SagebrushAdvocates
North Las Vegas · 2026
Election Day 2026
Sagebrush Advocates • North Las Vegas • Mayor’s Race 2026
North Las Vegas
Cannot Afford
Scott Black.
A State Ethics Commission found City Manager Ryann Juden broke state law by negotiating his own contract. Scott Black voted yes, defended it, and nine months after the ruling called Juden “one of the architects of our turnaround.” Taxpayers paid $994,400 in a single year.
The Receipt — North Las Vegas, 2024
$994,400
Paid in One Year • To One Man • From Your Tax Dollars
$675,000
Severance Pay
For a voluntary resignation
$97,000
Vacation & Sick Leave
Unused leave, cashed out
$137,000
Final-Year Salary
While sitting as city manager
$85,500
Consulting Fees
Juden collected in 2024 alone
Plus $544,500 in remaining contract payments through 2027 — still being paid today. The council has authority to void the contract. Black has not moved to void it.
The Relationship
Two Faces.
One Deal.
In May 2024, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black voted to hand nearly $1 million to City Manager Ryann Juden — a man who, that very day, was still sitting as city manager. Juden had emailed his own contract to the city attorney from his city email. The council waved it through on the consent agenda with no discussion. Juden’s name didn’t even appear in the item.
Ethics Violation
Ryann Juden
Former City Manager, North Las Vegas
Juden emailed his own draft consulting contract from his city email to the city attorney — while still serving as city manager. He personally approved the council agenda containing his own contract. His name did not appear in the item description.
▲ Violated State Ethics Law
Nevada Commission on Ethics, Stipulated Agreement 24-148C, June 18, 2025
Running for Mayor
Scott Black
Mayor Pro Tem • Candidate for Mayor 2026
Black voted to approve the no-bid, $630,000 consulting contract. To the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “He had a great track record, and so we had the opportunity to hold on to a percentage of his bandwidth.” On the council’s relationship with Juden: “We are all like family.”
▲ Voted Yes. Defended It. Doubling Down.
Nine months after the ethics ruling, at his March 2026 campaign kickoff, Black praised Juden as “one of the architects of our turnaround.” He is not asking for forgiveness. He is running on it.
Section B — The North Las Vegas Receipt
The Evidence
The Vote
May 1, 2024
Black, Mayor Goynes-Brown, Barron, Garcia-Anderson and Cherchio approve a $630,000 no-bid consulting contract for then-sitting City Manager Ryann Juden. The vote was buried on the consent agenda with no discussion. Juden’s name did not appear in the item description. The contract had been emailed from Juden’s own city email account to the city attorney 30 days earlier.
The Ruling
June 18, 2025
The Nevada Commission on Ethics rules Juden violated state ethics law by negotiating his own contract while still in office. Commissioner Terry Reynolds called it “unconscionable.” Commissioner Teresa Lowry: “But for the limitations of the ethics laws, I would not approve this negotiation.” The Commission notified North Las Vegas it has authority to void the contract. Black has not moved to void it.
Black’s Defense
To the Las Vegas Review-Journal
“He had a great track record, and so we had the opportunity to hold on to a percentage of his bandwidth.”
Black’s description of the council’s relationship with Juden: “We are all like family.”
And Now
March 2026
Nine months after the ethics ruling, at his own campaign kickoff, Black points Juden out to the crowd and praises him as “one of the architects of our turnaround.”
The $15,000-a-month payments continue. Black is not asking for forgiveness. He is running on it.
Independent Voices
What They Called It
“Unconscionable.”
Nevada Commission on Ethics
Commissioner Terry Reynolds, June 18, 2025
“The definition of a backroom deal.”
Geoffrey Lawrence
Nevada Policy Research Institute
“A rancid stench.”
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Editorial Board, December 2024
“It should have been done much more transparently. It’s taxpayer money.”
Councilman Richard Cherchio
North Las Vegas City Council
Reject
Self-Dealing.
Vote No on Scott Black for Mayor
Election Day 2026 • North Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas • Mayor’s Race 2026
Get Updates
on This Race
North Las Vegas voters deserve the facts. We’ll send you verified updates as the 2026 mayor’s race unfolds — no spam, no fundraising, unsubscribe anytime.
- Ethics commission findings & court records
- Candidate voting records & public statements
- Election dates, deadlines & voter info
✉ Stay Informed
By submitting you agree to receive email updates from Sagebrush Advocates. Paid for by Sagebrush Advocates. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Sources & Documentation
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Dec. 5, 2024; Dec. 10, 2024; June 18, 2025; Dec. 14, 2024 editorial; May 2025) • Nevada Current (Dec. 10, 2024) • 8 News Now/KLAS (June 18, 2025) • Nevada Commission on Ethics, Stipulated Agreement 24-148C (June 18, 2025).