North Las Vegas mayoral debate centers on economic growth

At a Vegas Chamber forum, two North Las Vegas mayoral hopefuls emphasized economic development and sustainability.

Two North Las Vegas Mayoral candidates outlined largely aligned—though slightly distinct—approaches to the mayorship at a debate hosted by the Vegas Chamber ahead of the group’s endorsement rollout. The organization is the largest business support group in Nevada. 

With early voting beginning Saturday, May 23 and the primary election being held Tuesday, June 9, North Las Vegas City Councilman Scott Black and Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno made their cases to lead the fastest-growing city, now the third-largest, in Nevada. Much of the debate focus was on managing continuous economic growth while maintaining accountability.

The discussion touched on major projects shaping North Las Vegas, including APEX Industrial Park, a planned downtown corridor, a future medical district, Nevada State University’s North Las Vegas campus, a new downtown, and Hylo Park, a redevelopment underway where former neighborhood casinos Texas Station and the Fiesta once stood. 

Both candidates said they would build on the city’s current momentum, citing the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan as a guide to balancing growth with residents’ needs.

“Yes, we all want to make money. We want the city to grow,”  Monroe-Moreno said. “But it has to grow in a sustainable way that is responsible for the citizens of North Las Vegas. They’re our biggest metric. They’re our biggest asset.”

Meanwhile, Black, who has served on the North Las Vegas City Council for nine years, emphasized continuity, pointing to the economic turnaround in recent years. This comes after the city’s credit rating was downgraded to “junk bond status” in 2013 before bouncing back in 2019.

“When I came here, we were struggling, and we’ve been thriving and growing ever since,” Black said. “We’ve been really successful in moving the needle to elevate the quality of life.”

North Las Vegas has seen more than $1 billion in annual private investment over each of the past eight years, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. But challenges remain.

Despite high levels of economic activity, North Las Vegas has the highest unemployment rate among Nevada cities, at 6.2%, according to a January 2026 report by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation.