Economy & Small Business Growth in Clark County | Manny Kess for Clark County Commission District E

Building a Stronger District E Economy Beyond the Strip

Here is a fact that surprises people: the Las Vegas Strip is not in any city.

It sits in unincorporated Clark County, so the County Commission, not a city council, holds real authority over the most valuable real estate in Nevada.

The Las Vegas Strip sits in unincorporated Clark County, which means this seat technically helps govern some of the most valuable real estate in the country. But most District E residents don't work or spend on the Strip they work and spend in the off-Strip, neighborhood economy, and that distinction tends to get lost in how the county talks about "the economy" overall.

The Commission also signs off on major public investments tied to tourism and entertainment, including stadium and resort development deals and, this past year, a $56 million one-time transfer used to help balance the county budget. Those decisions deserve the same scrutiny a household gives its own largest expenses.

Manny's focus is on the part of the economy most residents actually live in: mind the neighborhood and small-business economy first, hold every dollar of public money in stadium and resort deals to real accountability, and push toward a Clark County economy with more than one engine, instead of one almost entirely dependent on tourism.

Manny's Five Action Items.

Prioritize the off-Strip, neighborhood economy in county economic policy — not just tourism.

Demand real accountability on public dollars in stadium and resort development deals.

Push to diversify the county's economic base beyond tourism dependency.

Scrutinize one-time budget transfers, like the $56M move, with public explanation.

Support small and local employers through the same lens as small-business permitting reform.

Manny on the other Issues.

Revitalizing Commerce

The county has spent $12M+ acquiring property here, with residents still waiting.

Manny's Position:

A plan only counts once it has a date attached.

What he'll do:

Publish a real timeline — lighting, safety, parking, code compliance, first.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Property Tax and the 3% Cap

A simple refinance can quietly reset a homeowner's tax cap higher.

Manny's Position:

Homeowners shouldn't lose protection by accident.

What he'll do:

Defend the 3% cap and make sure every homeowner knows how to keep it.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Homelessness and public safety

Clark County counted 7,900+ homeless residents in 2024, over half unsheltered.

Manny's Position:

Compassion and order aren't opposites.

What he'll do:

Fund real shelter and outreach, paired with enforcement — reported quarterly, by area.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Education and Technology

The county doesn't run schools, but it shapes digital access and local jobs.

Manny's Position:

The county can't run schools — but it can open doors.

What he'll do:

Expand digital access and grow tech/trade jobs through real partnerships.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Human Services

A roughly $893M safety net — foster care, eviction help, senior care — runs largely unseen.

Manny's Position:

It should be easy to find, not hidden.

What he'll do:

Run it by outcomes and make 2-1-1 the front door people actually know.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Healthcare

The same seven commissioners on this ballot also govern UMC, Nevada's only Level I trauma center.

Manny's Position:

That mission is non-negotiable.

What he'll do:

Protect UMC's funding and oversight as a core county duty.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Our local economy

The Strip is technically unincorporated county — but the off-Strip economy pays east-valley bills.

Manny's Position:

The neighborhood economy matters as much as the Strip.

What he'll do:

Hold public money in stadium and resort deals to real accountability.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Roads, transit, and traffic

Most valley roads, the Maryland Parkway transit line, and the airport are county business.

Manny's Position:

Getting around the valley shouldn't be this hard.

What he'll do:

Push the transit line and pedestrian-safety fixes forward — no more stalling.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Transparency and accountability

Contracts and spending decisions are easier to track than most residents realize.

Manny's Position:

Results should matter more than relationships.

What he'll do:

Tie spending to outcomes — and stay reachable: 702.277.1072.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Fiscally responsible decisions

The commission oversees a $10.1B budget across county funds.

Manny's Position:

That's not the county's money — it's yours.

What he'll do:

Account for every dollar like a business owner would.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Affordability and cost of living

Median home price in Clark County is near $490,000 — pricing out working families.

Manny's Position:

Affordability gets solved by supply, not slogans.

What he'll do:

Expand housing supply and cut the delays driving up build costs.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Small Business and Permitting

The county runs the permit process Manny built five businesses through.

Manny's Position:

Permits take too long and nobody can see why.

What he'll do:

Publish a public dashboard showing permit times — targets vs. actuals.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Public Safety

Crime trended down in 2024, and a new East Valley police station is coming.

Manny's Position:

Fund what works, not what's familiar.

What he'll do:

Hold every safety contract to results and keep that station on schedule.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Water Shortage

Southern Nevada has already cut per-person water use 58% since 2002.

Manny's Position:

Residents come before resorts when supply tightens.

What he'll do:

Defend the conservation rules that work and keep rates fair.

READ THE FULL PLAN

Building a Stronger District E Economy Beyond the Strip

Here is a fact that surprises people: the Las Vegas Strip is not in any city. It sits in unincorporated Clark County, so the County Commission, not a city council, holds real authority over the most valuable real estate in Nevada.

Manny's Five Action Items.

Manny on the other Issues.​

The county has spent $12M+ acquiring property here, with residents still waiting. Manny's Position: A plan only counts once it has a date attached. What he'll do: Publish a real timeline — lighting, safety, parking, code compliance, first.

A simple refinance can quietly reset a homeowner's tax cap higher. Manny's Position: Homeowners shouldn't lose protection by accident. What he'll do: Defend the 3% cap and make sure every homeowner knows how to keep it.

Clark County counted 7,900+ homeless residents in 2024, over half unsheltered. Manny's Position: Compassion and order aren't opposites. What he'll do: Fund real shelter and outreach, paired with enforcement — reported quarterly, by area.

The county doesn't run schools, but it shapes digital access and local jobs. Manny's Position: The county can't run schools — but it can open doors. What he'll do: Expand digital access and grow tech/trade jobs through real partnerships.

A roughly $893M safety net — foster care, eviction help, senior care — runs largely unseen. Manny's Position: It should be easy to find, not hidden. What he'll do: Run it by outcomes and make 2-1-1 the front door people actually know.

The same seven commissioners on this ballot also govern UMC, Nevada's only Level I trauma center. Manny's Position: That mission is non-negotiable. What he'll do: Protect UMC's funding and oversight as a core county duty.

The Strip is technically unincorporated county — but the off-Strip economy pays east-valley bills. Manny's Position: The neighborhood economy matters as much as the Strip. What he'll do: Hold public money in stadium and resort deals to real accountability.

Most valley roads, the Maryland Parkway transit line, and the airport are county business. Manny's Position: Getting around the valley shouldn't be this hard. What he'll do: Push the transit line and pedestrian-safety fixes forward — no more stalling.

Contracts and spending decisions are easier to track than most residents realize. Manny's Position: Results should matter more than relationships. What he'll do: Tie spending to outcomes — and stay reachable: 702.277.1072.

The commission oversees a $10.1B budget across county funds. Manny's Position: That's not the county's money — it's yours. What he'll do: Account for every dollar like a business owner would.

Median home price in Clark County is near $490,000 — pricing out working families. Manny's Position: Affordability gets solved by supply, not slogans. What he'll do: Expand housing supply and cut the delays driving up build costs.

The county runs the permit process Manny built five businesses through. Manny's Position: Permits take too long and nobody can see why. What he'll do: Publish a public dashboard showing permit times — targets vs. actuals.

Crime trended down in 2024, and a new East Valley police station is coming. Manny's Position: Fund what works, not what's familiar. What he'll do: Hold every safety contract to results and keep that station on schedule.

Southern Nevada has already cut per-person water use 58% since 2002. Manny's Position: Residents come before resorts when supply tightens. What he'll do: Defend the conservation rules that work and keep rates fair.

Here is a fact that surprises people: the Las Vegas Strip is not in any city.

It sits in unincorporated Clark County, so the County Commission, not a city council, holds real authority over the most valuable real estate in Nevada.

Manny on the other Issues.

The county has spent $12M+ acquiring property here, with residents still waiting.

Manny's Position:

A plan only counts once it has a date attached.

What he'll do:

Publish a real timeline — lighting, safety, parking, code compliance, first.

A simple refinance can quietly reset a homeowner's tax cap higher.

Manny's Position:

Homeowners shouldn't lose protection by accident.

What he'll do:

Defend the 3% cap and make sure every homeowner knows how to keep it.

Clark County counted 7,900+ homeless residents in 2024, over half unsheltered.

Manny's Position:

Compassion and order aren't opposites.

What he'll do:

Fund real shelter and outreach, paired with enforcement — reported quarterly, by area.

The county doesn't run schools, but it shapes digital access and local jobs.

Manny's Position:

The county can't run schools — but it can open doors.

What he'll do:

Expand digital access and grow tech/trade jobs through real partnerships.

A roughly $893M safety net — foster care, eviction help, senior care — runs largely unseen.

Manny's Position:

It should be easy to find, not hidden.

What he'll do:

Run it by outcomes and make 2-1-1 the front door people actually know.

The same seven commissioners on this ballot also govern UMC, Nevada's only Level I trauma center.

Manny's Position:

That mission is non-negotiable.

What he'll do:

Protect UMC's funding and oversight as a core county duty.

The Strip is technically unincorporated county — but the off-Strip economy pays east-valley bills.

Manny's Position:

The neighborhood economy matters as much as the Strip.

What he'll do:

Hold public money in stadium and resort deals to real accountability.

Most valley roads, the Maryland Parkway transit line, and the airport are county business.

Manny's Position:

Getting around the valley shouldn't be this hard.

What he'll do:

Push the transit line and pedestrian-safety fixes forward — no more stalling.

Contracts and spending decisions are easier to track than most residents realize.

Manny's Position:

Results should matter more than relationships.

What he'll do:

Tie spending to outcomes — and stay reachable: 702.277.1072.

The commission oversees a $10.1B budget across county funds.

Manny's Position:

That's not the county's money — it's yours.

What he'll do:

Account for every dollar like a business owner would.

Median home price in Clark County is near $490,000 — pricing out working families.

Manny's Position:

Affordability gets solved by supply, not slogans.

What he'll do:

Expand housing supply and cut the delays driving up build costs.

The county runs the permit process Manny built five businesses through.

Manny's Position:

Permits take too long and nobody can see why.

What he'll do:

Publish a public dashboard showing permit times — targets vs. actuals.

Crime trended down in 2024, and a new East Valley police station is coming.

Manny's Position:

Fund what works, not what's familiar.

What he'll do:

Hold every safety contract to results and keep that station on schedule.

Southern Nevada has already cut per-person water use 58% since 2002.

Manny's Position:

Residents come before resorts when supply tightens.

What he'll do:

Defend the conservation rules that work and keep rates fair.