Nor'Town: Politics in North Las Vegas » Mayor Mike Montandon

Puppet Mania in Nor’Town!

Nevada Scandalmonger — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:34:13 +0000

North Las Vegas is going puppet mad! For months in the Ward 4 city council race, Richard Cherchio has been calling Wade “he is your dentist” Wagner a puppet to the police and firefighter unions for taking loads of their campaign contributions and promising (I’m guessing) to vote in lock step with the Mayor who says “No” to her family/core political base living off of union fees.

Now, Linda Meisen-heimer a lucky candidate for ward 2 is the beneficiary of the mailer shown here which attacks her opponent Pamela Goynes-Brown as a puppet to the “public safety” unions.

Now, I have some sympathy for the view since a police union PAC just came out with a mailer accusing Meisenheimer of going all Silence of the Lambs and trying to wear Sharron Angle’s skin like a frock coat.

The flier is the product of one Ken Angell who has created a political action committee called North Las Vegans for Truth, which although it sounds like a cult of Nor’Townie vegetarians, is really just a guy with some extra cash. You can read the report filed with the Nevada Secretary of State over here. Ken Angell is the fellow who filed campaign funding complaints against Wade Wagner for Richard Cherchio, and the ‘Dog has a rather unflattering description of the fellow.

In any case, the ‘Dog seems to have mischaracterized the Ward 2 race by calling it “classy.” Although joining the fray late and less well funded, the Ward 2 candidates are taking off the gloves.

By the way, it is always good to see old friends. NLVPAC, the political action committee originally created by goofball Utah Republican millionaire Patrick Byrne to fund Republican races in Nevada has made a few token payouts in the Norftown elections. It has handed Wade Wagner a couple of hundred and bought some tickets to a Meisenheimer fundraiser. Mike Montandon, the ex-Mayor of Norftown who spurred the growth-or-die frenzy that helped make North Las Vegas what it is today, used to administer the fund, and used most of it up running his doomed gubernatorial campaign. The PAC, like the city it is named for, and the ex-Mayor who used to run it, has seen better times.

Nor’Town Taxpayers Take The Hurt Out Of Manager’s Possible Dismissal

Nevada Scandalmonger — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:55:14 +0000

Whoa! Where else do you get $337,000 for messing up? Besides Goldman Sachs, I mean.

$337,000 is how much it's going to cost Nor'Town to get rid of its current City Manager Gregory Rose. (RJ) City Council will be voting on the "settlement" at the December 2nd meeting, barring postponement.

Mayor Buck is opposed because that's quite a chunk of change in hard times. However, voting against the settlement means that Rose would remain city manager, despite the current ruckus over the "More Cops" money. Rose is alleged to have used "More Cops" money to fund veteran officers when the money was slated for new hires only.

Mayor Buck, naturally, supported the manager's generous severance package back when council handed it to him. (Nor'Town) So, hey, if she doesn't want the city to take the hit, maybe she should donate the money?

Or, how about this? The mayor could take responsibility as Nor'Town's highest official for the "More Cops" mess up and resign. Her predecessor Mike Montandon could, too, by apologizing to the city, abandoning all current and future campaigns for public office, and pay Rose's severance out of his gubernatorial campaign fund.

But, wait, what am I saying? Taxpayers always end up paying for politicians' mistakes. That's been a basic rule of politics since back in the days of Babylon.

Easy Question

Nevada Scandalmonger — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:21:27 +0000

The Sun wrings its hands over the question viz., who's responsible for the melt down at the housing authority? Is it the board? The director they hired to run the thing (into the ground)? Gremlins?

Well, that's easy. It's the board, which consisted at the time of William Robinson, Shirley Hogan, Stephanie Smith, then-mayor Mike Montandon, and Robert Eliason.

Nor'Townies have heard whining from the board that they were deceived by then director Don England. Sorry, but even if Mr. England wasn't being entirely forthright with the board, that doesn't remove their responsibility. The board is there, stuffed with elected officials, to provide oversight. They obviously failed in their main job.

No doubt Mr. Montandon's opponents in the Governor's race will want to remind voters of his less than stellar job on the board when that election starts to heat up.

Of course, the problem with living in a democracy–yes Nor'Town is one–is that responsibility slops over onto those who do the electing. Nor'Town voters need to stop letting the Greenspuns, Goetts, and Fertittas of the world make their council choices for them.

And be sure to ask your neighborhood assembly and state senate folk, when they come knocking for your vote in 2010, where were they when campaign reform died in the last Legislative session. The Greenspuns et al. will continue to own Nor'Town elections as long as councilfolk need hundreds of thousands of dollars to get elected, and the Greenspums are allowed to bundle 20 and 30% of that despite a $10,000 official limit on contributions.

Currently the housing board is in limbo as it waits to be absorbed into a multicity organization. It is interesting to note that councilfolk want to shove citizens onto the board–and keep themselves as far away as they can. (See items 30 and 31 of the last meeting) Maybe they're feeling a tad uneasy about the whole debacle?

Elsewhere: another Nor'Town cop arrested? (RJ,KXNT) It is clearly time for a little soul-searching in council chambers about how to run that department. Hope the accused isn't another one of those "policemen for Buck".

Hmm. The city swapped in a pic of Cherchio into the lineup pretty quick. They're a little slow on updating that pic on the index page. Shouldn't be too hard, tho, there's three people you can stick between Robinson and Buck now.

Um…are those (non-functioning) video links I see over in the action reports? Will citizens soon be able to view meetings without actually having to sit in the same room as Dean Leavitt? Ah, technology! And if you get bored watching council on the Internets, why porn is just a click away!

Area Man Starts Blog

Nevada Scandalmonger — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:00 +0000

Mike Montandon started a blog.

Really.

And not because he's running for governor and needs the name recognition.

Really.

Silly fellow. The best way to get ignored? Start a blog.

The Mayor Mike Show

Nevada Scandalmonger — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:24:11 +0000

Don't miss Mayor Mike on Ralston's Pate to Pate.
Eh, skip the hagiography.
Something I missed. (RJ)
Say, maybe they should rename View News "Cato News." Seems like planning commissioner Jo Cato is in every other issue. Maybe she's hoping to slip into Buck's seat should Buck become mayor? Cato ran for Buck's seat in 2007 but came in 4th out of 4. (SoS)

Nor’Town Events this Week

Nevada Scandalmonger — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:52:29 +0000

Ooo. So much to do this week, if like Michael Keaton you can split into 3 or 4 people.

North Las Vegas Planning Commission: 6pm, Weds., Jan. 14, City Hall.
Town Hall on Kiel Ranch: 6pm, Weds., Jan. 14, City Library (next to City Hall).
North Las Vegas Alliance of Home Owners' Associations and Concerned Citizens: 6pm, Weds., Jan. 14, Aliante Library.
Oh, and something for all you rich folk who can afford to watch it while eating rubber chicken, on Thurs, Jan. 15th.

And don't miss the Sun story on the impending economic collapse of Nor"Town. (Sun) Sour news, especially after all the self-congratulatory backslapping from city officials about how they had planned ahead for the slowdown. I wonder if annexing Apex and building a seven story city hall were all part of that planning ahead.

Mayor Mike will be on the TeeVee, on Jon Ralston's Pate to Pate show specifically, telling us how all the Republican elites think he'd be a way better governor than Gibbons. Or at least what's left of the Republican elites in this Town. (VGO)

Did you know the Democrats almost have a two to one advantage over Republicans in voter registration in Nor'Town? Did you know the Shari Buck likes to run Republican in partisan races? (RJ, down at the bottom) Hey, just wonderin' if you knew.

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful…and Armed

Nevada Scandalmonger — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:57:50 +0000

Gubewannabe and lame duck Nor'Town Mayor Mike Montandon will
be hosting a clay shooting event to raise funds for area Boy Scouts,
tastefully announced over on the site Ammoland.com, which has all sorts
of neat pictures of bullets on it. (Ammo)

Now,
I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing–given that pretty soon
you won't be able to walk around Nor'Town without a sidearm strapped to
your thigh. Maybe the boys should know how to plug a drug dealer–or a
wacky gun nut toked up on testosterone and beer.

Overnight, William Robinson
for Mayor signs appeared around my neighborhood in Robinson's ward 2.
Not a surprise. The mayor's campaign will be about getting out each
candidate's "base" in their wards since most apathetic Nor'Towners will
be napping that day.

Robert Eliason will be interesting
to watch during the campaign season. He's got a little match up of his
own in Ward 1, but will probably have tons of funds and thus tough to beat. (Tune in
next week to look at Eliason's reports to see.) The question is, which
one of his colleagues on the Council will he support? Given he'll be
working to get his base out to the polls, some lucky colleague would be
thankful for a good chunk of those votes.

Ah, unflattering pics of Nor'Townie Democrats
in extremist, government-hating Republican rag today. Not a big
surprise there. The web pics aren't too bad, but the ones in the hard
copy version would make you choke on your Cheerios. Steven Horsford, Stephanie Smith, and Tom Collins were out with Americans United for Change trying to change the minds of earmark-loving, government-hating, government employees (no, I don't get that, either) John Ensign and Dean Heller to abandon the gold standard and support the Obama stimulus. Well, good luck with that, guys.

Our Savior!

Nevada Scandalmonger — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:34:14 +0000

According to Ralston's Flashything, Mayor Mike Montandon, who says he's thinking about running against Jim Gibbons for the governorship–or what's left of it–in 2010, made some "startling" remarks at a Republican love-in lunch last week. He claimed he is running because he had a "funny feeling" that the "state needed it." And a whole bunch of Republicans applauded.

That bodes ill for the fellow who currently pretends to be governor, and, sure, Montandon would be a better governor than Gibbons. But, then, so would a ham sandwich. A really old, stinky, moldy ham sandwich.

Nor’Town Sludge Cakes: A Casa Rosa By Any Other Name Edition

Nevada Scandalmonger — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:39:32 +0000

Nor'Town Sludgecakes. Not to be taken internally!

Others have talking points, quick hits, or gleanettes. Nor’Towners are stuck with Sludge Cakes!

Ding, dong, Don England’s gone. The “CEO” of the North Las Vegas Housing Authority turned in his resignation for “masking” troubles at Casa Rosa Aparments, and because the Authority can’t fire itself. That’s our job. Councilguy William Robinson seemed happy to take reporter’s calls to announce the news and informed us it will be hard to find a replacement because the new “CEO” will be walking into a hornet’s nest. (RJ) As will any mayoral wannabe who was sitting on the board.
Nor’Town and Sou’Town authorities say they’ll need about $1.9 to move families out of Casa Rosa and to bulldoze the dump. (RJ) Mr. England, while still CEO of the North Las Vegas Housing Disaster, noted that the city doesn’t have that kind of cash available. So much for all that blather about how well the city planned ahead for the economic downturn. Too bad the contingency fund’s headed for Apex flood channels.
Nor’Town gets the okay from our Clark County overlords to put Fed “neighborhood stabilization” money into tearing down our other infamous tenement: the Buena Vista Apts. (RJ) The CC overlords liked the idea so much, they kicked in an extra $3 million, giving Nor’Town a total of $11 million. (RJ)
And if you were wise enough to miss the RJ’s unhelpful, senile, supply-sider rantings about the Casa Rosa situation, be sure not to read them now. (RJ)
Newspaper assures Nor’Town citizens that they don’t want senior centers. (Sun) I suppose the Greenspun-Station Aliante Casino/Senior Daycare center doesn’t want any more competition–at least not until it gets that Losee Station down the road built so it can compete with itself. Still, the issue will provide entertainment as mayoral wannabes Stephanie Smith and Shari Buck fight over it.
Nor’Towner announces run for Nevada Gube. (VGO)
Don’t tell the Nor’Town IT guys, but the mayor might be calling them about the Google rankings for “mike montandon” Monday. Better hope people search with “michael montandon.“

Will the Real Nor’Town Please Stand Up?

Nevada Scandalmonger — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:57:30 +0000

They should rename the town Dr. Jeckyll, Mr. Nor’Town, it has so many faces.

The opening of Aliante Station presented the town’s face that the Mayor and City Council prefer to have in the public eye. And they had much help from the local newspapers telling us over and over just how nifty the first Casino Alley casino is. You’d expect it from the Sun which is owned by a co-owner of the casino, but they were buying so much ad-space in the Review Journal it was hard to find a bit of news in the local fish-wrapper of record. Except for a piece or two saying how nifty the opening night was. (RJ,RJ)

Despite having to lay off a few workers. (RJ)

And isn’t it soothing for the Sun to assure us that the traffic tie-ups on the Woodbury beltway and parking lot will go away, maybe in January. Maybe. (Sun)

Just wait until there are five or six Casinos along there.

Indeed, you can find the Mayor if you want a comment on Aliante Station. It’s a little harder to reach him on the unfolding story of the wretched Casa Rosa apartments, a nasty tenement apparently ignored for years by the North Las Vegas Housing Authority. We learn:

After reports of bugs, sewage, mold and other nastiness, the Board called for an emergency relocation of tenants. The use of the word “Emergency,” however, should not be considered to entail swiftness as the tenants are still in their hovels and will probably remain there for another week. (RJ)
You do not want to piss off Carl Rowe, grand poobah of the Las Vegas Housing Authority. After concluding he’d been snookered by Nor’Town’s housing authority into taking on a hopeless, wrecked tenement, he explained his dismay to his counterpart in Nor’Town, Don England:

“I’m not sure what prompted your e-mail but as your counsel knows,
the City of North Las Vegas staff knows, my staff knows, and, most of
all, you know, you have issued no request for our services beyond our
existing agreement. At best, this looks like a disingenuous attempt to
transfer responsibility that is and has been yours, alone, to someone
else.”

“I am absolutely loath to deal with someone who is as blatantly
interested in ducking responsibility as you are. If it weren’t for the
residents that need some relief from your failed stewardship,” Rowe
continued, “it would not bother me at all to leave you ‘high and dry’
to take care of this fiasco yourself.” (Sun)

I suspect we’ll continue to see a whole mess of ducked responsibility from the Board as the story unfolds. I also suspect that Shari Buck’s mayoral campaign is thrilled that she wasn’t on the Housing Board and will joyfully remind us of that fact as the mayoral contest heats up. Though she’s probably got an uphill battle educating the notoriously poorly informed and apathetic Nor’Town electorate that she wasn’t.

But wait, there’s more to the seamy side of Nor’Town. During the city council meeting on November 5th, council members tussled over how to use their share of federal funds aimed at alleviating the foreclosure mess. One plan, backed by Mayor Mike Montandon, Shari Buck, and William Robinson, would take the money and use it to tear down yet another set of crummy Nor’Town apartments called Buena Vista Springs.

Those stinkholes sure have nice names, don’t they?

Stephanie Smith and Robert Eliason were opposed mainly because the money was meant to buy up recently foreclosed homes and “rehabilitate” them so that surrounding neighborhoods wouldn’t also go down the toilet. Smith and Eliason seemed a little dubious that tearing down an apartment complex and using the money for other bits of blight that have graced the city for years would do that. (Sun)

Be sure to look at the comments to that Sun story. You’ll especially enjoy the story of the new teacher who wanted to live close to her new school which was near the Buena Vista Apartments, then known as the Carey Arms. She found the NLV police investigating a crime at the place, and they advised her to run away and never look back.

You know, maybe the city should offer all it’s tenement dwellers a discount coupon to the Aliante Station or something. Oh, wait. We wouldn’t want to bankrupt the place so soon, would we?