Henderson Mayor counters calls for transparency amid launching re-election bid
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — From the Water Street Farmers Market to the White House, Mayor Michelle Romero has had a hand in Henderson's three decades of progress but now she faces her next test—re-election.
Romero, a Henderson native, can trace her work in city government back to 1999 with her help in the opening of the Water Street Farmers Market and later the Super Run Car Show alongside business leaders. By 2007, she worked for the Henderson Redevelopment Agency and continued efforts to grow the city's residential and commercial capacities.
Following a term as a Henderson Ward I councilmember, Romero was elected mayor in June 2022 and said she hopes residents look to her voting record to maintain rural neighborhoods, protect businesses, and support public safety. She acknowledged Henderson, along with other cities, is facing a tighter budget amid an initial $10 million deficit.
'We started with that, we were actually able to address it very quickly,' she said. 'And our tentative budget that we approved a couple of weeks ago, there's no deficit.'
During an 8 News Politics Now interview, Romero addressed the city manager's decision to fire the police chief, her legal action against another councilmember's 'spurious rumors,' and what transparency means.
On Feb. 14, Henderson City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause made the decision to place the then-police chief, Hollie Chadwick, on leave. Garcia-Vause said she and Chadwick had differing leadership styles and declined to provide further explanation.
The departure has been at the center of numerous calls for more information regarding the decision, but both Garcia-Vause and Romero said residents are not entitled to employee information, citing city policy.
'We don't talk about personnel issues,' Romero said. 'That's not fair to the employee.'
Romero said the departure is not indicative of any discord between the city and the police department.
'The city police department is wonderful,' she said. 'They keep us one of the safest cities in America, and it's because of the hard work of the men and women in that department. Changes at the top don't really affect their job, and don't affect impact their ability to do their job well, and so it really has no bearing, one way or the other, on operations at the city, or how we view how we move forward.'
Amid Garcia-Vause's decision to fire Chadwick, dismiss a police volunteer, and cancel city some 'Morning Meet ups,' Romero said she supports the city manager's decisions.
'I support the city manager in her right to do that, and I have full faith that she didn't do it arbitrarily, that she followed the appropriate processes,' Romero said. 'She values our employees very much. She's not afraid to make a hard decision if that's what's best for the city. And I have faith in her ability to do that.'
Following the announcement of the interim police chief Itzhak Henn's retirement, Romero faces the chance of a new police chief becoming the fourth person in the position in two months.
'We knew going in that the acting chief was going to be retiring very soon,' she said. 'We knew that was happening. It wasn't a surprise. And I think it will be very close to, if there's any gap at all, it'll be very close to when he retires and we have a new chief in place.'
Distrust between Romero and Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox has reached a boiling point inside City Hall amid recent legal action.
On Jan. 7, the law firm Pisanelli Bice served a cease and desist to Cox on behalf of Romero. The purpose: to stop the spread of alleged rumors of an extra-marital affair, according to a copy of the letter 8 News Now obtained.
'I had people, both in person and written statements from a multitude of people that notified me of the things that she was saying,' Romero said. 'My attorney has letter, after letter, after letter from people. Some of them I don't even know. Some of them inside city hall. Some of them outside city hall that wrote to me and said we were approached by her.'
Romero said she has a strong relationship with her husband, whom she met almost 40 years ago in school.
'We are high school sweethearts,' she said. 'We have a rock-solid relationship, and anytime anybody tries to infringe upon that or make it look bad; I will take action against it.'
Cox told 8 News Now she denies spreading rumors about Romero and claims she had no knowledge of what spurred the cease and desist.
'It was completely unnecessary, and I don't know what the motivation was,' Romero said.
The cease and desist is one of multiple 'made-for-TV' moments the city council has experienced. An abrupt call for recess and a plea for 'transparency' have posed tense moments for elected officials.
'I think generally speaking, we have really strong relationships with each other,' Romero said. 'At the council level, we try to focus on the work. Whenever there are issues at a council meeting, sometimes passions get high. People feel very strongly one way or the other.'
Romero said she views her role as mayor is to course correct during the meetings and keep the focus on the agenda and residents' interests.
'If we need to take a recess and let people cool down, that's what we'll do,' she said. 'Doesn't mean that there's chaos, you know, people like to portray that there is, you know, all kinds of chaos going on. That's not what's happening.'
Romero said the criticism of the city's transparency is not factoring in the multiple opportunities residents have to get to know their elected officials.
'I believe we are one of the most transparent governments out there,' she said. 'We regularly hold meetings, informal meetings with our residents. We have coffee with the council. We have meetups with the mayor. We have quarterly meetings where we allow the residents to come and ask anything that's on their minds, and we answer their questions right there.'
8 News Now staff attend the public morning meetings regularly and have been told by city public information officers not to directly quote elected officials or ask questions for reporting purposes at the 'Morning Meetups' and instead request statements through the communication office. City staff previously defended the meetings as an opportunity for specifically Henderson residents to be provided with access to their elected officials.
'I have had questions from reporters at morning meetups regularly,' Romero said. 'And I answer them on a regular basis.'
Romero said that between the city's public records portal and quick reply to residents at 'Morning Meetups ups' the city is a leader in transparency.
'If we've heard something that's popping up, traffic or something like that. We try to focus on that, but at the end, we still allow questions and answers that are free flow,' she said.
When it opened in 1998, The Reserve was a hotspot hotel and casino for Henderson residents, later becoming the Fiesta Henderson in 2001.
In Mar. 2020, Station Casinos closed the Fiesta Henderson property due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The casino and hotel property never reopened, and its land was later purchased by the city for $32 million using city redevelopment agency funds.
Woodbury Corporation entered into a negotiating agreement with Henderson on the Fiesta site in 2024, only for it to end inconclusively.
'They were asking for more than we were willing to give to a private project,' Romero said. 'And so we let the exclusive negotiation expire.'
Romero said the end of talks with Woodbury is not indicative of no plan, instead pointing to other proposals they have received.
'We will come forward again with a proposal,' she said. 'But we're not going to irresponsibly spend public dollars on a project that we don't think gains the public benefit to that degree.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
ABC Suspends Star Anchor Over Midnight Stephen Miller Tirade
MAGA is going off on an ABC reporter who dared attack White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. ABC's Terry Moran wrote Saturday night on X in a since-deleted post that 'what's interesting about [Stephen] Miller' is 'not brains. It's bile,' further describing President Donald Trump's top aide as 'a man who's richly endowed with the capacity for hatred' and 'a world-class hater.' 'You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate,' Moran went on, suggesting that what sets Miller aside from the president is that Trump's 'hatred [is] only a means to an end, and that end his his [sic] own glorification.' One of Trump's closest confidants, Miller is the architect of the administration's hardline immigration policies. A spokesperson for ABC told The Daily Beast Moran had been suspended on Sunday 'pending further evaluation.' 'ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others,' the spokesperson said. 'The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.' Lambasting the anchor as a 'so-called 'journalist'' on X Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt eviscerated Moran for his 'rampage.' She described his comments as 'unhinged and unacceptable' and said the White House has 'reached out [to ABC] to inquire about how they plan to hold Terry accountable.' Vice President JD Vance was quick to pile on, blasting Moran for 'this absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller,' insisting that the aide is 'motivated by a love of country' and calling for the anchor to apologize. '[Miller's] motivated by a fear that people like Terry Moran make rules that normal Americans have to follow, but well connected people don't,' the vice-president added. Miller's wife, Katie Miller, said Moran's comments demonstrate 'why Americans don't trust the legacy media' and said it is an example of 'propaganda [...] under the guise of righteousness.' Katie raised eyebrows this past week after departing the White House with Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO brought his tenure at the Department of Government Efficiency to a close. She went a step further than Leavitt and Vance, saying Moran should be 'fired from the network immediately.' The Daily Beast has reached out to ABC News for comment. Earlier in April, Moran attended the White House for an interview with Trump to mark the first 100 days of the president's second term in office. It was a tense affair, with Moran challenging the president over the wrongful deportation of Maryland dad Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, and Trump trying to pressure Moran into agreeing that a clearly doctored photo, which showed 'MS-13' tattooed across the man's knuckles, was in fact real. It was not the first case of friction between Trump and ABC. Last March, the then-presidential candidate sued ABC for defamation after host George Stephanopolous repeatedly mischaracterised a court ruling in which Trump had been found liable for sexual abuse rather than 'rape.' In December, both Stephanopoulos and ABC issued an apology and agreed to pay $15 million toward Trump's presidential library fund, as well as $1 million in legal fees, to settle the president's claims.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Kevin Hassett says if Senate finds Medicare abuse, then "we would look at it" in Trump bill
Kevin Hassett says if Senate finds Medicare abuse, then "we would look at it" in Trump bill White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said Sunday the Trump administration is not targeting Medicare in its sweeping budget proposal, but signaled the administration would be open to changes if senators uncover fraud or abuse as they look at the bill. "If somebody finds waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, then of course we would look at it," Hassett said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "But there have been a lot of false stories about Medicare being on the table, and it's totally not on the table." Senate Republicans this week are working on the House-passed budget bill, dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" by President Trump, which includes deep tax cuts, border security measures, and changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs. Hassett on Sunday pushed back against the idea that Republicans are targeting Medicare for cuts. "That story that got out last week was covered as our intent to go after Medicare," Hassett said bluntly. "And it was just a big fake news story." National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," June 2, 2025. CBS News Asked whether the administration would revisit the Medicare provision if the Senate identifies abuse, Hassett said they would. "I've seen a massive amount of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, and I've not been briefed on Medicare waste, fraud and abuse. But if they find something then, of course, we would look at it," he said. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated earlier this week that the bill will add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Sen. Thom Tillis told Charlotte's WCNC on Thursday that he supports legislation that would address waste in the Medicare Advantage Program. This addition, he said, would not touch beneficiaries but would focus on "eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse of the Medicare Advantage program, including costly government overpayments to insurance companies." To pay for some of Mr. Trump's tax reforms, such as extending his 2017 tax cuts and eliminating tax on tips, there are cuts to several programs. Republicans have insisted they are not cutting Medicaid, and reductions in the low-income entitlement program have become one of the most charged parts of the bill. In a closed-door session with members of the Republican conference days before the bill's passage, sources in the room told CBS News Mr. Trump said, "Don't f*** around with Medicaid." House Republicans passed the bill late last month on a 215–214 vote, sending it to the Senate where GOP leaders are weighing revisions to secure enough votes under budget reconciliation rules. "What we want to see done now is we want the Senate to pass the bill, and then we want the House and Senate to work out their differences," Hassett said. "So right now, the Senate has to get the votes they need to pass the bill, and we're supporting them in that process." Some Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Josh Hawley of Missouri, have voiced concerns about Medicaid provisions in the bill, particularly new monthly premium requirements for low-income recipients. Their opposition highlights ongoing uncertainty as Senate GOP leaders work to secure enough votes. The bill can't afford to lose more than four votes in the Senate, granted that all Democrats vote against it. Hawley has called the Medicaid work requirements "both morally wrong and politically suicidal." When asked about Hawley's concerns, Hassett said, "I'd have to go see what he has and talk to him about it. And I also would want to talk to the president about the specific matter. So I can't speak to that one." The administration has repeatedly argued that failure to pass the legislation could hurt the broader economy. "If we don't pass this bill, then we lose 6 to 7 million jobs and 4% GDP," Hassett said Sunday. "If we create the jobs that we have in the bill, then we're going to create a heck of a lot more insurance than what we're talking about in waste, fraud and abuse." Senate Republicans are expected to release their version of the bill in the coming days. If there are significant changes, it will then have to go back to the House for final passage before landing on Mr. Trump's desk.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tougher penalties for copper wire theft passed by Nevada legislature
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — It was a unanimous vote by the Nevada Legislature to pass Assembly Bill 503, which would increase penalties for copper wire theft. District E, County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, is a big proponent of the bill. Segerblom is taking steps to stop these thieves and get the lights turned back on for valley residents. 'I'm just so proud of the legislature for stepping up and hopefully the Governor signs it,' Segerblom said. He, along with others, implemented a Copper Wire Task Force last year to be more on top of the issue, and since then, he said he has seen improvements. 'We get daily complaints, but there have been less. I'm not sure if it's because we are more proactive, but we've started putting wire back in with aluminum and we also have solar lights which are good,' Segerblom said. Those caught with less than $500 worth of copper could face a misdemeanor, and anything above that would be considered a felony with up to four years in prison. Over at Broadway Pizza off Rancho and Charleston, Co-owner Mario Perdichizzi said this bill hits close to home. His business was targeted last year after copper wire thieves ripped through his A/C unit. He said it is about time something was done. 'It feels great because they should pay the penalty for stealing it and there also needs to be a penalty for stolen goods,' Perdichizzi said 'We put a camera up on the roof and we want to put a cage over the unit itself. We put lights by the unit and one in the back alley, too.' The next step is for Governor Lombardo to sign this bill into law. Once that is done, the new penalties will go into effect on October 1. Clark County's public works department estimates that nearly 1 million feet of streetlight wiring have been stolen since 2022. In Clark County, sellers must provide documentation that verifies that the wire was not stolen. It's also illegal for businesses to purchase scrap metal from walk-up sellers and accept cash payments for copper wire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
