fulfill Buck’s final two years of her council term. The council will appoint someone to the seat on July 15.

The new council presented Montandon and Smith with proclamations thanking them for their service to the city.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, the new members took their chairs for their first meetings as the Redevelopment Agency Board and City Council.

They appointed new representatives from among themselves to regional boards and commissions that oversee the valley’s health district and tourism agency.

Eliason will continue to represent the city on the Southern Nevada Health District Board for two years. Councilman Will Robinson will serve on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority for North Las Vegas for a four-year term. He previously served on the board in 2001-2002.