Shelley Berkley To Run For Mayor Of Las Vegas

Former U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, a longtime Nevada political powerhouse and a trailblazer for women in politics, is coming out of private life to run for office once again.

In an exclusive interview with KTNV's Tricia Kean, Shelley Berkley announced her candidacy for Las Vegas Mayor on Thursday.

When asked about her decision to run, Berkley said it's something she's thought of doing for years and years. “I thought this would be the right time to get back into public office and to help serve my fellow man.”

Berkley represented Nevada's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2013. After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate, Berkley retired from politics once her congressional term was over.

What has she been up to since her DC days? Berkley is senior provost for Touro University's Western Division. She serves as the administrative and academic head of the Nevada and northern California campuses of Touro University, overseeing two of the fastest-growing medical schools in the western United States.

Berkley says her proudest accomplishment during her time in Congress was building the new Veterans Administration medical complex in Southern Nevada to provide quality healthcare to the veterans in our community.

Berkley says the main focuses of her campaign will be affordable housing, homelessness and the small business economy.

KTNV anchor Tricia Kean asked if she had talked to the Goodman family yet, she said, "They were one of the first calls I made — separately, of course."

"We go way back and I thought that should be my first call," she said. Mayor Carolyn Goodman "is encouraging lots of people, I’m sure, but we had a wonderful conversation. Oscar and I are not only old friends, but we served together... I look forward to more conversations with them."

Mayor Carolyn Goodman is term-limited and cannot seek re-election, so the office will be up for grabs in 2024.

Berkley said, "Part of our job as elected officials is to ensure the next generation of Las Vegans have the same opportunities we had when we were growing up."

-Carla Rea

Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas were all some of the fastest growing cities in the country for years. Their population grew steadily for many years. People are moving in and out of the Las Vegas area all the time - or are they? It looks like that might have changed over the past couple years.

An annual study by United Van Lines looked at how many Americans moved into - and out of - all 50 states.  It's interesting to see how we re-shuffled ourselves, and where people are going - and where they are NOT going.

VERMONT saw the highest percentage of INBOUND migration for the second straight year.  The rest of the Top 10 are: Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Delaware,, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., which counted as a state, South Dakota, New Mexico, Alabama.

The most popular state to move OUT of was NEW JERSEY for the fifth year in a row.  Illinois was second, followed by New York, Michigan, Wyoming, Pennsylvania,  Massachusetts, Nebraska, Louisiana, and California.

There are several "balanced" states, which means about the same number of residents were moving in as out.  NEVADA is now one of the most balanced states in the country, along with Missouri. Really? People aren't flocking to Missouri? Though it is surprising that Las Vegas has leveled off the way it has.

So what are the top CITIES people are moving to?  You might be surprised...

-Carla Rea