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City Council appoints Kara Kelly as Ward 2 caretaker
Summary
The Las Vegas City Council on Sept. 17 appointed Kara Kelly as the interim (caretaker) Ward 2 council member after reviewing three finalists and debating whether to hold a special election.
The Las Vegas City Council on Sept. 17 appointed Kara Kelly as the interim (caretaker) council member for Ward 2, filling the seat until the next municipal election.
The council selected Kelly from three finalists after a recruitment that drew 57 applications. Human Resources Director Vince Zamora told the council the pool was pared to three finalists — Serena Kasama, Kara Kelly and Tom Wharton — after screening for Ward 2 residency and a requirement that appointees agree on the record not to run in the 2026 municipal election. Each finalist made a three‑minute presentation to the council.
Why it matters: The appointment puts a locally known figure in the seat ahead of an election and avoids the time and cost of a special election, a point cited by several council members during the discussion.
Councilmembers praised all three finalists as qualified. Several members said fiscal and timing considerations weighed against a special election; the council estimated an election would cost roughly $800,000 and push results into late December. Councilwoman Olivia Diaz and others said they individually reviewed applicants in depth before forwarding rankings to human resources.
After a failed motion to appoint Serena Kasama, the council voted to appoint Kara Kelly. Kelly pledged to “be dedicating most of my time to serving this ward,” and the council scheduled her swearing‑in for a special meeting on Sept. 30.
What the council directed: The council followed the recruitment process laid out by human resources, including confirming residency and the caretaker pledge. Human Resources reported 57 applications were received, 17 deemed ineligible for Ward 2 residency, and 40 forwarded for council review. The three finalists were selected by ranked submissions from council members.
Process note: The council did not hold a special election, citing time and cost; several members said a caretaker appointee should be able to “hit the ground running,” which factored in support for Kelly, who said she will serve full time during the caretaking period.
Council action: Motion to appoint Kara Kelly as Ward 2 caretaker — approved (motion recorded as carried). The council scheduled the swearing‑in for Sept. 30.
Looking ahead: Kelly will serve until a successor is elected in 2026; the council and staff said they will provide onboarding and support during the interim period.
