Citizen Outreach’s conservative “Rising Star” award is designed to highlight the next generation of conservative leaders who are making waves today.
And the 2025 “Rising Star” recipient is freshman Assemblywoman Lisa Cole (R-Clark).
Lisa’s blend of practical business experience, legal acumen, and a conservative perspective positions her as a problem-solver focused on economic growth, regulatory reform, and constituent needs.
She represents District 4 in the Nevada State Assembly, covering parts of the northwestern Las Vegas Valley, including Centennial Hills and began her term on November 6, 2024, after winning 56% of the vote against Democrat Ryan Hampton.
Born in 1974 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and raised in Somerset, Lisa showed an early interest in environmental science. She earned her bachelor’s degree in that field from Allegheny College in 1996.
In 1998, she moved to Las Vegas, where she has lived for over 27 years. Balancing work and family, she pursued a law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, graduating summa cum laude in 2023, and passed the Nevada Bar Exam in 2023.
Lisa’s career as a small business owner and attorney focuses on land and utility development.
She started her first business in 2010, dealing with land rights, permitting, groundwater rights, well development, and more.
Her notable work includes contributions to the Apex Industrial Park project in North Las Vegas, a development expected to bring thousands of jobs to the region.
Encouraged by Governor Joe Lombardo’s team in 2023, Lisa entered the political arena to apply her problem-solving skills for the benefit of all Nevadans and hold a Republican seat that Democrats had targeted to flip.
Running as a conservative, she faced no opposition in the Republican primary and secured endorsements from prominent figures and organizations, including Governor Lombardo and the Nevada Trucking Association.
Since taking office, Lisa has focused on several key areas:
- Economic Development and Housing: She prioritizes job creation and economic diversification, citing her work at Apex Industrial Park as evidence of her capability. On affordable housing, she supports releasing more federal land and incentivizing private-sector development to increase supply.
- Education: As a mother of a Clark County School District graduate, she advocates for school choice, including the Opportunity Scholarships program, to provide options for families zoned for underperforming schools.
- Water and Energy: With over two decades of experience in water rights, Cole is critical of excessive state authority over groundwater. On energy, she opposes Nevada’s aggressive renewable energy goals, calling them unrealistic and costly, and supports a mix of renewables with reliable natural gas.
- Regulation and Governance: Cole aims to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses, citing examples like the cumbersome licensing for street vendors. She also proposed repealing AB398 from the 2023 session, a bill she believes could disrupt liability insurance availability.
Assemblywoman Lisa Cole’s recognition as a “Rising Star” by Citizen Outreach underscores her commitment to conservative values and effective leadership.
Her journey from environmental science enthusiast to influential lawmaker serves as an inspiration to many in the community.
