Las Vegas is going to go through a big change at the top. It’s one that the city hasn’t seen in a quarter century. A mayor not named “Goodman” will lead the city for the first time since 1999.
To put that in perspective, when the Goodman reign started at Las Vegas City Hall, people could still go to the airport without taking off their shoes, and walk departing loved ones all the way to the boarding area. People feared the “Y2K bug” at the turn of the Millenium, and terrorists had yet to strike on U.S. soil.
For Las Vegas, it was also a much-different time. No major-league sports teams were located in Southern Nevada. And, downtown was still a place that a lot of people didn’t like to hang around after work.
Today, downtown Las Vegas is thriving. People not only gravitate the nightlife and arts’ scene, but also move to downtown. But with all the change and growth also comes growing pains.
One top candidate for mayor believes she is the best person to lead the city after current Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman’s final term ends this year. Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman hopes to take over for Goodman. She praises both the Goodmans as mayors.
“I think the Goodmans have done a great job. I think they have done (a great job), especially with the arts (and) Symphony Park,” Seaman says. “I think Mayor (Carolyn) Goodman, before she was actually a mayor, did an amazing thing with the Meadows School. It’s one of the best schools that we have in Southern Nevada, but mainly with the arts.”
Seaman has worked alongside Carolyn Goodman on the council and has high praise for the current mayor.
“I think Mayor Goodman has been absolutely forward thinking in what she’s done. And I’ve loved working alongside her. I’ve learned a lot from her.”
Mayor Carolyn Goodman took over from her husband, Oscar, in 2011. Oscar Goodman began his first term in 1999. The Goodmans’ legacy is most evident in the revitalization of downtown into a destination for both tourists and locals. Seaman points to the development of Symphony Park, which includes the Smith Center.
But looking forward, Seaman talks about the emerging challenges in the country. The city also needs “bold” leadership in the next mayor, she adds.
“I think that moving forward, we’re facing a lot of issues across the country where we need a bit of bold leadership. And I say that because we have crime rampant across the country. We are facing a lot of issues with the unhoused,” she says. “And I think that moving forward, we need someone who has a proven record of tackling the tough issues. And as mayor, that’s what I will be doing, is tackling those tough issues.”
Changing Times in Las Vegas – And in the Country
No matter how well the city of Las Vegas is run, the city is affected by policies around the country. And, many of these are “bad polices,” Seaman maintains.
“Crime is a concern and we’ve grown so much. I mean, we’re growing every day because of policies, bad policies in our neighboring cities. People are coming to Las Vegas because we are an international city — because we offer so much that other big cities offer,” the mayoral candidate points out. “But we have a much better tax base. And, with no income tax in our state, people want to come to Las Vegas. It’s a desirable city.”
After moving to Las Vegas 20 years ago from California, Seaman appreciates the feeling of security locals enjoy. She plans to do everything she can to keep it that way.
“My number one priority is public safety,” she says. “Public safety has always, and will always be number one. We have just over 40 million tourists coming to Las Vegas every year. I work shoulder to shoulder with Metro police. I have always been a strong supporter of law enforcement and I just got the endorsement of all the law enforcement in the state of Nevada. That’s very impressive.”
Seaman, who comes from a family of law enforcement, says she knows how hard it is to put your life on the line to protect others. “And it’s not just hard for the officers but also their families. I will always be a big supporter of law enforcement,” she says.
While Las Vegans watch national reports of random street attacks in other places — such as New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco – they are relieved that such violence is not widespread in Southern Nevada. Seaman says it will take vigilance to keep the city safe.
“I would make sure they have everything (law enforcement) needs to keep themselves and us safe — the tools, the money, whatever support they need,” she promises. “I’m very good friends with our (Clark County) Sheriff Kevin McMahill. I’m very good friends with our (Nevada) Gov. Lombardo. Joe Lombardo and I will work side by side with them. We will make sure that we’re doing everything we can as a city to make sure they’re supported in every way.”
Homelessness is a Major Issue in Las Vegas
In the valley, and throughout the country, the problem of homelessness is growing. While the causes are multiple, so are the possible solutions. Victoria Seaman says this issue is another top priority.
“The second major issue I think that we face is our homeless issue. We do have an issue of the unhoused. And I think that the city has done amazing things, and I will continue those things,” she praises.
One of the things that the city has done is trying to replicate the Haven for Hope in San Antonio with the Las Vegas’ Corridor of Hope, she explains. “We have a much smaller facility compared to what they did in San Antonio. It was 14 acres,.”
Las Vegas has two acres for the Corridor of Hope as our shelter, she explains.
“In the five years that I’ve been on the council, we’ve put a lot of money towards it. And it’s an amazing facility where we can have the unhoused go,” Seaman says. “There’s medical, there’s wraparound services, there’s job opportunities, there’s a place for them to shelter at night.”
There is always a balance between protecting the rights of the unhoused and safeguarding the ability to business owners to make a living. Seaman says the city has tried very hard to strike that balance between compassion and common sense.
“We have this amazing facility and having this amazing facility (that) gave us the ability to do the camping ban (in 2019), which I think is one of the good things that we did while I was on the council,” she recounts. “Why? Because our downtown businesses were ready to go out of business because they had a lot of people camping out in their properties. And, so it was really important for us to make sure that while we’re helping the unhoused, they’re not encroaching upon somebody else’s rights.”
As a small businessperson herself, Victoria Seaman understands the trials of entrepreneurs. She ran a spa in California and had a line of bath and body products in Las Vegas. Seaman also has a real estate license.
Seaman emphasizes the importance of the city’s camping ban:
“So, having the ability to go out and tell them: “You can’t camp here, but we can take you to the Corridor of Hope,” is something that I’m very proud of,” she says. “Now they don’t have to go. They don’t have to take the services. But we do have wraparound services.”
Again, as with the issue of crime, Las Vegas is not an island. Las Vegas, as a city, cannot take the homeless from all around the valley, Seaman says. There is just not enough room. That problem will be alleviated by Gov. Joe Lombardo’s planned state facility, she adds.
“The city can’t handle it all. We were taking in people from the county at North Las Vegas, or anywhere that they came from. That’s what made it so difficult to have shelter available because we are taking them from all of Southern Nevada,” Seaman explains. “But this facility that the governor’s now doing will actually help with all of that.”
Pet Project
Animal rights, and pet ownership, are not typical political issues. But they have been hot-bottom topics in Clark County, where the Clark County Commission passed restrictive measure in 2022 to stop the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits and pot-bellied pigs – in most instances — by December
The future does look brighter for the Animal Foundation, Seaman says. “And, now we have the opportunity to put it out for a request for proposal and get a partner that will give us the service to our animals that they deserve.”
Seaman also hopes to also give the City of Las Vegas the service its residents deserve as its next mayor.
She promises to be a mayor for everyone in the city, regardless of political leanings.
“I have a proven record of getting things done when you call my office. And we don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, independent — whatever your issue is, we can fix it. We’re going to fix it,” Seaman promises. “If it’s something we can’t fix, we’re going to get you to the person that can fix it.”
“I believe there’s no issue that we can’t resolve,” the candidate says. “And you know, being a city councilwoman is something I love because we are able to make changes immediately and we’re able to change people’s lives.”
Victoria Seaman is ready to be mayor from day one. “I don’t have to learn on the job. I’ve been doing this now for five years,” she promises. “I have a proven record that there is no issue too big for us to tackle. And I’m not going to kick any issues and problems down the road.”
Vegas Legal Magazine Interview with Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, Candidate for Mayor
Vegas Legal Magazine: What inspired you to go into politics?
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman: It was probably around 2010, when I got involved with politics. It was really to help other people get elected. And then after a few years, I decided to run for the Nevada Legislature and was elected. When I got elected, only 23 percent of those who were legislating in the state capitol at the time had ever owned a small business. I did believe that we didn’t have enough representation. I was right. But then when I did get elected, I felt that my business background really helped me as a legislator because there were certain things as a business owner that I could relate to when it came to legislating and making laws.
VLM: What motivated you to throw your hat into the ring to be the mayor of Las Vegas?
VS: So, the reason I decided to run for mayor was because we’re a growing city, exponentially growing over the last 10 years. There are issues that we face as a city and I believe that you need a strong, bold leader. That’s why I decided to run for mayor because there isn’t any issue that comes before me that I will not try to tackle.
VLM: Affordable housing is a problem around the country and right here in Las Vegas. How would you address the need for affordable housing in Las Vegas?
VS: So, this is a really important issue and I love what (Nevada) Gov. Joe Lombardo has done with urging our federal delegation — and the president (Joe Biden) — to give us our federal land so we can start building. Almost 85 percent of Nevada is Bureau of Land Management land and we need that land. As a matter of fact, I went to Washington (D.C.) a couple of years ago with the city delegation. We went to see (Nevada) Congressman Mark Amodei, to urge him to help us to get some of our land back — some of the parcels.
We have some parcels in the city that are BLM land and I think that’s a step in the right direction. We need federal land because we are landlocked here in Southern Nevada. The other thing that we can do, as a city, is work with our developers and offer incentives to affordable housing. These are things that we can do in the city and that have been done. We will continue to offer those incentives to do affordable housing, or mixed-use affordable housing.
VLM: An issue related to public safety – in cities such as New York and Denver – is the massive influx of both illegal and legal migrants over the southern U.S. border. What discussions have taken place to make sure Las Vegas doesn’t face such a crisis?
VS: What I do know is we haven’t seen the mass migration that those other cities are seeing. But, day one, I will meet with all of our law enforcement to get a briefing on if we’re facing those issues in the near future.
VLM: Las Vegas is not currently a sanctuary city. What is your stance on that, and how do you view the current status of cooperation between the city and federal ICE officials?
VS: And, so that (ICE cooperation) would be through our marshal’s office. But I can tell you this, we are not a sanctuary city. I will not support being a sanctuary city. I am a rule of law lawmaker. We make laws for a reason. And, I believe that we should enforce our laws. I don’t believe in picking and choosing what laws we should enforce.
VLM: What is your stance on gun rights in Southern Nevada – and Las Vegas specifically?
VS: I am a CCW holder and I believe in responsible gun ownership. Really, we could (only) advocate, because this is (an issue for) state legislation or federal legislation. But I do believe in our Second Amendment, and we’ll be an advocate for the Second Amendment.
VLM: You have advocated for small businesses. Can you discuss some of the actions you have taken to support the business community?
VS: I think what we need to do first and foremost, on day one, as mayor, is streamline how we do business in the City of Las Vegas, specifically licensing and how we help those businesses to get going. Many businesses find that obtaining their licenses and permits is a lengthy process.
That’s the first thing I’ll do. I’ve already spoken to many developers, many small businesses, and I think we need to form some sort of committee to find out what the issues hold people up when they’re trying to do business. Certain businesses have taken out loans. Certain people are trying to get permits to build their small business. So, we need to find out from the stakeholders how we can help them. We are government and we can either stifle or we can help businesses.
One of the things I’ve done, as a councilwoman, is to feature small businesses on my social media. Shortly after I got elected, we had COVID happen. We were picking and choosing — as a state, as a country, as cities — which businesses stayed open and which ones closed (and) which ones were necessary.
You saw most of the small businesses being shut down and they never recovered … Also, what’s always kind of perplexed me is why are we making it difficult for people (to open businesses)? Why does government make it difficult for people to get their licensing and get their permits, when that’s revenue for us — for services in the community that we need.
VLM: Squatting illegally in houses has now become a major problem across the country. You sponsored legislation to combat squatting back when you were in the Nevada Legislature. Can you talk about that bill, and if more needs to be done to prevent squatting like we have seen in places like Atlanta and New York City?
VS: We were at the forefront in 2015, because we had one of the biggest crisis of real estate. When the crisis came about, Las Vegas was affected, I should say Southern Nevada was affected. This was one of the worst affected areas by the housing crisis. And, I think it was due to some of the (Nevada) state legislation that was done prior. Banks were not being able to close without an original note.
There was some sort of legislation that was done, prior to me being in there in 2015, that affected it. But I can say that since we were the hardest hit, we had a lot of properties that were sitting in foreclosure for a long time. And the squatting issue was huge here. That’s when I, in a bipartisan way, made sure that we made squatting a crime. Because, as you know, across the country, it’s a civil matter.
VLM: Nevada is known for its tax-friendly environment, with no state income tax. You have also fought against taxes, such as the commerce tax, while in the Nevada Legislature. How would you continue that fight if elected mayor of Las Vegas?
VS: I voted against the commerce tax because I believe that you can’t tax a business on gross receipts. It doesn’t make sense. And the reason that they wanted to pass the commerce tax was to improve education. That money would be going to education. I fought against it. I voted against it. But it did pass. And, at the time we were 49th in education — at the bottom. And, now we’re 50th (in the nation).
Valerie Miller is a Las Vegas Valley-based award-winning journalist. She can be reached at (702) 683-3986 or [email protected].
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