Last week, a letter was published supporting Annie Black’s opponent for Seat 4 in the City Council election. Sadly, that letter spent more time taking cheap shots at Annie than it did highlighting the strengths of her opponent. As I believe wholeheartedly in our First Amendment Right to Free Speech, I support this person expressing her opinion. I believe, however, that it demonstrates the negative character of Annie’s opposition, which the people of Mesquite have a right to see.
Since declaring her candidacy for Council, Annie has run a clean campaign based on her merits and what she offers the Citizens of Mesquite. In that spirit, I would like to tell you some (true) things about Annie and about her vision for Mesquite.
Annie was born and raised in Las Vegas and has deep roots in Mesquite. Her family opened the Virgin River Casino in 1990 and has remained loyally involved and dedicated to the success of our community. Annie began practicing real estate in 1999 and is currently working on building two new businesses in Mesquite. Annie’s fiancé, James and their two sons Tommy (16) and Tyler (13) chose Mesquite as their home because they were drawn to the friendly people and safe, beautiful community.
She is a proud American who believes in personal responsibility, individual liberty, and limited government. On the Council, her number one priority will be to represent the values of the citizens of Mesquite. As a business owner, she is passionate about revitalizing our city and economy. She would love to transform our “downtown” into a charming place, full of shops and restaurants, where our community can gather and enjoy our city, while also attracting tourists. Her third priority is supporting our first responders in maintaining our status as the #1 safest city in Nevada.
Annie Black is endorsed by Teamsters Local 14, who represent our Fire and City Staff, and businesses like Mercy Air, NRC Contracting, Deep Roots Harvest, Danielle’s Chocolates, LV Auto, John’s Diesel, Bulloch Brothers Engineering, Mesquite Pharmacy, and Green Valley Grocery, to name a few. Annie has the endorsement of our State Assemblyman, Chris Edwards, Las Vegas City Councilwoman, Michelle Fiore, and Mesquite City Councilmen, George Rapson and David Ballweg. Most importantly, she has been blessed and honored to personally meet and earn the support of thousands of Mesquite citizens. I know she will continue to listen to us and thoughtfully represent us on City Council for years to come.
Respectfully,
Linda Shannon
Michelle Fiore? In today’s Review Journal, Wayne Allyn Root endorsed Annie Black. That tells me everything I want to know. The Council election in Mesquite is a “non partisan” race. We need a candidate who will represent all of the citizens of Mesquite. We are a diverse community and will be become more diverse in the coming years. We need a candidate who will lead the way for affordable housing. We will never attract new businesses if there are no workers. Having Michelle Fiore and Wayne Allyn Root on your side is not something I would brag about.
It sounds like you are putting words in the mouths of people who to my knowledge have not publicly said the same. My personal concern with Miss Black is her complete lack of experience and short time living here in Mesquite. Yes she does have the support of her family, but let’s not forget that their relationship with the city wasn’t always roses and how fortunate we were to have Mesquite gaming come along and save two of their casinos when they faulted on their financial commitments and declared bankruptcy on them.
She has little knowledge of what the city council actually does and doesn’t do and originally did not even seem to know the RDA existed or what their job is.
Building up the “downtown” area is a wonderful idea, shared by many others before her. However, unless you get greedy property owners to lower their square footage rental costs substantially, it’s just a pipe dream. I know, my wife and I opened to restaurants on the boulevard 6 years ago and the rent is beyond outrageous. Working on building two new businesses does not make her a business owner yet.
Karen Fielding has been here much longer and has raised her family here, while being very involved in the community the entire time. Karen does have the knowledge and experience to help build our city towards a better future for all, young and old.
I actually wish them both the best f luck in all they do, I just hope people don’t vote for ANY city council person based strictly on the fact that they have the most money to spend on their campaign. That money does not make them better candidates, nor will it make them better council members.
Ms. Shannon, can you reply with these merits of Ms. Black’s and what she plans to offer the citizens of Mesquite? Because I can’t seem to find any of that information online. Also, please explain the deep roots Annie has in Mesquite? Her uncles building the Virgin River Casino and purchasing Player’s Island and the Oasis? Only to close down the Oasis and have to sellout to an out of town company?
What are the two new businesses? A couple of my real estate friends have mentioned how rude Ms. Black is and how she tried to sue one of them…and you mention Annie wants to transform “downtown” into a charming place…by suing the land owners? Using the City Council position for eminent domain? No thank you.
Ms. Black wants to get into higher government. It’s clear with an endorsement by a State Assemblyman – why didn’t she get into Las Vegas (or wherever she lived) politics? If you ask me, having been endorsed by Councilmen Rapson and Ballweg doesn’t really motivate me or impress me. I just saw a post on her Facebook page that states who Rapson wants to sit with on the Council. Neither does an endorsement on Ms. Black’s Facebook by Zachary Guymon, who doesn’t even live in Mesquite and I assume doesn’t know hardly anything about Mesquite’s political history/background.
Ms. Black – I am not bagging you or your ideas. I truly hope, if you are elected, that you can and will truly make a difference but you can only do so much as a Council member. I think you would have more success as Mayor – that position has more room to change a town, along with the City Manager, than a Council member. I have lived in this town since 1979…so let’s see how things turn out after November 6.
Thank you for writing this letter.
It was infuriating to read that letter last week. I was taught as a child, and reminded often by my wife, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. I feared had I written a letter to the editor in response to that negative, hate filled, “letter to the editor”, I would not be able to maintain that motto.
Annie Black has endorsements and supporters far and wide, including many if not most first responders, educators and business owners in this town. She is extremely motivated, trustworthy, and does not speak out of both sides of her mouth like many folks in the political world do. She won’t tell you what she thinks you want to hear, just to get your vote.
Ms. Black is not even on City Council yet, but she has already pitched the town to at least one developer who has a great interest in exploring a new project in Mesquite. She has connections and motivation to bring in more.
Annie Black will bring a unique voice and will be an asset to all of us on City Council. Please join me in voting for Annie on Tuesday.