LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — As Women’s History Month comes to a close, political leaders in Las Vegas note some history-making for the city: five city council members and the mayor are all women.
One of them, council member Shondra Summers-Armstrong, elected in 2024 to the council for Ward 5, said the women are, in many ways, unsung heroes. Council member Victoria Seaman noted the historical significance of the representation.
“As women, we’ve come a long way with struggling to have equal footing over the decades,” said Seaman. “I just really love that women have been able to come this far to be leaders in our cities.”
Council member Olivia Diaz, a native of Las Vegas, was elected to the city council in 2019. She became the first Latina to hold the position.
“More of us have put our names on the ballot, and thankfully, we’ve earned the support of our community, and that’s what matters,” said Diaz. “It’s so surreal, almost. When I was going to high school, Jan Jones was the mayor and the only female that sat on this council, or probably one of very few.
Summers-Armstrong expressed excitement about being part of a group of “smart women who know how to lead.”
“For me, in my life to be able to learn from them and to work with them to get things done for the city of Las Vegas,” said Summers-Armstrong.
Seaman noted the women’s ability to lead in any capacity.
“We know how to negotiate. We know how to compromise. We also know how to multitask,” said Seaman. “We’ve led the way, and we’ve led the path for women to know they can conquer and do anything.”
Likewise, Diaz praised her contemporaries’ dedication and hard-working nature.
“We’re methodical and we think through a lot of things,” said Diaz. “Also, we’re compassionate.”
While Summers-Armstrong focused on problem-solving abilities.
“We know how to solve them in our communities, in our schools, so we are capable,” said Summers-Armstrong. “We just needed an opportunity for people to get out of the way and allow us to lead.”
