Gibson Named Clark County Commission Chairman; Jones Selected as Vice Chairman
Jim Gibson was selected today by fellow Clark County commissioners as their chairman, and Justin Jones was named vice chairman, effective Jan. 4. The vote was unanimous in each case.
“I am humbled to have won the confidence of my fellow board members and look forward to working with them and staff to continue to improve residents’ quality of life, diversify the economy, expand affordable housing, make it easier for residents and tourists to get around our valley, and enhance the overall delivery of services while remaining transparent and accountable to taxpayers,” Gibson said. “I want to thank Commissioner Kirkpatrick for her outstanding leadership over the past two years throughout the pandemic. While she put in very long hours working with fellow board members, our partners throughout Southern Nevada and the state to guide us through the pandemic to get us where we are today, she has truly done yeoman’s work at a critical time in this community’s history.”
The term is for two years starting Jan. 4. Until then, the chairman is Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Gibson will continue as vice chairman.
A former three-term Mayor of Henderson and a practicing attorney in business and commercial law for more than 35 years, Gibson brings his extensive experience in local government and in Nevada's tourism, hospitality, entertainment and business industries to his position as County Commission Chairman. A native Nevadan, born in Las Vegas and a near-lifetime resident of Henderson, Gibson joined the Commission in July 2017 and has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors, the Nevada Development Authority Board of Directors, the Las Vegas Events Board of Directors, the Regional Transportation Commission and as Co-Chair of the Civilian Military Council for Nellis Air Force Base, while mayor. In the private sector, among other boards, Gibson served on the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Board of Directors including a term as its chair.
The seven members of the Commission govern Clark County and are elected from geographic districts on a partisan basis for staggered four-year terms. The Commission in turn hires a county manager, Yolanda King, who is responsible for the administrative operations for the County.
With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 14th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million residents and 45.6 million visitors a year (2019). Included are the nation’s 7th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1.1 million residents in the unincorporated area. If the unincorporated area of the County were a city, it would be the largest in the state, surpassing Nevada’s largest city of Las Vegas by 50 percent.
“I’m honored to be entrusted by the board with this responsibility and look forward to working with Chairman Gibson,” Jones said.
Commissioner Jones was elected to the Commission in 2018 and sworn in for his first term in January 2019. He previously served in the Nevada State Senate (2012-2014), where he served as Assistant Majority Whip and chaired the Health and Human Services Committee. While in the Legislature, Jones had the opportunity to work on important community issues including protections for homeowners facing foreclosure, gun violence prevention, marriage equality and conservation of Red Rock Canyon. Since joining the County Commission, Jones has championed issues ranging from addressing climate change to fostering economic development to increasing access to community parks, trails, and natural spaces. He has served on a number of community and non-profit boards, including as Chair of the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada and Battle Born Progress organizations and on the Board of Directors for United Way of Southern Nevada and Emerge Nevada. Jones was also a founding board member of Nevadans for Background Checks which successfully advocated for a 2016 ballot initiative requiring background checks on all gun purchases. For many years, Jones provided pro bono representation to child victims of domestic abuse and neglect through the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada's Children's Attorney Project.
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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2019). Included are the nation’s 7th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1.1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.