Jose Luis (Louie) Valdez

In 2023, City Council voted to hold the first special election to fill a Council vacancy in City history. Louie took this historic opportunity to build strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. He spearheaded a joint effort with our Emergency Management department to hold an election security table-top exercise. This included all city departments, including the Police Department, as well as the Clark County Elections Department and Secretary of State’s Office. The deliverable of this exercise was a fully fleshed out Event Action Plan. Additionally, Louie staffed the vote center with all city staff and made sure that trained staff were involved in all aspects of the election process and outreach. He included our Wellness Coordinator to ensure that the staff maintained a focus on mental health and wellness throughout the stressful election process. The outcome was a flawless election, during which alliances and relationships were formed horizontally and vertically, which will increase the transparency and effectiveness of all future election activities in the city. Louie is an example of excellence in action!