🍸 Oscar Goodman on the 2024 mayoral race

City Cast Las Vegas has been following the Las Vegas mayoral race closely this year — especially since it’s the first time since 1999 that Oscar Goodman or wife Carolyn Goodman won’t be on the ballot. For the latest edition of Mayoral Mondays, we caught up with Oscar Goodman, former mob lawyer and three-term mayor, to discuss the current state of the race, current events, and what he’s up to lately.

The following is an excerpt of the full online interview.

Tell me about the new book you're working on. It sounds like you're going to focus on your mob lawyer years a little more.

"This one is getting pretty deep into my feelings about government, law enforcement, cheating, and lying — and those who think the white hats are really the good guys. They're really wearing the black hats. So I think it can be very, very good, but we'll see."

We're in an election year and we’re not going to have a Goodman on the ballot for the first time in more than 20 years. How would you define the collective legacy of Oscar and Carolyn Goodman in the mayor's office?

"Well, I think my wife would agree with me on this: We don't believe in legacies. We believe in carpe diem. We seize the day and we try to live every day to its fullest. Our legacy will be our children and their success, and right now we're getting an ‘A-plus’ on that due to my wife's wonderful way of raising them. And that will be our legacy."

Who are you endorsing for mayor in Las Vegas?

"At this point in time, I'm not endorsing anybody. Carolyn has to work with certain people and I'm not going to put her in a position of jeopardy. So I told her I wasn't going to back anybody. She's not going to back anybody because she has a job to finish and there's no reason to start spats in City Hall. And if there comes a time that I feel that the job is done, although it's never done, I may tip my hat towards somebody."

And now that we're down to a runoff with the final two (Shelley Berkley and Victoria Seaman), without making an endorsement, do you have any thoughts on how the race has gone in general?

"I think so far, unlike some other races, it's been a very clean race."

Under both of your mayorships, Las Vegas has grown dramatically as a sports community. Do you still believe the A's should build their stadium in the City of Las Vegas instead of on the Strip?

"I believe the A’s should be building at Cashman Field. The city would be willing to make a sweetheart deal with them. There wouldn't be any taxpayer money involved. It would be a mixed-use development, which would change the face of Las Vegas. It would be like what happened in the Gaslamp district in San Diego."

The city limits cover not just Downtown, but also a lot of rural areas as well. There's a big controversy now with an LDS temple proposed for Lone Mountain — and there's kind of a push and pull between keeping it rural in nature and allowing this very large landmark to come in. Do you have a stance on that controversy?

"No. I never criticized an elected official because I'm not being briefed on the topic. I'm not at the meetings concerning the issue. I don't know the reason certain things are done. All I know is that you can't please all the people all the time, but you try to be as polite and understanding of what they're trying to accomplish. And when it comes to something like a religious institution, people feel very close to it."

Read the full interview with Oscar Goodman for the former mayor’s thoughts on the Vegas Loop, a new portrait at his namesake steakhouse, and how to make a perfect martini.

⛰️ It’s getting too hot these days to hike and enjoy the great outdoors in Nevada. But navigating this rock formation seems especially tricky, no matter the time of year.

Is this …

A. Plumber’s Crack in Red Rock Canyon?

B. A slot canyon in Cathedral Gorge State Park?

C. Atlatl Rock at Valley of Fire State Park?

D. An unnamed trail in Bootleg Canyon near Boulder City?

Scroll down for the correct answer!

Who Is A's Owner John Fisher?

The A’s are planning a big move to Las Vegas, but who’s the man behind the major-league baseball team? Sports writer Dan Moore, an expert on the A’s relocation efforts, talks to City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler about owner John Fisher’s history, reputation, and track record in Oakland — and whether his business practices are a good thing for Vegas.