City Council Saves Nearly $500,000 by Skipping Special Election
The Las Vegas City Council made a smart financial choice last week. They decided to appoint someone to fill Victoria Seaman’s empty Ward 2 seat instead of holding a costly special election. The council rejected the prospect of holding a special election, which is projected to cost $467,000, according to city officials.
This decision shows exactly the kind of fiscal responsibility that conservatives want to see from their local leaders. Why spend half a million dollars of taxpayer money when you can get the same result through an appointment process? It’s common sense government at work.
The Three Finalists Step Forward
As early as Wednesday, the six-member City Council could pick between Kara Kelley, Serena Kasama or Tom Warden, according to a meeting agenda. Each brings different experience to the table.
Serena Kasama is the daughter of Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama. She’s been on the city’s Planning Commission for several years now. In her application, she expressed a desire for smart development that balances the needs of current residents while preparing for future growth. Kasama is a city of Las Vegas planning commissioner and government affairs director at Carrara Nevada, a lobbying firm, her resume said.
Kara Kelley brings business experience to the race. Kelley is the vice chair of the Colorado River Commission of Nevada and previously held the position of CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, according to her resume. She is the founder and CEO of The Kelley Co. LLC, a consulting firm. In her application, she said the budget is her priority and addressing the city’s fiscal challenges. That’s music to conservative ears.
Tom Warden rounds out the group with both government and private sector experience. Warden consults for the Howard Hughes Corp., where he retired in 2022 as a government and community relations professional, his resume said. March 1996 to March 1999 I was the Public Communications Director of Clark County Government. March 1989 to March 1996 I was a news anchor and investigative reporter for KLAS TV, the CBS network affiliate in Las Vegas, where I earned an Emmy Award for investigative journalism. In his application, he said his priorities are quality-of-life programs and initiatives like affordable housing, workforce development, youth programs and education, and more.
Why This Appointment Matters for Conservatives
Ward 2 covers the Summerlin area in northwest Las Vegas. Ward 2, in particular, represents over 127,000 people, and the work of a council member is critical — they deserve representation. This isn’t just about filling an empty chair. It’s about who will make decisions on budgets, development, and city policies that affect thousands of families.
The appointment process itself reflects conservative principles. The council chose efficiency over expensive bureaucracy. They saved taxpayers nearly half a million dollars. That’s real money that can go toward actual city services instead of election costs.
Strong Interest Shows Civic Engagement
More than three dozen qualified applicants have emerged to fill the Ward 2 vacancy on the Las Vegas City Council since Victoria Seaman left the job. This strong response shows that people still care about local government. It also means the council had plenty of good options to choose from.
Among the other notable applicants who didn’t make the final cut were David Gardner, a former Nevada assemblyman and attorney focusing on education and Kristina Wildeveld, a Las Vegas attorney.
The Process Moving Forward
Kelley, Kasama and Warden are scheduled to pitch their abilities in three-minute public presentations before the council Wednesday. This gives residents a chance to hear directly from each candidate about their plans and priorities.
The appointed person will serve as a “caretaker” until the 2026 election. The application, which is posted on the city website, includes a pledge from the applicant that they will not run for election to the council next year. This helps ensure the appointment won’t give anyone an unfair advantage in the next election.
Why Seaman Left
Victoria Seaman, who resigned from the position last week to become a regional director in Denver for President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services. In her new role, Seaman will be the liaison between state, local, and tribal governments as well as non-governmental organizations across Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Her departure to serve in the Trump administration shows the quality of leadership that Ward 2 has been producing. Now the question is who will continue that tradition of effective representation.
What Comes Next
The council will make their choice at the September 17 meeting. Whoever gets picked will face real challenges. “Whoever is interested in applying, it’s not an easy gig, you really have to dedicate some time and commitment to understand what Ward 2 is and what the city, overall, is,” Knudsen said.
For conservatives watching this process, the key things to look for are fiscal responsibility, support for business development, and respect for property rights. Ward 2 residents should pay attention to how each candidate talks about these issues during their presentations.
The appointment approach shows that local government can work efficiently when leaders make practical decisions. Instead of spending big money on a special election, they’re using a streamlined process that gets the job done. That’s the kind of limited government approach that works for everyone.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
