Jim Gibson

Please share briefly what inspired you to run for this office and why you feel you’re qualified for the position.

A former three-term Mayor of Henderson and a practicing attorney in business and commercial law for more than 35 years, Jim Gibson brings his extensive experience in local government and in Nevada’s tourism, hospitality, entertainment and business industries to his position as County Commission Chairman.
While mayor of Henderson (1997 – 2009), Gibson guided the city through a period of unprecedented growth as it became the second-largest city in Nevada. Among many other notable accomplishments, he was instrumental in updating the city’s comprehensive plan, securing Congressional approval for the establishment of a Limited Transition Area comprised of more than 500 acres of west Henderson industrial property, creating Henderson’s nationally award-winning Development Services Center, establishing the Apple Partnership, a city-wide K-3rd grade literacy program which has been adopted by the Clark County School District, and leading the effort to establish Nevada State College.

A native Nevadan, born in Las Vegas and a near lifetime resident of Henderson, Gibson has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors, the Nevada Development Authority Board of Directors, the Las Vegas Events Board of Directors, the Regional Transportation Commission and as Co-Chair of the Civilian Military Council for Nellis Air Force Base, while mayor. In the private sector, among other boards, Gibson served on the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Board of Directors including a term as its chair.

Today, Mr. Gibson is President of Western Elite, a full-service waste services provider in Clark County. He previously served as General Counsel of American Pacific Corporation (APFC) operating subsidiaries, President of the Las Vegas Monorail Company, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vegas.com from 2010 to 2013, and Vice Chair of Vegas.com through 2015.

As the leader of the Las Vegas Monorail Company, Gibson oversaw the undercarriage redesign that enabled the re-opening of monorail service that allowed the company to begin uninterrupted service along the famous Las Vegas Strip. As Vegas.com’s President and CEO, Gibson led a team of nearly 400 employees that support two e-commerce sites, box office and show ticket operations, tour operations, concierge desks, retail operations, mobile applications, syndicated television, newspaper editorial supplements and an integration and technology division for the hospitality industry worldwide called Cyllenius. At Western Elite, he currently leads a team of 250 talented, well-trained employees that provide customer-service driven construction and demolition, recycling, waste hauling and landfill services at a state-of-the-art landfill licensed by the State of Nevada.

Gibson has also has been recognized for his many contributions by local, state and national organizations. Among the many awards he has received are the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Member Award and the 2002 Humanitarian Award from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Gibson was recognized by the Henderson Community Foundation as a 2005 Outstanding Citizen, and the Lili Claire Foundation recognized him with its Spirit of Leadership Award in the same year. In 2007, Gibson received the Nevada State College President’s Medal and the Clark County School District Crystal Apple Award. He was recognized by the Henderson Development Association and the City of Henderson as the 2008 O’Callaghan Public Sector Person of the Year for economic development, and the Commercial Managers Group awarded Gibson with its Vision 2009 award. He has served as a volunteer Little League Baseball coach, girls softball coach and as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America was recognized by the Las Vegas Area Council with the Good Scout Award in 2007, and is a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.

As more Nevadans are facing homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic how do you plan on dealing with homelessness in your county?

We have spent a considerable amount of time and money on dealing with the crisis of homelessness in Southern Nevada. We have partnered with the City of Las Vegas on their facility and continue to providing funding for organizations like Catholic Charities and others who work to help the homeless. We have also spent money to enhance mental health services in the County. We continue to work with our partners in the community to try and find jobs for those who are willing to work.

The Registrar of Voters/County Clerk reports to the County Commissioners. With the rise of misinformation regarding the integrity/security of our elections and threatened acts of violence towards our election officials, what would you do to combat the misinformation and how would you provide support to the Election Department?

Openness and transparency is the most important thing we can do. I believe Clark County has one of the finest election departments in the country. We are constantly working to make sure we have the latest equipment and highly trained employees to oversee our elections. If anyone has any questions about elections in Clark County, they will be answered.

Nevada has historically protected the right to abortion, including protecting the right in statute 30 years ago by a vote of the people. However, there remain barriers to access in the state. Do you support not only the right to abortion but policies that improve equitable access to abortion care?

I am not familiar with any barriers, and would do nothing to work to change Nevada’s current laws, which were approved by the voters decades ago.

It is well documented that patients of color face greater obstacles to obtaining sexual and reproductive health care than non-Hispanic white Americans – a pattern that results in worse health outcomes overall for BIPOC patients. Do you not only acknowledge systemic racism’s role in public health disparities but will you pursue policies that seek to rectify the historical harm of systemic racism and advance equitable access to health care?

Clark County oversees the only public hospital in Southern Nevada, UMC. We are very committed that the hospital will provide high-quality health care to all Nevadans, regardless of race. Our chair of UMC, Commissioner William McCurdy, is highly respected in the community and works constantly to make sure all of our health care partners are providing the same services regardless of race.

There is a need for transgender specific and inclusive shelters and housing options that are coordinated and supported by Continuums of Care (CoCs). What can you do to ensure people who identify as transgender, who experience homelessness and who are precariously housed at higher rates than any other population, have dedicated homelessness and housing services to address their urgent needs?

I would definitely support housing services for those with specific needs. However, our first priority is to make sure all homeless Nevadans have a place to get critical services and, hopefully, a chance to get back on their feet and become gainfully employed.

LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented and undercounted and under supported in child welfare and juvenile justice. Do you support the implementation of LGBTQ+ specific policies and procedures that enforce the need for comprehensive data collection, tailored family reunification services, improved policies and procedures and a transparent and easy to access grievance process for LGBTQ+ youth?

I am not directly familiar with this issue but would be very interested in learning more about it. I would love to work with our community services on this issue.

We have seen rental rates increasing at a very alarming rate, in some instances upwards of 30%. How do you see the County Commission taking action to keep Nevadans in their homes and not being priced out?

We are limited in what we can do without state legislation. I am currently working with landlords to make sure they don’t raise rents too high for residents. Many of these landlords got relief during the pandemic, and the County Commission will make sure those that did are not raising rents after accepting money to make sure rents stayed affordable.

Nevada has one of the largest shares of federal public land of any state in the country, providing important wildlife habitat, places to hunt, camp, fish and hike, and acting as the foundation of a billion dollar outdoor industry. Even so, some lawmakers have promoted policies that seek wholesale transfer of federal ownership of our national lands to states. A) Would you support or oppose these land transfer policies? B) Would should the State of Nevada’s role be in the management and ownership of federal land?

We are working with our federal delegation and specifically Catherine Cortez Masto’s office on a comprehensive lands bill that will help balance the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and those who would like to develop parts of our valley that make sense for economic diversification. I will continue to be in these discussions and welcome input from all sides so we can truly make the best decisions for all Nevadans.

State investments in conservation provide resources for a wide range of public benefit, like the management of wildlife and state land, and the creation and maintenance of trails and other recreational facilities. In 2019, the Legislature approved $217 million of bonding authority for conservation purposes, including for the acquisition of land for new state parks. A) Do you support or oppose state investment in conservation? B) Has Nevada’s investment in land conservation been too little, too much, or about right, and how would you change it?

I support it.

How will the county ensure that low-income communities of color and impacted communities are centered when writing county climate plans?

Candidate declined to answer.

How will the county address decades of environmental injustices that have placed low-income communities of color in the most polluted and hottest neighborhoods?

Candidate declined to answer.

Will you practice a just transition approach to Nevada’s clean energy & sustainability plans while holding accountable those who must consult and collaborate with Nevada’s Tribal Nations on decisions which may negatively impact their indigenous lifeways?

Candidate declined to answer.

What is your knowledge of the unique needs facing the “urban Native American” diaspora residing in southern Nevada?

Candidate declined to answer.

What is your stance on transitioning to all paper ballot elections? And the hand count of paper ballots?What is your knowledge of the unique needs facing the “urban Native American” diaspora residing in southern Nevada?

Candidate declined to answer.

How will you resist official or unofficial, public or private pressure to alter, manipulate, or baselessly reject the results of an election?

Candidate declined to answer.

How will you resist and counteract official or unofficial, public or private disinformation concerning the results of an election?

Candidate declined to answer.