Las Vegas Nevada
May 22, 2024
Cedric Crear was elected City Councilman for Ward 5 in 2018 and is currently running for Las Vegas Mayor.
The Badlands zoning battle with the City of Las Vegas began in 2017; votes began coming before Cedric Crear in 2019. The opposition to the Badlands application was represented by residents who lived on the golf course, including the Fertitta family.
Cedric Crear began his career in marketing in 1994 with Stations Casino, Inc. and left in 2003. He then started his own companies, Crear Creative Group and Crear Outdoor. Crear has consistently voted to favor the neighbors who oppose the Badlands application.
Since 2019, Crear has voted for two appeals, one writ petition, and for funding 28 times in the legal matter. At no time did Crear disclose his relationship with the Fertitta family. Nor did he seek advice from the City of Las Vegas legal counsel in an open public meeting regarding his vote’s actual or perceived conflict. NRS 281A.020 (1) states that as a public officer, Crear must commit himself to avoid actual and perceived conflict between his public duties and private interests.
Abstention is required when Crear’s private interest of commitments would clearly and materially affect the independence of judgment of a reasonable person in a similar position. NRS 281A.420 (1), (3), (4).
Crear is also in violation of NRS 281A.400(2). A public officer shall not use their position in government to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions, or advantages for the public officer, employees, or any business entity in which the public officer has a financial interest.
Pecuniary interest is any beneficial or detrimental interest that consists of or is measured in money or is otherwise related to money.
As a candidate for office and a sitting City Councilman, Crear accepts campaign contributions that afford him an advantage in seeking re-election.
In 2018 and 2024, Crear accepted campaign contributions from Lorenzo Fertitta and Victoria Fertitta for $25,000. Crear Contribution and Expense Reports from 2018 to 2024 also show contributions from Stations, Casinos, and other related companies.
In addition, Crear accepted campaign contributions from McDonald Carano, one of the law firms representing the City of Las Vegas in the ongoing legal battle. He voted to approve their compensation every time they have been on the agenda and then took campaign contributions from them for his campaigns.
The Ethics Law of Nevada mandates that public officers hold public office for the sole benefit of the public. They are required to avoid conflicts of interest, both actual and perceived.
City Councilman Cedric Crear did not and has not attempted to adhere to the Ethics laws concerning the Badlands issue.
