Josanna Espejo

My connection to Ward 5 runs deep, having lived in Ward 5 my entire life. I was raised and educated here. I am a Hispanic woman, wife, and mother of five who, together with my husband, has raised our family, and has owned businesses for more than 20 years, all in the same community. Volunteering my time to give back has always been my priority. I have been the President of the PTO at my children's school for the last three years, and I currently serve as the Treasurer on the board of my church. For the last 11 years, I have proudly worked for the City of Las Vegas, leading a life of public service to contribute to the vitality of our world-class, iconic city. As your Councilwoman, I would start my tenure as an experienced, effective leader, already well-versed in how the city operates, and with over a decade of built relationships to accomplish things from the start for Ward 5 residents and businesses.

• Public Safety is priority one! Our citizens deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, shopping centers, and public buildings. Research shows that investing in better education, employment training, healthcare, and our faith-based centers reduces crime. Doing what works makes good sense. As a Councilwoman, I will support the further development of these key areas in Ward 5.
• Supporting our businesses is vital to keeping our economy strong. Small business is the lifeblood of our community. No one feels comfortable in a shopping center that is half-vacant and declining. Staying friendly to small business with incentives for growth and longevity in business keeps our centers of commerce thriving. As a business owner for more than 20 years, I am committed to helping other businesses with solid concepts to stay successful.
• In better educated populations, we find that there is a decrease in violence, increase in overall health, higher earnings, and feeling like a part of society. When people feel they belong, barriers are removed and they invest by giving back into their communities. If we begin early, educating children in early childhood, we instill confidence and critical thinking skills to propel children to success later in life. I support educational programs and access to technology for education in Ward 5.

I am passionate about public safety, access to information for citizens to connect them to their government, and education, being a former educator.

I am fortunate to still have my parents. They instilled the values, moral compass , and deep faith that guide my life. I watched their example of always being involved at a school, local government, or neighborhood level, and advocating for what was right. I learned that every voice matters. They not only taught me leadership, but compassion, empathy, and tenacity. I am forever grateful for their example.

I believe we have gotten away from integrity and doing what is right. Integrity is at the heart of my character. It is the basis for how I make decisions. I have lived a life of public service and I intend to continue to serve with integrity.

Approving a balanced budget, prioritizing public safety, diversifying our economy, supporting improvement in our communities, and creating innovative educational opportunities are all core responsibilities of the City Council.

My children will live here long after I am gone. I want them to know that I cared about the place they call home and did what I could to make it better. I want to share those values with them so the legacy continues.

Many people aren't even aware of what the city does in their community. I have worked for the city of Las Vegas for 11 years and I am highly familiar with what the city does for the community and how it operates. The concept of a celebrity Councilperson is dated and out of touch. As a Councilwoman, I would like to hold town halls and regular neighborhood meetings to connect with and educate residents and businesses when I'm not running for office. To successfully accomplish that, they have to be well publicized, and scheduled in the evenings or on weekends when the majority of residents are available. Topics could rotate from business topics, to safety or emergency planning, to infrastructure and development. Once people are aware of what their city does for their community, it is less intimidating to engage and become an actively participating citizen.

Yes. There are times when candidates are elected to office and then spend the first 9 months to a year learning the processes, familiarizing themselves with people and the budget, and how the city operates. This can be costly as it delays decisions and wastes time. I have spent more than a decade building these relationships and my knowledge of city function. I will start working from day one for the residents and businesses of Ward 5.

I bring a background of financial analysis, government experience, extensive community connections, and education, being a former educator. This allows me to be an effective leader in the office because I will make decisions with those topics and experience in mind.

Making sound, well researched financial decisions and being financially transparent keeps the trust of the citizens who elect officials. I have a background in financial analysis, and have worked on budgets in the City of Las Vegas for the past 7 years. I will bring that experience into the office to remain a good steward of the budget we are entrusted to administer.