LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Las Vegas Metropolis Corridor doesn’t show nor possess a photograph of the mayor thought of “the most controversial” within the city’s historical past, however historians say his tumultuous time period is value studying.
Within the Thirties the scorching button concern which defeated or aided Las Vegas politicians was who managed the energy, extra particularly the Southern Nevada Energy Firm, now often called NV Vitality.
Las Vegas Mayor Ernie Cragin’s defeat in 1935 for his second time period was seemingly tied to allegations of his connections to the ability firm publicized by his opponent, Leonard Arnett. It will proceed a dialog within the younger metropolis about whether or not the ability firm needs to be privately or municipally owned.
On the time U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, a monetary reform program which centered on home public works tasks, was a significant factor in Las Vegas politics. Mayor Arnett campaigned for federal funds by means of the New Deal to be put in direction of an influence plant and transmissions strains from the brand new Hoover Dam.
Throughout Arnett’s time period, the world skilled an financial downturn and the Las Vegas Fee, now often called the Las Vegas Metropolis Council, appointed a board of leaders to discover a fiscal reply to the mayor’s energy firm answer.
On the time U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, a monetary reform program which centered on home public works tasks, was a significant factor in Las Vegas politics. Mayor Arnett campaigned for federal funds by means of the New Deal to be put in direction of an influence plant and transmissions strains from the brand new Hoover Dam. (UNLV Collections)
The board discovered Arnett’s concept to be too dangerous and shortly after the mayor took a go away of absence—and ran a hen ranch in California.
The true property developer
In 1909, John Lewis Russell, a local of North Dakota, stood in an open discipline with each palms positioned down on a pitchfork readying for a household photograph. The railroad employee, turned actual property developer, would grow to be a firebrand figurehead for Las Vegas, in accordance with UNLV historian, Dr. Michael Inexperienced.
“John Russell had been a real estate developer who got involved in the Las Vegas Taxpayers League in the 1930s,” he stated. “His goal was to fight increases in city spending.”
After Arnett’s absence, Las Vegas Commissioner Harmon Percy Marble, a newspaper proprietor and photographer, took over as the town’s mayor earlier than shedding an election to the chief of the Taxpayers League, John Russell.
Russell began his time period in 1939 and stated he would deliver “sound financial policy, keeping municipal expenditures at the lowest point consistent with progressive policies.” Nevertheless, the brand new mayor would first have to win over his fellow commissioners—a talent he lacked.
“Well, he got into it with his fellow city commissioners,” Inexperienced stated. “He wanted a lower tax rate than they did, and he had changed his mind and now [Russell] wanted municipally owned electricity, and they were hoping that fight had been over.”
It had quickly grow to be clear Russell was a mayor who didn’t disguise his emotions nicely and had a behavior of attacking anybody who disagreed together with his agenda, calling them “corrupt and stupid.”
“That wasn’t conducive to building a coalition,” Inexperienced stated. “Eventually he got fed up. The commissioners got fed up with him.”
(Credit score: Las Vegas Age)
On Dec. 21, 1940, the opposite 4 Las Vegas Commissioners resigned, however the metropolis lawyer dominated that the elected officers needed to meet as a board for his or her resignations to be accepted. Once they met once more, they modified their choice to resign nonetheless it was too late—Russell created a second authorities.
Two rival governments
The 2 governments, one newly appointed by Mayor Russell, met in the identical room and had papers run between them by the town clerk to be signed.
One of many prime points on the agenda got here from the Las Vegas Military Air Corps which was making an attempt to get a gunnery college arrange throughout World Struggle II.
“This is the gunnery school that would become Nellis Air Force Base,” Inexperienced stated. “And there are two sets of signatures on it because they couldn’t get an agreement.”
One of many prime points on the agenda got here from the Las Vegas Military Air Corps which was making an attempt to get a gunnery college arrange throughout World Struggle II. (UNLV Collections)
By Apr. 20, 1940, the town’s affairs would grow to be the goal of an investigation and grand jury trial. Joe Ronnow, a Las Vegas Commissioner, made the movement for the grand jury together with assist from his fellow commissioners, in accordance with an article from the Las Vegas Age.
“It was done with the desire to lay all actions of the board and other city employees open to inspection in the hope that the constant disagreement and bickering which has characterized the present city administration for the past year to the annoyance of the people and discredit to the good reputation of the city, be finally brought to an end,” a Las Vegas Age reporter wrote.
On Could 10, 1941, Russell’s turbulent time period would end in costs of malfeasance by the outdated metropolis fee with the objective of eradicating the mayor from workplace.
(Credit score: Las Vegas Age)
“They convicted him themselves, it wasn’t a court case,” Inexperienced stated. “Russell resigned in May.”
Two months later the previous mayor left the town limits and went as much as Mt. Charleston with some buddies, however he would by no means return to Las Vegas.
Figuring out the mayor’s physique
On July 19, 1941, Russell traveled to Deer Creek with a person and a lady earlier than making an attempt to enterprise additional to the Kyle Canyon space previous the Charleston Park Lodge shortly earlier than 3 p.m., in accordance with a newspaper report.
Whereas on the campgrounds Russell fell over and died virtually immediately from a coronary heart assault. An hour later a phone name was made to Clark County Sheriff Gene Ward relaying “John Russell” had died.
On July 19, 1941, Russell traveled to Deer Creek with a person and a lady earlier than making an attempt to enterprise additional to the Kyle Canyon space previous the Charleston Park Lodge shortly earlier than 3 p.m., in accordance with a newspaper report. (UNLV Collections)
A coroner shortly rushed from the Las Vegas Valley as much as Mt. Charleston to see the physique of the previous mayor. Charles Travis, the lodge supervisor, and Leo McNamee, a Kyle Canyon resident and Las Vegas lawyer, stood on the campgrounds and recognized the previous mayor.
Russell was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery days later. The inscription on his gravestone reads, “Las Vegas’ Progressive Mayor.”
The previous mayor’s sister, Julia Ann Russell, and mom, Mary Jane Russell, have been each buried subsequent to him. Julia’s obituary reveals two surviving sisters: Mrs. Margaret Johnson of Las Vegas, and Mrs. Cora Kenmir of Alhambra, California.
Russell’s dying certificates reveals he was by no means married and lists his occupation as a “farmer and railway maker,” with no point out of his time as mayor of Las Vegas.
Russell Highway
In accordance with paperwork from the Clark County Heritage Museum, Russell owned a 100-acre ranch on the outskirts of city, close to what’s now Harry Reid Worldwide Airport. The street that ran alongside his property would later be named after the previous mayor, changing into Russell Highway.
“It’s funny that Russell Road runs to the airport, which for many years, was named for Pat McCarran,” Inexperienced stated. “And the mayor, who did not want municipal power was Ernie Cragin, and who was a total McCarran supporter.”
In 1943, Cragin left the California hen ranch and returned to his seat as Las Vegas mayor, a calmer interval in accordance with Inexperienced.
In accordance with paperwork from the Clark County Heritage Museum, Russell owned a 100-acre ranch on the outskirts of city, close to what’s now Harry Reid Worldwide Airport. The street that ran alongside his property would later be named after the previous mayor, changing into Russell Highway. (UNLV Collections)
“[Russell] is unusual in his time, in that, city politicians usually weren’t that vocal,” he stated. “There’s been a gadfly or two involved on the commission but for the most part, the mayors have not been.”
Inexperienced stated as a result of Russell didn’t full his time period in workplace and received into many political fights shortly, he ranks larger on the “controversy meter” from a historic perspective.
“He certainly ranks as one of our more controversial mayors—there’s no doubt about that,” Inexperienced stated.
In 1909, John Lewis Russell, a local of North Dakota, stood in an open discipline with each palms positioned down on a pitchfork readying for a household photograph. The railroad employee, turned actual property developer, would grow to be a firebrand figurehead for Las Vegas, in accordance with UNLV historian, Dr. Michael Inexperienced. (UNLV Collections)
A photograph of Russell was positioned in a time capsule on the Las Vegas Union Pacific Railroad station in 1940 and was later retrieved in 1970 earlier than the constructing’s demolition.
Author : LasVegasNews
Publish date : 2025-02-08 07:53:48
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