Scott Black - "Born and Raised"
With midterm election season in full swing, host Erika Washington sits down with North Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black, who is running to become the city's next mayor. Born and raised in southern Nevada, Black shares his vision for a "complete city" — one where residents can live, work, play, go to school, and thrive without ever leaving North Las Vegas.
From his fourth-grade book project titled How Billy Became Mayor to nine years on the city council, Black traces his leadership journey and makes the case for why local government matters more than most people realize. The conversation covers economic diversification beyond gaming, the transformation of the old Texas Station site into Hilo Park, innovative education partnerships with CCSD, approaches to homelessness and affordable housing, the data center debate, small business support, and what it means to govern in a nonpartisan seat. Black also reflects on democracy, the American dream, and the legacy he hopes to leave.
Show Notes:
About This Episode Midterm elections are here, and local races affect your daily life more than you might think. This week, we're talking with Scott Black, Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilman for Ward 3 in North Las Vegas, Nevada, who is running for mayor.
In This Episode, We Cover:
- Why local government engagement matters — and how municipal decisions reach your life faster than federal policy
- Scott Black's background: growing up in North Las Vegas since the fourth grade, his family, and his passion for the outdoors and old Volkswagens
- What a Mayor Pro Tem actually does (and how it prepared him to run for mayor)
- The transformation of North Las Vegas from its 1980s "bedroom community" reputation to Nevada's third-largest city
- The Hilo Park development on the former Texas Station and Fiesta casino sites — shopping, housing, and a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex
- Economic diversification: industrial growth in the Apex area, logistics, and the push for more manufacturing
- What it takes to build a "complete city" where you never have to leave to get what you need
- Education initiatives: microgrants for teachers, the Homegrown Teacher program, and how a city government can support schools without being the school district
- Addressing homelessness through the HOME Team (Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement) and investing in affordable housing
- Community concerns on the campaign trail: affordability, public safety, and data centers
- The data center debate: water consumption, power usage, and the city's filter for new industrial development
- The Small Business Connector at City Hall — nearly 900 minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses helped
- Why municipal elections are nonpartisan (and why Scott's slogan is "It's not about R or D, it's about NLV")
- Ballot fatigue and why you should start at the bottom of the ballot
- Scott's fourth-grade book, How Billy Became Mayor, and his leadership journey from student government to city council
- Thoughts on democracy, the American dream, and legacy
- (00:00) - Midterms and Change
- (00:51) - Local Power Matters
- (01:47) - Meet Scott Black
- (03:24) - Campaign Life Grind
- (04:32) - Who Is Scott Black
- (06:32) - Mayor Pro Tem Explained
- (07:47) - North Las Vegas Then Now
- (09:07) - Texas Station Hilo Park
- (12:49) - Economy Beyond Gaming
- (15:07) - Building a Complete City
- (16:34) - Partnering With Schools
- (21:29) - Tackling Poverty Homelessness
- (27:04) - Community Concerns
- (28:25) - Data Centers Debate
- (30:52) - Dream Industries
- (32:49) - Local Relief Options
- (35:22) - Fourth Grade Mayor
- (37:28) - Leadership Journey
- (40:56) - Small Business Support
- (44:57) - Nonpartisan City Hall
- (47:12) - Democracy And Dream
- (50:58) - Legacy And Signoff
- (00:00) - Midterms and Change
- (00:51) - Local Power Matters
- (01:47) - Meet Scott Black
- (03:24) - Campaign Life Grind
- (04:32) - Who Is Scott Black
- (06:32) - Mayor Pro Tem Explained
- (07:47) - North Las Vegas Then Now
- (09:07) - Texas Station Hilo Park
- (12:49) - Economy Beyond Gaming
- (15:07) - Building a Complete City
- (16:34) - Partnering With Schools
- (21:29) - Tackling Poverty Homelessness
- (27:04) - Community Concerns
- (28:25) - Data Centers Debate
- (30:52) - Dream Industries
- (32:49) - Local Relief Options
- (35:22) - Fourth Grade Mayor
- (37:28) - Leadership Journey
- (40:56) - Small Business Support
- (44:57) - Nonpartisan City Hall
- (47:12) - Democracy And Dream
- (50:58) - Legacy And Signoff
Guest: Scott Black, Mayor Pro Tem & City Councilman, Ward 3, North Las Vegas, Nevada. Born and raised in southern Nevada. Small business owner. Endorsed by current Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown.
Host: Erika Washington
Credits: Hosted and produced by Erika Washington. Edited by Black Gypsy LLC. Special thanks to KUNV 91.5. Powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact.
Voting Reminder: Check your voter registration, find your polling location, or request your mail-in ballot. Nevada offers multiple ways to vote — use whichever works best for you.
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