LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A new face on the Henderson City Council will not only give politics in Nevada’s second-biggest city a new look, but, it could result in a stalemate when the city’s mayor recuses herself or otherwise cannot vote, interviews conducted by the 8 News Now Investigators reveal.
Monica Larson, a relative newcomer to the Las Vegas Valley, dubbed an established incumbent – Dan Shaw of Ward II – in November’s election, winning the popular vote by 13 percentage points and about 5,000 votes. Shaw, Mayor Michelle Romero, and councilmen Jim Seebock and Dan Stewart often vote together, according to another member of the council, Ward II’s Carrie Cox.
Cox – who won a contentious election of her own as the last at-large candidate ever to be seated on the board – said the addition of Larson to the council could break up what she says is often a four-to-one voting block with herself often voting no when the others vote yes and yes when the others vote no.
When it is four to one, then those are those are hard odds,” Cox said. “And I get around that sometimes and I’m able to get things done. But when it’s three to two, it’s going to change the dynamics and I think that that will be helpful.”
Cox said when the mayor recuses herself from voting – as she often does on the advice of the city attorney during votes involving Las Vegas Paving, where her husband and son work – it will force the councilmembers to work together to come to a reasonable outcome when the eventual vote ends up two-to-two.
“I think it’s going to give some more negotiating leverage,” Cox said. “You know, with each other, that we’re going to be able to not have a foregone conclusion of. Well, they can put anything through pretty much with a 4-1 vote.”
Larson, who told the 8 News Now Investigators she may not be well received by the council after unseating Shaw, said she looks forward to making progress on the council in some of her key areas, including public safety, education and starting the meetings in the evening instead of in the afternoon.
When asked if she thought the dynamic could be contentious, Larson said, “It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest bit.”
Larson began her foray into Henderson politics by trying to contact Shaw to address public safety issues – speeders in her neighborhood, specifically – and her emails and phone calls went unanswered. So she began attending the city council meetings every other Tuesday and eventually decided to run against Shaw.
“I was determined at that point because you’re a public servant and you’re a public official,” Larson said of Shaw. “You serve the people you don’t serve yourself. And I was determined to make an example out of them to let them know we the people don’t subscribe to that.”
Cox said Larson picked up on a key to success in local politics – paying attention to constituents.
“Everything, our economy growth, everything impacts and effects, our residents, our constituents,” Cox said, not unaware of Larson’s genesis from constituent to councilwoman.
Shaw, who along with all city councilors with the exception of Cox, did not respond to a written request for an interview for this story. Romero offered the following statement, seen here in its entirety:
“We congratulate Dr. Monica Larson on her successful campaign and look forward to welcoming her to the Henderson City Council when she takes the Oath of Office on January 7, 2025. She will have our collective support as she represents the residents and businesses of Ward II and the interests of our great City. We also extend our deep gratitude to Councilman Dan Shaw for his dedicated service to our community, beginning in 1987 with the Henderson Parks and Recreation Board, 11 years on the Planning Commission, and serving on the City Council for the last seven years.”
Shaw’s last council meeting is December 17.
