LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – From the steps of Henderson City Hall, Hollie Chadwick announced her bid for mayor, but a city official is pushing back on the reason she is running.
Heather George, a former Lady Rebel and 30-year Henderson resident, introduced the former Henderson Police Chief to a crowd of supporters.
“While my tenure as police chief unfortunately became political and did not end the way I had hoped,” Chadwick said. “I know I did nothing wrong, and I know I am grateful for every day I have the opportunity to wear the badge and serve this community with my best efforts and with the utmost integrity.”
In the wake of her firing, Chadwick said she received countless phone calls and texts from supporters encouraging her to run for mayor.
“Our community needs an authentic leader who is dedicated to the needs of the entire community and not just a chosen few,” she said. “I am that leader.”
Chadwick pointed to several Henderson crime statistics as an indicator of her leadership as police chief and thanked the officers she worked with in uniform.
“It was my privilege to work alongside each and every one of them, and I know they will continue to serve this great community with honor and dedication,” she said.
Chief among Chadwick’s priorities: transparency, affordable housing, improving the educational curriculum, and school choice.
“These aren’t just campaign promises,” Chadwick said. “They are the foundational elements of a city we can all be proud of.”
Taking questions
Following her speech, Chadwick opened up to answer questions from members of the media. The first question: Did the firing of Chadwick-the-chief create Chadwick-the-candidate?
“In fairness, it may have Yes,” she said. “This was never on my radar. This was not something I was looking to do. But again, you have to look forward to the future, and I just want to continue to serve this community, and I feel this is the best way to do so moving forward.”
Chadwick was asked by a reporter from the Nevada Current if she believes the consulting company representing the city council and her opponent presents a conflict of interest.
“That’s something you’d have to ask her,” she said.
Reporters asked Chadwick about the apparent discord during city meetings, which residents have witnessed in the past months.
“I think you’ve seen how they treat each other on the dais,” she said. “I think when you have that at the top, it permeates down throughout the whole city and then, unfortunately, into the valley.”
Following her firing as police chief, Chadwick was asked if this campaign was based around getting the person she alleged played a role in the firing out of office.
“I’m not doing this for [Romero],” she said. “I’m doing this for the city and the community.”
City manager responds
After the announcement, 8 News Now rushed to the Henderson Development Association luncheon in Sun City Anthem, where Stephanie Garcia-Vause was expected to speak.
Garcia-Vause agreed to speak with 8 News Now and answer questions regarding Chadwick’s announcement and the allegation that the city manager took direction from the mayor to fire the police chief.
“There is no truth to that,” Garcia-Vause said. “Hiring and firing of employees is solely the decision of the city manager. I’m the city manager, and that was my decision to make. There’s a separation of powers.”
The next question, Garcia-Vause was asked why Chadwick would make the claim if it is allegedly untrue.
“I don’t know what the motivations are,” she said. “But I can tell you that the decision to hire and fire employees is strictly an operational issue. Operational issues are those things that the city manager takes care of, the mayor and council take care of policy, and I made that decision for the best interest of the community.”
Police union reacts
Prior to Chadwick’s announcement, 8 News Now requested a statement from Henderson’s police unions regarding the new mayoral candidate.
The following is the statement sent by a police union spokesperson.
“The unions learned of former Chief Chadwick’s mayoral candidacy from reporters just like the rest of the public. We are sure that as a former Chief of Police, Chadwick is well aware of the importance of public safety and the need to properly staff and pay our police department. Those issues are clearly linked and the unions will eagerly await every candidate’s plan to provide appropriate resources, pay, and benefits to rank-and-file members of the police department. The support and endorsement of the police unions is earned, not given. Therefore, the public should be aware that whoever has the support of the union(s) is someone that has earned our trust.” -Andrew Regenbaum, Executive Director of the Henderson Police Supervisors Association
Romero campaign responds
8 News Now reached out to the Campaign to re-elect Michelle Romero regarding the revealing of her only challenger, so far.
The following is a statement sent by the campaign to 8 News Now.
“I am extremely proud of the progress we have made in making Henderson not just the best city in Nevada, but as a recent Baldridge Award recipient, a nationally recognized top city in America. Under my leadership, we have improved public safety for our residents and businesses, expanded school choice for parents and students, increased healthcare accessibility and services for our veterans, added protections for our rural neighborhoods and public spaces, expanded services for our most vulnerable populations, and have made the City of Henderson the most transparent governing body in Nevada. These are precisely the issues I campaigned on three years ago, when 75 percent of Henderson residents placed their trust in me. No matter who joins this race, my commitment to serving as Mayor, and leading our city into the future will not be deterred.” – Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero
