A veteran law enforcement officer who has spent nearly a decade fighting for officers’ rights is now setting his sights on City Hall. Steve Grammas, the president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, has announced he’s running for Las Vegas City Council in Ward 6.
Grammas said on social media:
“I am excited to officially announce my candidacy for Las Vegas City Council Ward 6. I love Las Vegas and have dedicated my life to keeping our city safe. Now, I plan to continue serving on the City Council.
Though my role may be different, my mission will remain the same: ensuring that Las Vegas is one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family. I have called Las Vegas home for 45 years. I married my wife here, I raised my 4 daughters here, this city is my home!”
I am excited to officially announce my candidacy for Las Vegas City Council Ward 6. I love Las Vegas and have dedicated my life to keeping our city safe. Now, I plan to continue serving on the City Council. Though my role may be different, my mission will remain the same:…
— LVPPA President Steve Grammas (@LVPPAPresident) August 25, 2025
A Street Cop Who Knows the System
Grammas has been with Metro Police for 27 years, starting as a cadet right out of high school in 1998. He’s worked every corner of law enforcement you can think of. From patrol officer to narcotics detective to training new cops. Since 2014, he’s been on the union’s executive board full-time, and he’s been union president for nearly 10 years.
Think about it this way. When an officer gets in trouble or faces a tough situation, Grammas is the guy who shows up. He responds to officer-involved shootings and sits with officers during internal affairs interviews. He knows what it’s like when government bureaucracy goes wrong.
His Platform: Public Safety First
Based on his years fighting for officers and working with state lawmakers, Grammas brings clear priorities to the race. His platform centers on what conservatives care about most – keeping families safe and government accountable.
Grammas has worked closely with Republican Governor Joe Lombardo on tough-on-crime legislation. He believes drug trafficking penalties should be stronger, especially for deadly fentanyl.
Grammas said:
“There is not just an issue of legality with regards to possessing fentanyl, but catastrophic deaths have been attributed to even the slightest amounts.”
Most importantly, Grammas has shown he’ll fight government waste and bureaucratic overreach. He’s currently battling a state mandate that would cut police officers’ pay, calling it an example of how government hurts working families.
Taking On the Academic Elite
Grammas is challenging Nancy Brune, who has held the Ward 6 seat since December 2022. Brune has a PhD and ran the Guinn Center, a policy think tank that studies government programs. She’s exactly the kind of policy expert that conservatives often worry about – someone who believes government can solve problems through more research and programs.
Brune talks about using “data analysis and research” and “evidence-based policy solutions”. That sounds nice, but conservatives know that academic theories don’t always work in the real world. Sometimes common sense beats a research study.
Why This Race Matters for Conservatives
This election represents a classic choice between two very different approaches to government. On one side, you have a union leader who has spent his career dealing with the messy reality of keeping people safe. On the other side, you have a policy researcher who believes government should do more based on academic studies.
For conservatives who believe in limited government, Grammas offers something important. He understands that government often makes problems worse, not better. Just this summer, Grammas has been fighting a state mandate that would cut police officers’ pay by over 4 percent through increased retirement contributions. Grammas said “Desperate times call for desperate measures” when talking about how the state’s retirement system changes hurt working families.
The Battle Over Police Accountability
Grammas has also been fighting to protect officers’ privacy rights, filing lawsuits to keep officers’ names out of public misconduct complaints. Critics say this hurts transparency. But conservatives understand that due process matters. Why should someone’s name be dragged through the mud before they’re proven guilty of anything?
Earlier this year, Grammas used billboard trucks to call out a police captain who was treating officers badly. Some people might call that controversial. But it shows Grammas will stand up to bad bosses, even within his own department.
What’s at Stake
Ward 6 covers the northwest part of Las Vegas. It’s home to many working families who want safe neighborhoods and reasonable taxes. They don’t want city government telling them what to do with their property or how to live their lives.
When Brune first ran in 2022, she promised to bring “a voice of reason” to city leadership. But for many conservatives, her idea of reason means more government programs and higher spending. She talks about “collaboration” and “practical approaches,” but also wants government to solve problems in areas like “housing, education, economic development, senior care”.
Looking Ahead
Brune’s current term ends in 2026, so this race will determine Ward 6’s direction for the next four years. For conservatives, this is a chance to elect someone who has actually fought government overreach instead of someone who has spent her career in think tanks.
Grammas brings something you can’t learn in graduate school – real experience dealing with criminals, bureaucrats, and politicians who don’t keep their promises. He knows what happens when city policies fail because he’s the one who has to clean up the mess.
What Conservatives Can Do
Voters in Ward 6 should ask tough questions about government spending and property rights. They should demand candidates explain how they’ll keep taxes low and regulations reasonable. Most importantly, they should support candidates who have actually fought for working people instead of just talking about it.
This race isn’t just about Las Vegas. It’s about whether working-class conservatives can compete with the academic establishment that wants to run everything from City Hall.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
