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Former Assemblywoman Steps Up To Run In Las Vegas Recall Race

Las Vegas Councilman Steve Seroka has been on the job less than two years, but some of his constituents have had enough.

A recall effort was launched last month to force a new election in Ward 2 in western Las Vegas. At issue is the fate of the closed Badlands golf course, which its owner wants to turn into a residential development.

Recall supporters say Seroka hasn’t done enough to resolve the impasse between Badlands owner Yohan Lowie and neighbors opposed to his development plans.

The matter has been aired before city council, in state and federal courts, and, should recall supporters gather 1,850 valid signatures, at the ballot box.

Former Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman has announced she’ll challenge Seroka should he be forced into a recall election.

“He ran on protecting property rights and property values, but that’s not what we’re seeing,” Seaman told State of Nevada.

She said her experience as a lawmaker and community leader would allow her to address the issue and spare the city the cost of litigation.

“This issue of Badlands needs a solution, not lawsuits costing taxpayers millions of dollars,” she said.

Seroka made his skepticism about the Badlands development plans a central part of his successful 2017 election campaign that unseated incumbent Bob Beers.

Seaman called the Badlands course an "eyesore," and she believes people see the closed golf course is hurting property values in the area.

“I think there are some people that realize that by stifling the development of Badlands the housing prices, property costs have gone down," she said.

The former assemblywoman says Seroka hasn't met with the developers since he was elected 18 months. She says bringing all parties involved together is the only way to get to a solution.

“This is what the job of a council person is is to bring everyone together,” she said.

In a subsequent interview, Seroka said he sought out Lowie after the election and the two met in his City Hall office.

Besides the Badlands golf course issue, Seaman said the ordinances Seroka has introduced has hurt economic development.

“He’s creating a lot of job-killing ordinances that will kill over a billion dollars in economic activity," she said, “I think all property owners should be very, very concerned about these ordinances.”

Seaman was clear that she is not heading up the recall effort, but she does support it. She said she became involved because people in the ward boundaries would come to her with their concerns with Seroka.

Victoria Seaman, former assemblywoman

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With deep experience in journalism, politics, and the nonprofit sector, news producer Doug Puppel has built strong connections statewide that benefit the Nevada Public Radio audience.