Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 | 10:41 a.m.
Applause broke out in the Las Vegas City Council chambers from council and audience members for City Manager Jorge Cervantes and former City Attorney Bryan Scott.
Today’s meeting was Cervantes’ last before retiring from a 25-year career with the city. Cervantes was the first Mexican-American city manager for the city, Councilwoman Olivia Diaz said.
“We should be giving you a rosary today because it’s not easy,” Councilman Cedric Crear said to Cervantes. “You should walk away from your tenure here working for the city of Las Vegas with your head held high, because you’ve made tremendous accomplishments.”
Mike Janssen is slated to take over for Cervantes. The council voted 6-1 in June for a contract giving Janssen $285,000 a year plus benefits.
Scott, who was the first Black city attorney in Las Vegas, spent three years in his role and will be succeeded by Assistant City Attorney Jeffry Dorocak.
“I want to thank you all for your support,” Scott said before the council this morning.
Dorocak today entered into a contract with the city for $250,000 a year plus benefits in his new role as city attorney.
The city council voted unanimously in favor of the contract, drawing another standing ovation from audience members — some of whom clung onto a white banner with “Jeff” scrawled across it.
“I took the oath today with absolute humility. In my estimation, 650,000 Las Vegans don’t care that I will be the next city attorney,” Dorocak said. “But they do care that I lead an effective and efficient city attorney’s office that wisely advises their elected representatives, aggressively defends their tax dollars and deals with misdemeanors in the city — and that will be our mission.”
He said he would work hard to earn the salary that the city and its people are paying.
Dorocak, who has been with the City Attorney’s Office since 2014, was sworn in today as the 24th city attorney. He will begin his time as a city attorney on Aug. 14, according to city officials.
