John Lee (Nevada politician) explained

John Lee
Office:Mayor of North Las Vegas
Term Start:July 1, 2013
Term End:December 7, 2022
Predecessor:Shari Buck
Successor:Pamela Goynes-Brown
State Senate2:Nevada
District2:1st
Term Start2:November 3, 2004
Term End2:November 7, 2012
Predecessor2:Jon Porter
State Assembly3:Nevada
District3:3rd
Term Start3:November 6, 1996
Term End3:November 6, 2002
Predecessor3:Maureen Brower
Successor3:Peggy Pierce
Birth Date:20 August 1955
Birth Place:South Ruislip, England, UK
Party:Democratic (before 2021)
Republican (2021–present)
Spouse:Marilyn Ruesch
Children:7

John Jay Lee (born August 20, 1955) is an American entrepreneur and politician who served as mayor of North Las Vegas. He is a former member of the Nevada Senate, representing Clark County District 1 (2004–2012), and a former member of the Nevada Assembly, representing District 3 (1996–2000).[1]

Due to changes to the state law aligning local elections with state elections, Lee's second term was extended by a year and he was able to run for re-election in 2022.[2] [3] However, he did not run for re-election and instead ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Nevada in 2022.

Early life

Lee was born on the U.S. Air Force Base in South Ruislip, Middlesex, England where his father was enlisted. At the age of six, he moved to North Las Vegas, in Clark County, Nevada. He attended Lincoln Elementary School, Quannah McCall Elementary School, St. Christopher's, Marion E. Cahlan Elementary School, Bridger Junior High and Rancho High School. As a boy, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Lee's first job was as a dishwasher at the Silver Nugget on Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1975, he started working in the plumbing trade, using the family station wagon as his plumbing truck.

In 1991, Lee started Vegas Plumbing, Inc., a non-union plumbing company which he owns and operates today.

Political career

Lee began his political career by serving on myriad city and county boards, including:

Member of Executive Board (2003–present)

Lee was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1996 and served in the Assembly until 2000. He was elected to the Nevada Senate in 2004, where he served as a member of the Legislative Operations and Elections, and the Energy, Infrastructure, and Transportation committees.

He was also chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, where he worked with city and county officials throughout Nevada to make government more responsive to the needs of residents.

On August 1, 2011, Lee announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress for the 2012 election cycle. This campaign ended less than four months later when he instead announced that he would run for re-election, which he lost to Pat Spearman in the Democratic primary.

North Las Vegas Mayor

On April 2, 2013, Lee was elected Mayor of North Las Vegas defeating incumbent Mayor Shari Buck. Lee assumed office on July 1, 2013.[4] At the time of his election, North Las Vegas was facing large monetary challenges including a deficit of more than $150 million.[5]

Lee has made the expansion and enhancement of North Las Vegas Libraries and parks two of his biggest priorities. In addition, his administration redesigned business licensing procedures, attracting new businesses to the city. Lee also initiated a plan to use state tax credits as an incentive to increase development at the Apex Industrial Park, an effort he claims could eventually result in the creation of up to 116,000 jobs to the area.

Lee was re-elected in 2017.

On April 6, 2021, Lee announced he would switch political affiliation from the Democratic to the Republican Party, citing what he called the "socialist takeover of the Nevada Democratic Party".[6] [7] [8] [9]

Personal life

Lee met his first girlfriend, Marilyn Ruesch, in high school on a blind date. They married and had their first two children to the family a year apart. Today, they are the parents of seven children and twenty-eight grandchildren. His daughter, Alana, was Miss Nevada 2011.

In 2007, Lee was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, which he overcame in 2009.

Lee is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America Executive Board. His commitment to the Boy Scouts began through his affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

In October 2014, child pornography was found on his personal iPad. In 2015, former police chief Joseph Chronister alleged that Lee received special treatment from law enforcement officials who intentionally did not do enough to investigate him.[10] Lee denies being responsible and claims he was the first to notify authorities.[11] In September 2015, the case was dropped by the FBI, citing a lack of evidence.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Server Error.
  2. Web site: June 8, 2019. Nevada sees many new laws, but how will they affect you?. April 7, 2021. Las Vegas Review-Journal. en-US.
  3. Web site: Miranda Willson. June 25, 2019. New local election law shifts term lengths, cuts costs for Southern Nevada cities - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. April 7, 2021. Las Vegas Sun. en.
  4. Web site: Lapan. Tovin. July 1, 2013. North Las Vegas' new mayor, first Hispanic councilman sworn in - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. April 7, 2021. Las Vegas Sun. en.
  5. Web site: January 17, 2014. Mayor skeptical, optimistic about North Las Vegas' future. April 7, 2021. Las Vegas Review-Journal. en-US.
  6. Web site: North Las Vegas mayor leaves Dems to join GOP, says he 'can't stand' with socialists . April 6, 2021 . Fox News . 8 April 2021.
  7. Web site: Las Vegas Review Journal. North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee says he's becoming a Republican. April 6, 2021. Steve Sebelius. April 6, 2021.
  8. Web site: North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee switching parties to Republican. KTNV Las Vegas. April 6, 2021. Jordan Gartner. April 6, 2021.
  9. Web site: North Las Vegas Mayor switches from Democratic to Republican party. April 6, 2021. Elaine Emerson. Fox 5. April 6, 2021.
  10. News: Bethany. Barnes. Police Chief: North Las Vegas mayor got special treatment in child porn investigation. March 2, 2018. Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 7, 2015.
  11. Web site: Shine. Conor. June 18, 2015. Exclusive: Mayor John Lee says child porn allegations are 'hack job'. April 7, 2021. Las Vegas Sun.
  12. News: Barnes. Bethany. FBI won't pursue child porn case involving mayor's iPad. March 2, 2018. Las Vegas Review Journal. September 10, 2015.