A North Las Vegas mayoral candidate was given the go-ahead by a district judge to proceed with his campaign even though his election would mean his years as an elected city official would surpass the time allowed by state law.
Karin Rodriguez sued the city of North Las Vegas on March 16, challenging Councilman Scott Black’s mayoral bid, but District Judge Jaqueline Bluth ruled last week that Black will not have served 12 years at the time of the election, according to court transcripts.
“He’ll only have nine,” the judge said. “Now, he will reach the over 12 during it, but I do think the statute is plain. And I think that the reading of that does allow his candidacy.”
Rodriguez’s lawsuit asked the court to bar the government entities from putting Black’s name on ballots. It also named the North Las Vegas’ clerk and Clark County’s registrar of voters as secondary parties.
“The voters of North Las Vegas deserve better accountability from their city government and its elected officials than they got in this case,” Rodriguez’s attorney, Bradley Schrager said. “The result was disappointing, and we are considering an appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.”
Black was first elected to the City Council in 2017. Should he win the mayor’s seat this year, the complaint argued, his first and only term would end in 2030 — one year past the state’s 12-year term limit for serving in the same municipal government body.
Bluth dismissed the complaint, rejecting the claim that the rule disqualified Black.
In the coming weeks, Black’s attorney Donald Williams said he expected to see “back and forth” as the Rodriguez’s attorneys try to appeal the order. Still, he said he would likely file a motion for attorney’s fees and costs on behalf of Black.
“One of our arguments is that the plaintiff in the case failed to exhaust an administrative remedy,” Williams said. “In other words, the plaintiff had the right to go to the city clerk of North Las Vegas and immediately question the eligibility of Mr. Black.”
Under that process, the city attorney would decide on Black’s eligibility, and if they sided with the lawsuit’s claims, they would file the petition with the court.
“Because the plaintiff failed to do that, Mr. Black may be entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees and costs for having to defend the case,” Williams added.
Black’s campaign manager, Bradley Mayer, shared a statement on the councilman’s behalf.
“I’m grateful to the judge for recognizing this case for what it was: a politically motivated attempt to circumvent the will of the voters,” Black said. “My focus remains on sharing my vision for continuing the momentum in North Las Vegas, after the tremendous turnaround we’ve experienced during my time on council. Our positive trajectory is why I have the endorsement and confidence of our police, firefighters, veterans, businesses and working families.”
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
