Why I decided to run for City Council

By Marilyn Booker

I am often asked why I am running for the Las Vegas City Council seat representing Ward 2. 

I grew up in Chicago politics. My dad was in politics and my godfather was the Mayor Pro Tem under Mayor Richard J. Daley in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Because politics was such a major part of my early life, when I became an adult and moved from Chicago, I vowed that politics would become a spectator sport for me. That sentiment has changed. This country is headed in a very bad direction. 

People are losing their healthcare, they are increasingly experiencing food insecurity, wages are not keeping up with inflation, worker safety concerns are escalating, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, and affordability has disappeared. I see money that could address these issues being used instead to build unnecessary monuments and fight wars that most Americans do not want. I cannot watch what is going on and remain on the sidelines. So, I decided that the best place for me to make change would be at the local level for the citizens of Ward 2. And I plan to be very intentional in my representation to ensure that I put forth solutions that benefit the people who live and work here. I acknowledge that I may not be able to directly affect change on many issues facing our citizens. 

However, the City Council gives me a platform and a microphone to take the concerns of my constituents to the people who can bring change. And that is exactly what I plan to do. 

As I think about the background needed to be an effective councilwoman, I consistently conclude that my background is an excellent fit for this position. I am a lawyer and I worked on Wall Street for nearly 30 years. Law and finance are two major pressure points for most municipal governments, and I have experience in both. I am also the Vice Chair of the Las Vegas City Audit Committee so I have a head start on understanding how city government in Las Vegas works and how the various departments can support each other to reach a common goal. I have also spent most of my career working to give back to others, to create level playing fields, and to give voices to those who had no voice. These experiences make me an ideal person to serve and to be an effective advocate and leader for the city that is my home. 

Finally, my platform issues are on my website, so please visit booker4ward2.com. That said, I want to encourage my constituents to talk to me, as I want to ensure that their issues are front and center and receive the attention and support that they deserve. I want to be known as a councilwoman who listens, who cares, who is in constant communication with her constituents, who acts, and who has an impact that makes a real difference in the lives of everyday people.