Berkley leads Seaman in race for Las Vegas mayor | Las Vegas | News

Former U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley was leading the race to replace former Mayor Carolyn Goodman, according to preliminary results released early Wednesday.

As of 12:25 p.m., Berkley was ahead of Councilwoman Victoria Seaman 52.7 percent to 47.3 percent.

The winning candidate will be the first mayor in a quarter century not named Goodman.

Carolyn Goodman's tenure as City Council president preceded her husband, former Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Berkley and Seaman campaigned for months and participated in several debates.

Typically, the focus was on the legal dispute with the potential developer of the defunct Badlands golf course.

The new mayor will not be sworn in until after a vote on Wednesday to set the financial parameters for a possible deal, which is imminent.

EHB Cos. — led by CEO Yohan Lowie — sued the city after it purchased the golf course in 2015 with the intent of developing a sprawling residential project.

The city council blocked the project after neighboring Queensridge residents objected.

Four lawsuits alleging the city's actions effectively “seized” EHB's property resulted in multiple court losses for Las Vegas taxpayers.

The city paid out a $64 million judgment and settled one of the lawsuits earlier this year. According to officials, negotiations on a possible agreement have not yet been completed.

A majority vote at Wednesday's City Council meeting would allow the city $250 million to $286 million to settle the remaining lawsuits.

If EHB and the city reach a financial agreement, the city council would have to vote for it at a later date.

Both Seaman and Berkley were proponents of a settlement.

The next mayor will continue to be one of seven electors who handle non-partisan issues such as housing, budgeting, zoning and development.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at [email protected].