Assessor, recorder, public administrator: Who's running in Clark County down-ballot races? – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Clark County residents will decide several down-ballot contests this year that directly affect property records, tax valuations and the handling of estates. These offices operate with limited public attention yet carry annual salaries above $150,000 and oversee functions that touch nearly every household. Incumbents in two of the three roles have chosen not to seek another term, opening the field to a mix of longtime county employees and candidates with varied backgrounds.
Recorder Candidates Bring Decades of Office Experience
The county recorder maintains official documents such as deeds, mortgages and military discharge records. When property changes hands, the office processes the paperwork that makes the transaction legally binding. Debbie Conway, who has held the position since 2014, is not running again, leaving an open race between two staff members who know the bureau well.
Skye Berry Burress has worked in the recorder’s office for 14 years and currently serves as office services manager. She has proposed modernizing recording systems, expanding staff training and strengthening cybersecurity measures. Tanya Flanagan, a senior training coordinator with 23 years in Clark County government and a current state assembly member, has received Conway’s endorsement. Flanagan has emphasized continuing efforts to move transactions to a cashless system and improving coordination with the assessor’s office.
Four additional candidates have filed for the recorder position: Libertarian Steven Borella, Democrat Anna Perez, and Republicans Rana Saeed and Bill Young. Campaign finance reports show Burress and Flanagan leading in fundraising through the first quarter, each with more than $25,000 on hand.
Assessor Race Focuses on Property Valuation Expertise
The assessor determines the taxable value of land and buildings across the county and maintains parcel records used for tax exemptions. Current Assessor Briana Johnson, who took office in 2019, is not seeking re-election. Two longtime employees in the department now lead the Democratic primary field.
Melissa Martinet has worked in the assessor’s office since 2003 and manages assessment services. She holds leadership roles in state and national assessor associations and has secured endorsements from Johnson and several other Nevada county assessors. Her opponent, Tamicka Washington, has spent more than two decades as an appraisal technician and carries support from the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and County Commissioner William McCurdy II. Both candidates have stressed the need for accurate assessments and greater public transparency.
Republicans Kevin Child and Judy Joe, along with Libertarian Lynnette Warren, have also entered the race, though none has reported raising more than $1,000 so far.
Public Administrator Field Includes Candidates Seeking to Rebuild Trust
The public administrator manages estates of residents who die without a will or known heirs. The office has faced scrutiny in recent years following the 2022 conviction of former administrator Robert Telles in the murder of journalist Jeff German. Several candidates are now running on platforms that highlight accountability and transparency.
Stephanie Itkin-Goodman, a deputy attorney general who joined the Nevada Attorney General’s Office in 2025, has raised more than $10,000 and received endorsements from the Culinary Workers Union and the Blue Voter Guide. She has pointed to her background in corporate law and district attorney offices as preparation for restoring public confidence. Michael Murphy, a Republican and former Clark County coroner who briefly served as public administrator after Telles, is also campaigning on improved constituent services.
Other candidates include Democrat Edgar Velasquez, who has decades of private real-estate administration experience, and Republican Mark Sprinkle, a veteran and former legislative staff member. Democrat M.J. Ivy and Republican Donald Salazar have filed as well. Some candidates have drawn attention for prior legal issues or professional controversies, details that voters will weigh alongside campaign platforms.
What Matters for Voters This Primary Season
These races remain partisan, so only registered Democrats and Republicans will participate in their party’s primary. The general election in November will feature the winners from each side. Campaign finance filings show modest totals overall, with most candidates relying on small donations and personal networks rather than large outside spending.
Residents can review candidate websites and statements filed with the Nevada Secretary of State for additional details on policy priorities. Early voting for the primary begins in late May, giving voters several weeks to examine the records and proposals of those seeking these administrative posts.
