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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2000 Political control over special districts in local government: A case study of the Las Vegas - Clark County Library District John Thompson Stephens University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Stephens, John Thompson, "Political control over special districts in local government: A case study of the Las Vegas - Clark County Library District" (2000). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 3134. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/eqo4-e3bh This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 POLITICAL CONTROL OVER SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE LAS VEGAS-CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT by John Thompson Stephens III A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Political Science Department of Political Science University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1996 UMI Number: 13 80537 Copyright 1996 by Stephens, John Thompson, III All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1380537 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Copyright John T Stephens III All Rights Reserved The Thesis of John Thompson Stephens III for the degree of Master of Arts in Political Science is approved. >7 Charirperson, Dina Titus Ph.D. ExanpislWg Committee Member, Jerry L. Simich Ph.D, ——- ^Examining Committee Member, Steven Parker Ph.D, ,y> /♦Vf y G: adiiate faculty Representative, Leonard Goodall Ph.D. Dean of the Graduate College, Ronald W. Smith Ph.D University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1996 11 ABSTRACT This thesis examines the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District over the five year period from 1991 to 1995. Based on interviews, local media coverage and budgetary data, the work traces the development of the library district during its most turbulent times. As a case study of special districts or "functional feudalities", the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District provides an excellent microcosm for understanding competing elites, interest group politics, budgetary problems, and public perception as determinants of policy made by a non-elected governing board. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.......................................... V CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.................................. 1 CHAPTER 2 THE LIBRARY................................... 3 CHAPTER 3 LAS VEGAS-CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT..10 CHAPTER 4 HISTORICAL EVENTS OF LVCCLD (FROM 1991 to 1995)........................... 23 a. 1991..................................... 24 b. 1992..................................... 32 c. 1993..................................... 76 d. 1994.................................... 1 14 e. 1995.................................... 122 f. Endnotes............................... 128 CHAPTER 5 THE INTERVIEWS............................. 131 a. questions.............................. 133 b. Linda Porter.......................... 134 c. Charles Hunsberger....................138 d. Darrell Batson........................ 141 e. Nancy Hudson................... 144 f. Deborah Lynne Jackson..................147 CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION................................. 151 EPILOGUE............................................... 1 61 BIBLIOGRAPHY 162 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION On, Thursday, October 15, 1992, the words "We want Linda!11, coming from African-American children in a single file line could be heard in the board room where the LVCCLD trustees were having their monthly meeting. At least thirty adults and a dozen or more children of African descent were outside of the board members' door screaming demands and howling chants. They were adamant about a West Las Vegas Library employee, who was black, being transferred from their community to work at another library. The crowd cried for more racial sensitivity and for the West Las Vegas Library to receive an equal and adequate portion of books and services for the African-American community library. Assemblyman Wendell Williams, who represents the community served by the WLV library, was asking for the abolishment of the Library Board because it was not accountable to the public. One frequent library patron and book enthusiast who was white received cheers and applause 1 2 when he shouted that LVCCLD's director should be fired. How could this have happened? What went wrong? How does a local government agency produce such unusual extremities of behavior from the very people they are paid to assist and aid in the pursuit of knowledge? 'Political Control over Special Districts in Local Government: A Case Study of the Las Vegas Clark County Library District1 is an examination of the local politics of a growing, thriving, and prosperous library system. My thesis will include an introductory review of literature on special districts; a statutory history of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District; and an analysis of current problems with focus on media coverage, public input, lack of accountability, misappropriation of funds, racism, etc. It will conclude with a look at contemporary reform measures which have been adopted by the board of trustees. The theoretical significance of the thesis lies's in its look at political control over quasi-independent governmental units. CHAPTER 2 THE LIBRARY The library is a fascinating world of learning. It is a haven for information, ideas, philosophies, and personalities which can be obtained by anyone who seeks them. The walls are put in place to provide refuge from the disruptions and distractions of the world, so that the seeker of knowledge can quench his or her thirst for information and relative news. The library is a place where an individual may find a good book, a good compact disc or cassette, a newspaper, a magazine, and a video available at no charge. It is a building where one's child may enjoy a story telling, a puppet show, and/or some old fashioned craft project to promote use of the public library. The library may be a building a person uses for direction or guidance for handling a particular problem, or may be a place one unwinds in and enjoys the calm and rest of the day. The library is all of theses scenarios and more, but libraries and their schools are closing despite the urgency for 4 libraries today. In the great age of the computer and the internet craze, libraries should not be closing, but prospering across the U.S. Libraries and library schools are taking a beating because of cuts in budgets and an underestimated role in the futures of computers and online searches in the comfort of one's home. The first known library in the United States was the Harvard University Library established in 1638. It was founded by a clergyman named John Harvard who started it with a generous gift of money and 400 books. In 1731 Benjamin Franklin with the help of some friends founded the Library Company of Philadelphia which was the first subscription library in America. The purpose of the Library Company of Philadelphia was to make libraries accessible to anyone who could pay the dues. The money raised from the dues would go towards the purchase of new books for the library. Once the members paid the fee for membership, they were able to check out books free of charge. The first free tax

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