Incumbent Henderson City Councilman Dan Shaw is being challenged by Dr. Monical Larson, a clinical forensic psychologist.
Henderson newcomer Monica “Doc” Larson is challenging City Councilman Dan Shaw in the race for Ward 2 which includes neighborhoods in Anthem, Inspirada, and Seven Hills. Shaw won 41% of the vote in the primary election to Larson’s 33%.
Larson, a clinical forensic psychologist from Southern California, moved to Henderson two years ago. She bills herself as the “quality of life candidate” on her website and says she’ll prioritize public safety over development. “If you don’t have public safety, you don’t have a quality of life, period,” she said in a recent interview with the Current.
Shaw, who was appointed to the council by former Mayor Debra March in 2017 and elected the following year, has been sued six times since 2022 for making illegal loans with interest rates upwards of 700%. Shaw has refused to be interviewed or answer questions about the lawsuits or details of settlements reached in some of the cases.
Larson says it’s “infuriating and despicable” that an elected official would be repeatedly sued for taking advantage of low-income individuals. “How can you ethically and with integrity represent your constituents?”
The councilman, according to former Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, is being investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, following a complaint Giunchigliani filed alleging Shaw lives in Utah, not Henderson, and is violating the law.
Henderson city councilman sued — again — over alleged illegal loans
Shaw, according to sites such as True People Search, lives on a ranch in Payson, Utah. His candidacy filing lists an address on Blackrock Rim in Henderson, a property he purchased in July for $5.5 million. Giunchigliani’s complaint alleges no registered voters are listed at that address.
Shaw’s campaign spokeswoman, Liz Trosper, says Giunchigliani is doing Larson’s bidding.
“I don’t know Larson, and anyone that knows me should know I don’t do anyone’s bidding,” Giunchigliani told the Current.
“You have to live in your community that you represent and care about it,” says Larson, adding her concerns about public safety in her neighborhood, which she brought before the council, drew no response from Shaw, who she says becomes animated only when developers appear before the council.
Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero appears on campaign signs with Shaw, and in August, former Mayor Debra March registered a political action committee that is sending out mailers about Larson, alleging she has a federal tax lien and bankruptcies. Romero and March did not respond to requests for comment.
The vice-president of the PAC, Ron Leavitt, a wealth manager who, according to his website, has served on the Henderson Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee, refused to comment when reached by phone.
Larson acknowledges the lien, which she says resulted from taxes assessed on her husband’s retirement account, was eliminated via bankruptcy. Clark County records indicate no liens are attached to Larson’s property.
Shaw has filed personal and business bankruptcies, including a Chapter 7 liquidation in Utah in 2010. He claimed between 200 and 999 creditors, assets of $50,000 to $100,000, and liabilities of $10 million to $50 million, according to federal court records.
Shaw has listed the Internal Revenue Service as a creditor on his annual financial disclosure form since his appointment to the council in 2017. In 2019, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that in 2015, the IRS re-filed nearly $2.4 million in liens against Shaw.
‘Insular cabal’
Larson contends the council’s current members are beholden to developers and have prioritized city funds for development over public safety. An example, she says, is the city’s $32 million purchase from Station Casinos of the parking lot at the former Fiesta Hotel property.
“And they all of a sudden, miraculously came up with a $60 million investment of taxpayer money in a for-profit sports complex near the Costco on St. Rose Pkwy,” she said. “If you look at the campaign contribution and expense reports of the three council members up for election in the primary, the contributions are identical. It’s over 95% from big developers. My concern is where their allegiance lies.”
Shaw, on his website, takes pride in having increased Henderson’s general fund without raising taxes.
The city, which lacks money for fire stations in new neighborhoods, is asking voters to approve a 30-year property tax increase in order to issue some $25 million in bonds to fund construction and fire department operations.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal, in a recent endorsement of Larson, wrote “Henderson’s city government has long operated as an insular cabal.”
Romero, Shaw, Councilman Dan Stewart, and Councilman Jim Seebock generally vote in lockstep on issues before the council. Even if Larson wins, she’ll likely join Councilwoman Carrie Cox on the losing end of votes.
Larson says she’s shocked by the price of housing, which she says rivals California. While she recognizes the need for affordable and low-income housing, she says neighbors in Seven Hills and Inspirada are opposed to the proliferation of multi-family developments, and notes the city lacks the public safety infrastructure to support it.
Larson says she’s interested in removing barriers to affordable housing, including rentals. She notes a relative was gouged by property managers over application fees. “They had to pay for each family member in the home.”
She says she’d support requiring developers to include workforce or affordable housing in their projects, or pay a fee to the city to be used for construction.
“Everyone deserves to have quality and sustainable housing, but I’ve seen that the council is not interested. Everything seems to focus on the benefit and incentives for the developers, never for the residents,” she says. “There has to be a balance because a lot of people want the American dream of home ownership.”
Shaw raised more than $300,000 in 2023, and $150,550 in 2024 as of July 15. He has $38,000 remaining.
He is endorsed by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce PAC, the Board of Realtors PAC, the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, the Vegas Chamber, and Ironworkers Local 416.
Larson is endorsed by Henderson Police, Henderson Police Supervisors, Fraternity of Police, the state AFL-CIO, Stagehands Union, Teamsters, and the Armed Forces Chamber, a veterans organization.
She raised $24,680 as of July 15 and has $2,600 on hand.