Mayor Rolls to a Huge Victory in Las Vegas Vote

Mayor Oscar Goodman, surrounded by hundreds of friends and supporters, celebrated a landslide reelection victory Tuesday night, holding a downtown party with bright lights, loud music and flowing alcohol.

Goodman received nearly 86% of the vote with 98% of the precincts reporting, avoiding a June runoff election and apparently smashing the record of 72% of the votes set in the 1995 Las Vegas mayoral race.

Goodman, the self-proclaimed happiest mayor in the world, basked in the win, praising his reelection team and supporters.

“I love Las Vegas, I love Las Vegas,” Goodman said, his voice hoarse from campaigning. “The fact that they responded to me in this way is very meaningful to me. They really made me very, very humble.”

Goodman, who faced five little-known challengers, received 29,139 votes with 325 out of 331 precincts reporting. Goodman’s nearest competitor, retired musician Tom McGowan, received 1,932 votes.

Officials predicted turnout under 15% in Tuesday’s primary election, which included a number of City Council races and municipal judge contests.

Despite little organized opposition, Goodman ran a full campaign, spending $865,000.

“I haven’t done anything different from the day I was born. What you see is what you get,” Goodman said. “Obviously they buy into my honesty, integrity and they know I’m trying to make Las Vegas the greatest city in the world.”