Best and brightest: A look at candidates in city elections

They’ll decide things like the speed limits in your neighborhood, the cost of a permit to build an addition onto your house, how many animals you can keep in your backyard and how many firefighters are staffed at your neighborhood fire station.

Elected city officials don’t have nearly as much scope of influence as a member of Congress or Legislature, but their decisions often affect people much more directly than the policies created at higher levels of government.

That being the case, it’s a curious fact of American life that local elections draw far less turnout than those for federal and state offices, which is certainly the case with the city primaries that are happening around the Las Vegas Valley at the moment.

Ten days into early voting, which ended Saturday, elections in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City had drawn 19,928 voters — a tiny fraction of registered voters in those cities.

But with Election Day on Tuesday, there’s plenty of time for valley residents to choose candidates and make plans to cast a ballot.

Here’s a look at the list of candidates, with several the Sun feels are deserving of consideration — or, in one case, undeserving.

City of Las Vegas City Council Ward 2 Bob Beers Laura Feher Christina Roush Steve Seroka

The Sun’s take: There’s no question where the battle line falls in this race — it runs right through the shuttered Badlands Golf Club. Beers was one of four council members who, in February, voted in favor of a plan to build 435 condos on a portion of the club’s property. That vote prompted criticism from property owners in the adjacent, upscale Queensridge neighborhood, who felt Beers had unfairly sided with the developers. Beers contends that voting not to allow the development within current zoning restrictions would have put the city at risk of a lawsuit and being forced to buy the land.

If that is your issue or if you just think it is time for a change, both Roush and Seroka are up to the task. We are especially pleased to see a man who has served our country so ably as Seroka, a retired Air Force colonel, step into the breach. So if voters are ready for new blood in the seat, which Beers has held since 2012, they have two solid choices.

Ward 4

Stavros S. Anthony Jon Edge Deborah Harris Sean Lyttle

The Sun’s take: Anthony, who lost a bid to unseat Mayor Carolyn Goodman in 2015, has served the city well since being elected in 2009. We see no reason not to re-elect him.

Ward 6

Ryan M. Alarid Adam K. Christian Matthew G. Consoli Michele Fiore Christine “Chris” Garvey Joel Jarvis Allen Jordan Reid Rasner Kelli Ross Thaddeus A. Ynigues

The Sun’s take: Kelli Ross, who is vying to replace her term-limited husband, Steve Ross, is a solid choice in a deep field. Former Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore is the likely front-runner, which is unfortunate. Fiore was an attention-hogging embarrassment as a legislator, with such low moments as telling an interviewer that it was OK to point guns at law enforcement officers if they pointed their weapons first, saying she wanted to shoot Syrian refugees and issuing a pinup calendar in which she posed with weapons. Voters will choose one of many running for that seat but, please, not that one.

City of Henderson Mayor

Anthony S. Csuzi Angelo R. Gomez Eddie “Swamper” Hamilton Crystal Hendrickson Debra March Jerry Sakura Rick Workman

The Sun’s take: Henderson has been on a good trajectory in recent years, with steady growth, revitalization of its downtown and a considerable uptick in commercial development. March has helped steer the city in the right direction as a council member since being appointed in 2009. She won election in 2011 and 2015, and she’s the ideal choice to succeed out-going Mayor Andy Hafen.

City Council Ward 3

Carrie Cox Matthew P. DeFalco

John Marz

The Sun’s take: Like March, Marz is an incumbent who has served the city responsibly and deserves re-election.

City of North Las Vegas

Mayor Gary Bouchard John J. Lee DeQuincy “Quincy” Taylor

The Sun’s take: Lee has been instrumental in North Las Vegas’ rebound from a near-collapse after the recession, and he deserves another term to see through some of the progress he spurred. Thanks to enhanced economic development efforts and initiatives to reduce bureaucracy and streamline permitting processes, businesses are sprouting up at the Apex Industrial Park and residential developments are being built. Questions remain about the status of the Faraday Future’s proposed $1 billion automobile plant in North Las Vegas, which would do wonders to broaden Southern Nevada’s economic diversification, but Lee’s record makes him the obvious choice.

City Council Ward 1 Isaac Barron Hector Rivera

The Sun’s take: Barron, an incumbent who became the first Latino to serve on the council in 2013, also has earned a subsequent term. No need to shake up the status quo with the city on the right path.

Ward 3

Ender Austin III Scott Black Tom Collins Wilson “Will” Crespo Anita Wood

The Sun’s take: Once again, the incumbent deserves the seat. That would be Wood, who’s seeking her third term.

Boulder City

Council Cam Walker Fritz McDonald Warren Harhay Kiernan McManus John Milburn James Stuckey Eric Lungaard Richard Loudin

The Sun’s take: it’s a toss-up in a deep field. We’ll defer to Boulder City residents, as they know their candidates better than anyone.