QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: COUNCILWOMAN SHONDRA SUMMERS-ARMSTRONG

‘I am focused’

Las Vegas Black Image sat down for an exclusive interview with Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, who was recently elected to represent Ward 5. It was an engaging, candid conversation about her ambitions for the community and where politics might — or might not — take her in the future.

When did you know you wanted to work within the political sector? 

I left the private sector years ago, in 1993. I used to work for Judge Adelliar D. Guy, III, who was the first African-American district court judge in the state. I was his judicial secretary. I have been in some type of government service since then. I didn’t know this would be my career path or that it could be. I began my community work in 2000 on the West Las Vegas Plan team. In 2007, when there was an opening on the City Council for Ward 5 after Lawrence Weekly was appointed to the County Commission, I threw my name in as a candidate, along with twelve other people. I was unsuccessful but I continued to do more community work. In 2008 I joined the Stop the F Street Closure Coalition to reopen F Street. It took 6 years, but the street was successfully reopened in 2014. 

I was appointed to the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority in 2009 and the Southern Nevada Enterprise Community Board 2010. In 2018 the Ward 5 seat became open again and I ran for the office. I was not successful, but I still believed in the community and wanted to do the work that needed to be done. 

My community work was noticed, and then-Assemblyman William McCurdy, II asked if I would be interested in running for the state assembly because he was going to run for county commission. I thought about it for about two weeks, then decided, “Why not?” The Nevada Democratic party gave me their support. I was successful in becoming elected to Nevada Assembly District 6 in 2020. As the assemblywoman my focus was on the community. I worked hard and enjoyed the process of learning from other leaders and listening to community residents about the things that were most important to them. I was re-elected in 2022. 

In 2024 I ran for the City Council seat again — and this time I won.

Are there any other political aspirations you hope to pursue? 

I will tell you what I’ve been telling everyone who asks me that question. I’m a tennis player, a decent athlete. In every sport, a good coach will tell you that you must watch the ball all the way to your hands — then move. In tennis, you must watch the ball until it hits your racket. The lesson is to stay focused. 

I am focused on being an effective Ward 5 City Councilwoman. It doesn’t serve me or my constituents to allow ambition to distract me from the work. Our community really needs champions to go to the mat for the issues that are important right now. If I don’t do a good job right now, no one will trust me in the future. 

I have no aspirations for higher political office at this time. My priority is to do a good job for the residents of Ward 5.

Most people believe that the City of Las Vegas owns most of the land in the Historic Westside area, and there are rumblings about gentrification taking place in the Marble Manor development. How are you leveraging your position as City Councilwoman and what is your response to the people of the community? 

First, I would like to clarify a misconception. The last time I checked the map of landownership in the Historic Westside area, the City of Las Vegas owned about 18% of the land. Religious institutions owned approximately 42%, and other individuals owned the remaining land. Although the city owns land in various important locations on the Historic Westside — it doesn’t own all the land. There are opportunities for landowners to work with the city to pursue projects that can be advantageous to the community. 

The fact that religious institutions own a significant portion of land in the Historic Westside is important. It means churches have a crucial role where development is concerned. I will be reaching out to (religious leaders) to discuss what that may look like for our community. 

Regarding gentrification, I would like to see “respectful redevelopment.” The term “gentrification” has negative connotations, and I know why. I want respectful development that recognizes the Historic Westside and all it has to offer. I believe development in the area must respect the achievements of Blacks and the culture and community they created under the specter of segregation. I am hopeful that respectful redevelopment will encourage people to come back to live on the Historic Westside and encourage new commerce. The goal: to create the Historic Westside as a destination that all can be excited about and full of opportunity.