Berkley leads Seaman in race for Las Vegas mayor

Former U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley was leading in the race to replace former Mayor Carolyn Goodman, according to unofficial results released Wednesday.

As of midday Wednesday, Berkley was ahead of Councilwoman Victoria Seaman 52.8 percent to 47.2 percent.

The winning candidate will be the first mayor not named Goodman in a quarter-century.

Carolyn Goodman’s stint as the head of the City Council was preceded by her husband, former Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Berkley and Seaman have campaigned for months, participating in multiple debates. The legal dispute with the would-be developer of the defunct Badlands golf course typically took center stage.

The City Council delayed a vote Wednesday regarding whether to approve $250 million to $286 million as part of a possible settlement with the would-be developer of the golf course.

However, both the city and EHB Cos. stressed Wednesday that a settlement was imminent.

EHB Cos. — led by CEO Yohan Lowie — sued the city after buying the golf course in 2015 with intentions to develop an expansive housing project.

The City Council blocked the project after neighboring Queensridge residents opposed it.

Four lawsuits that alleged the city’s action effectively “took” EHB’s property have resulted in multiple court losses for Las Vegas taxpayers.

The city paid off a $64 million judgment, resolving one of the suits earlier this year, and negotiations on a possible settlement were ongoing, according to officials.

If EHB and the city reach a financial agreement, the City Council would need to vote for it at a later time.

Both Seaman and Berkley have been proponents of a settlement.

The next mayor will continue to be one of seven votes dealing with nonpartisan matters such as housing, budgeting, zoning and development.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.