North Las Vegas is on the rebound. But who will lead it next? – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
North Las Vegas – The city that nearly collapsed under the weight of the 2008 recession has clawed its way back to fiscal stability, with a budget now showing an $8 million surplus after years of deficits. That turnaround has shifted the focus of local politics toward how best to sustain momentum in housing, jobs and infrastructure. Voters will decide the next mayor in a nonpartisan primary on June 9, when the top two finishers advance to the general election unless one secures a majority outright. The winner will serve in a part-time role paying $63,336 a year.
From Near-Bankruptcy to Balanced Budgets
The Great Recession left North Las Vegas with postponed projects, hundreds of layoffs and a formal fiscal emergency declared in 2012. City leaders still reference those years when discussing current priorities. Today the picture has changed. Reduced tax revenue no longer produces shortfalls, and officials point to new industrial projects as the engine expanding the tax base without new debt. Both leading candidates credit the recovery but differ on the next steps. One emphasizes steady local management that has already produced results. The other stresses the need for broader economic diversification to guard against future downturns. Unemployment ticked higher early last year, a reminder that growth alone does not guarantee every resident benefits.
Two Experienced Candidates, Distinct Records
Scott Black, 55, has served nine years on the City Council after moving to North Las Vegas as a child. A former postal worker and small-business owner, he chairs the Southern Nevada Health District and sits on the Southern Nevada Water Authority board. Black argues the city is already on the right track and says his council experience gives him an immediate advantage in continuing that progress. Daniele Monroe-Moreno, 62, spent nearly three decades as a correctional officer with the North Las Vegas Police Department before winning election to the state Assembly in 2016. She has held leadership posts including chair of the Ways and Means Committee and speaker pro tempore. Monroe-Moreno brings statewide and national Democratic connections, including endorsements from U.S. Rep. Steve Horsford and several state legislators. Black’s support comes largely from local business groups and the current mayor, Pamela Goynes-Brown. Three additional candidates are on the primary ballot, but none has raised more than $100,000. Black holds more than $800,000 in campaign funds, while Monroe-Moreno has nearly $290,000.
Key Issues Dividing the Field
Economic development tops every agenda. Black highlights the Apex Industrial Complex and upcoming data centers that operate on closed-loop water systems, recycling nearly all water used indoors. He views these projects as buffers against tourism slowdowns or federal policy shifts. Monroe-Moreno welcomes investment but insists community needs must come first, citing concerns over water use and the pace of data-center expansion. Housing affordability draws sharp differences. Monroe-Moreno has pledged to limit corporate ownership of single-family homes that she says prices out local families. Black calls the issue regional and stresses the need for attainable ownership options without endorsing rent caps. Both candidates support protecting seniors and fixed-income residents from sharp increases. Immigration enforcement remains sensitive in a city where more than 40 percent of residents are Hispanic or Latino. Black says the city will cooperate with federal authorities under laws such as the Laken Riley Act. Monroe-Moreno supports deporting those convicted of violent crimes but criticizes tactics she believes violate civil rights. The city maintains no formal 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement yet follows federal requirements. A lawsuit filed by a local voter challenges Black’s eligibility to serve a full mayoral term, claiming his nine years on the council plus the new role would exceed Nevada’s 12-year limit. Black won an early court ruling that keeps his name on the ballot and continues to contest the case.
What Voters Will Weigh on Election Day
The race tests whether voters prefer proven local continuity or fresh state-level perspective at a moment when North Las Vegas is adding homes, a university satellite campus and industrial jobs. Both candidates have deep roots in the community and nine years of public service, yet they arrive with different networks and priorities. The outcome will shape how the city balances rapid development with the quality of life for longtime residents.
