Las Vegas Review-Journal

Fiore Convratula­tes Biden, touts Trump

Calls ex-president ‘ONE Of Our Rreatest’

- By Shea Johnson Contact Shea Johnson at sjohnson@reviewjour­nal.com or 702-383-0272. Follow @SHEA_LVRJ on Twitter.

When Las Vegas Councilwom­an Michele Fiore stepped down as mayor pro tem in June, under fire for racially charged remarks she was said to have made during a local GOP event, she also suggested relinquish­ing that title would free up time to focus on re-election.

But Fiore, whose term runs through next year, was not speaking about her own political prospects. Instead, as a Nevada GOP national committeew­oman, Fiore vowed to focus on ensuring then-president Donald Trump secured four more years in the White House.

It was not to be.

On Wednesday, moments after President Joe Biden was inaugurate­d in Washington, D.C., the nonpartisa­n Las Vegas council met for its regular session. And at its end, Fiore offered well-wishes to Bidenand Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I would like to congratula­te them and wish them the best of luck for the next four years,” Fiore said. “They say that the third time is a charm, and President Biden has been running for the White House since 1987, so a big congratula­tions is in order for him.”

But the councilwom­an was also clear: “History will remember President Trump as our greatest, as one of our greatest presidents.”

On a historic day when Biden took over as the country’s 46th president, and as Harris was sworn in as the first woman, African American and Asian American vice president, the council happened to be meeting in public, affording city lawmakers an opportunit­y to provide their thoughts on the new administra­tion.

Councilwom­an Olivia Diaz, a former Democratic assemblywo­man, said she believed it was “momentous” to see a woman assume the role of vice president.

“I, as a female leader, feel especially proud that another glass ceiling has been shattered and all of our little girls that have been dreaming about becoming the next president kind of see it one step closer,” she said.

Councilman Cedric Crear, a Democrat, noted that he and Harris both graduated from Howard University.

“It is historic on so many levels considerin­g that the first slave arrived on the shores of the United States in 1619, and to see her rise to this position is absolutely amazing,” he said.

Councilwom­an Victoria Seaman, a former Republican assemblywo­man, also congratula­ted the new administra­tion and said she hoped its leadership could unite the country.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman, a political independen­t who lamented missing the virtual performanc­e of Las Vegas High School’s Mariachi Joya, said Las Vegas is a city that works together even when political views do not align.

“As we look to this next administra­tion and the four years, and maybe eight years, how can we help to make it better?” she said. “And so all the difference­s, put them aside, and be grateful for every day that you have.”

As Fiore praised Trump’s “focus on a strong national policy” and for being “a beacon of conservati­ve values,” she said she hoped that the new administra­tion would continue to put the American people first.

But the councilwom­an, who last summer amid the controvers­y had claimed her right to free speech was under assault, also had a parting wish: “However, most importantl­y, let us hope that this presidency is not to be subjected to the same unfairness and unwarrante­d attacks which President Trump had to endure all four years,” she said.

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