View source for Carolyn Goodman

{{About|the mayor of Las Vegas|the psychologist|Carolyn Goodman (psychologist)}}
{{short description|American politician from Nevada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name        = Carolyn Goodman
|image       = Carolyn Goodman (41810757042).jpg
|office      = 22nd [[List of mayors of Las Vegas|Mayor of Las Vegas]]
|term_start  = July 6, 2011
|term_end    = 
|predecessor = [[Oscar Goodman]]
|successor   = 
|birth_name  = Carolyn Goldmark
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1939|3|25}}
|birth_place = [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|death_date  = 
|death_place = 
|otherparty       = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (before 2009)
|party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2009–present)
|spouse      = {{marriage|[[Oscar Goodman]]|1962}}
|children    = 4, including [[Ross Goodman|Ross]]
|education   = [[Bryn Mawr College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])
}}
'''Carolyn Goodman''' ([[née]] '''Goldmark'''; born March 25, 1939<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-c&gsfn=Carolyn+g&gsln=Goodman&gsln_x=XO&cpxt=0&uidh=381&cp=0&pcat=DIR_TELEPHONE&h=120323827&db=USpublicrecords3&indiv=1&ml_rpos=12|title=U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1 about Carolyn G Goodman|publisher=Ancestry.com|access-date=December 21, 2013}}</ref>) is an American [[politician]] who has served as [[mayor]] of [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]] since 2011.<ref name="lasvegassun">{{Cite news|title=Carolyn Goodman easily wins race for Las Vegas mayor|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jun/07/carolyn-goodman-wins-race-las-vegas-mayor|work=[[Las Vegas Sun]]|first=Delen|last=Goldberg|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref> She is the second female mayor of Las Vegas and is married to former mayor and attorney [[Oscar Goodman]].<ref name="lasvegassun"/> She is the founder, president and trustee emeritus of [[The Meadows School]].

==Education==
Goodman earned a bachelor's degree in [[anthropology]] from [[Bryn Mawr College]] in 1961.<ref>[http://bulletin.brynmawr.edu/features/qa-with-mayor-carolyn-goodman Profile], brynmawr.edu; accessed May 22, 2015.</ref> She and Oscar Goodman moved to Las Vegas from [[Philadelphia]] in 1964.<ref>[http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/Mayor_Carolyn_Goodman_approved_bio_July_2011.pdf Profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027101042/http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/Mayor_Carolyn_Goodman_approved_bio_July_2011.pdf |date=October 27, 2011 }}, lasvegasnevada.gov; accessed May 22, 2015.</ref> She graduated from the [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]] in 1973 with a master's degree in counseling.<ref>[http://education.unlv.edu/alumni/application.html University of Nevada alumni]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, education.unlv.edu; accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

==Career ==
Goodman is the founder, president and trustee emeritus of [[The Meadows School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themeadowsschool.org/res/Documents/About_Us/Strategic_Plan.pdf |title=Strategic Plan |publisher=The Meadows School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002023025/http://www.themeadowsschool.org/res/Documents/About_Us/Strategic_Plan.pdf |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref> She and her husband moved to Las Vegas in 1964 and soon became active in the local Jewish federation.<ref name=ajewishgoodman /> Eventually, she became the leader of the local Jewish federation's women's division, a position she held for several years.<ref name=ajewishgoodman>{{cite news|last=Kampeas |first=Ron |url=https://www.jta.org/2016/02/23/news-opinion/united-states/las-vegas-jewish-mayor-talks-about-her-city-how-husband-would-love-to-run-against-trump |title=How Carolyn Goodman, the mayor of Las Vegas, succeeded her husband, the Jewish 'Donald Trump' |agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 23, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref>  She received the 2009 Commitment to Education award from the [[United Way of America|United Way]] of Southern Nevada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwsn.org/sup.php?id=486|title=2009 Commitment to Education award|work=United Way of Southern Nevada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201164543/http://www.uwsn.org/sup.php?id=486|archive-date=December 1, 2010|access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref>

On [[2011 Las Vegas mayoral election|June 7, 2011]], Goodman was elected mayor of Las Vegas with 60% of the vote in a runoff; she took office on July 6, 2011.<ref name="lasvegassun" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/CERTIFIED_CANDIDATE_LIST_2011__FORM_.pdf |title=Certified Candidate List 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703051428/http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/CERTIFIED_CANDIDATE_LIST_2011__FORM_.pdf |date=2011 |archive-date=July 3, 2011 |publisher=City of Las Vegas |access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref> She was reelected [[2015 Las Vegas mayoral election|in 2015]], and [[2019 Las Vegas mayoral election|in April 2019]] was reelected again to a third (and, due to term limits, final) term, with 83.5% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/apr/02/carolyn-goodman-wins-her-third-and-final-term-as-l/|title=Carolyn Goodman wins her third and final term as Las Vegas mayor|work=Las Vegas Sun|last=Wilson|first=Miranda|date=April 2, 2019|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>

On October 24, 2011, Goodman greeted President [[Barack Obama]] at [[McCarran International Airport]]. In regard to negative remarks Obama had made about Las Vegas two years earlier that had angered her husband, the previous mayor, she told Obama that "the slate is brand new and clean", and gave him one of her lucky mayor chips as a gift.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/132503373.html |title=Meeting with President Obama |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404130625/http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/132503373.html |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |date=April 4, 2012 |publisher=[[KTNV-TV|KTNV]] |access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref>

On July 15, 2015, Goodman endorsed [[Ruben Kihuen]] for the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in [[United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 2016|2016]]. Kihuen defeated incumbent U.S. Representative [[Cresent Hardy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2015/07/20/mayor-carolyn-goodman-endorses-heck-for-senate/|title=Mayor Carolyn Goodman Endorses Joe Heck For Senate|date=July 20, 2015|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[KXNT (AM)]]|access-date=March 10, 2017}}</ref> Days later, she endorsed [[Joe Heck]] for the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] in [[United States Senate election in Nevada, 2016|2016]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/jul/20/las-vegas-mayor-carolyn-goodman-endorses-joe-heck-/|title=Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman endorses Joe Heck for Senate|date=July 20, 2015|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[Las Vegas Sun]]|access-date=March 10, 2017}}</ref> On August 3, 2016, Goodman declined to endorse [[Hillary Clinton]] or [[Donald Trump]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Morell|first=Casey|url=https://knpr.org/headline/2016-08/carolyn-goodman-rules-out-endorsing-clinton-or-trump|title=Carolyn Goodman Rules Out Endorsing Clinton or Trump|date=August 3, 2016|publisher=[[KNPR]]|access-date=March 10, 2017}}</ref> She identifies as an [[independent politician|independent]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Daniel S. |title=Carolyn Goodman: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/10/carolyn-goodman-las-vegas-mayor-shooting-response-husband/ |website=Heavy.com |access-date=November 26, 2019 |language=en |date=October 2, 2017}}</ref>

During her tenure as mayor, Goodman tried to promote Las Vegas as a home for professional sports teams. The [[Vegas Golden Knights]] began playing professional hockey in the 2017–18 season and the [[Oakland Raiders]] announced their relocation to Las Vegas beginning in 2020, although neither team is within Las Vegas's city limits: both are in [[Paradise, Nevada]], outside the mayor's jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brewer |first=Ray |date=February 12, 2018 |title=Carolyn Goodman was right—Las Vegas is a great spot for major league sports |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/feb/12/carolyn-goodman-was-right-las-vegas-is-a-great-spo/ |work=Las Vegas Sun |access-date=June 6, 2018}}</ref> Goodman attempted to lure a soccer team to Las Vegas several times, including bids for a [[Major League Soccer]] expansion team, and ultimately got a second-division team, the [[Las Vegas Lights FC]] of the [[United Soccer League]], which began playing in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Munks |first=Jamie |date=August 9, 2017 |title=Dignitaries to make announcement about Las Vegas soccer team |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/dignitaries-to-make-announcement-about-las-vegas-soccer-team/ |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=June 6, 2018}}</ref>

Goodman is no longer eligible to run for reelection due to [[Term limits in the United States|term limits]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dentzer |first1=Bill |last2=Lochhead |first2=Colton |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/2019-legislature/nevada-sees-many-new-laws-but-how-will-they-affect-you-1682418/ |title=Nevada sees many new laws, but how will they affect you? |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/jun/25/new-local-election-law-shifts-term-lengths-cuts-co/ |title=New local election law shifts term lengths, cuts costs for Southern Nevada cities |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=June 25, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> In 2019, her final term was extended a year due to a state law that shifted all municipal elections held in off-years to even-numbered years, meaning her term will end in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=New local election law shifts term lengths, cuts costs for Southern Nevada cities - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/jun/25/new-local-election-law-shifts-term-lengths-cuts-co/ |website=lasvegassun.com |publisher=Las Vegas Sun |access-date=24 April 2020 |language=en |date=25 June 2019}}</ref>

On April 22 and 23, 2020, in interviews with [[MSNBC]]'s [[Katy Tur]] and [[CNN]]'s [[Anderson Cooper]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Goodman said she wanted to reopen Las Vegas's casinos and hotels. When pressed about procedures necessary to ensure patrons' safety, she said that wasn't her responsibility and was up to the businesses.<ref name="WashPost">{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Allyson |title=The public skewering of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, champion of reopening casinos |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/23/las-vegas-mayor-coronavirus/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 25, 2020 |language=en |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref>

During the interview with Cooper, Goodman questioned the impact of [[social distancing]], saying, "We [Las Vegas] offered to be a control group..." to test what would happen if casinos reopened, but was advised against it "...because people from all parts of southern Nevada come in to work in the city." She also suggested that social distancing be subjected to a placebo test, adding, "We would love to be that placebo..."<ref name="cbsnews">{{cite news |last1=BRITO |first1=CHRISTOPHER |title=Las Vegas mayor offers up city as "control group" for reopening amid pandemic |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-carolyn-goodman-mayor-coronavirus-control-group-reopening/ |work=CBS NEWS |access-date=April 28, 2020 |language=en |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> When Cooper asked if she would be willing to go to one of the casinos if they were soon opened up, she replied: "First of all, I have a family. I don't gamble."<ref name="foxnews">{{cite news |last1=Emerson |first1=Elaine |last2=DeSilva |first2=Kristen |title=Las Vegas mayor's CNN interview on COVID-19 goes viral, faces criticism |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/las-vegas-mayors-cnn-interview-on-covid-19-goes-viral-faces-criticism/article_c8f568ac-84ca-11ea-8356-6794ea0f6d99.html |publisher=FOX5 LAS VEGAS |access-date=April 28, 2020 |language=en |date=April 22, 2020}}</ref>

U.S. Representative [[Dina Titus]], from Nevada's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Las Vegas Strip, disagreed with Goodman, saying it was necessary to heed scientists' advice to shelter at home whenever possible to enable the successful recovery of Las Vegas's businesses. Titus also said, "The mayor does not represent the Las Vegas Strip, literally or figuratively."<ref name="8NewsNow">{{cite news |last1= 8NewsNow staff |title=Local leaders, organizations respond to Mayor Goodman's comments about reopening businesses |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/rep-dina-titus-responds-to-mayor-goodmans-comments-about-reopening-businesses-says-she-does-not-represent-las-vegas-strip/ |publisher= 8NewsNow LAS VEGAS |access-date=April 28, 2020 |language=en |date=April 22, 2020}}</ref>

That evening, Nevada Governor [[Steve Sisolak]] said, "I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, as a placebo, whatever she wants to call it", and that he would not "allow our workers to be put in position that they have to decide between their job and their paycheck and their life. That's not a fair position to put them in."<ref name="WashPost" />

==Personal life==
Goodman's husband is Oscar Goodman. They have four children and six grandchildren.<ref>[http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/BIO_for_Mayor_Goodman.pdf Carolyn Goodman biodata] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222163929/http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/BIO_for_Mayor_Goodman.pdf |date=December 22, 2014 }}, lasvegasnevada.gov; accessed May 22, 2015.</ref> Oscar Jr. is a doctor with the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, [[Ross Goodman|Ross]] is a criminal defense attorney, Eric is a Las Vegas justice of the peace, and Cara is a marriage and family therapist who also works with burn victims at University Medical Center. Cara was one of three students in The Meadows School's first graduating class in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/las-vegas/carolyn-goodman-is-mom-before-mayor-for-adopted-children/ |title=Carolyn Goodman is mom before mayor for adopted children |last=Munks |first=Jamie |date=May 13, 2017 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805213651/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/las-vegas/carolyn-goodman-is-mom-before-mayor-for-adopted-children/ |archive-date=August 5, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{C-SPAN|Carolyn Goodman 02}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of mayors of Las Vegas|Mayor of Las Vegas]]|years=2011–present}}
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{{Nevada cities and mayors of 100,000 population}}
{{Mayors of the 50 largest U.S. cities}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodman, Carolyn G.}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Bryn Mawr College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Las Vegas]]
[[Category:Nevada Democrats]]
[[Category:Nevada Independents]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Politicians from Las Vegas]]
[[Category:First Ladies and Gentlemen of Las Vegas]]
[[Category:University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumni]]
[[Category:Women in Nevada politics]]
[[Category:Women mayors of places in Nevada]]
[[Category:Jewish women politicians]]
[[Category:Jewish mayors of places in the United States]]
[[Category:Jewish American people in Nevada politics]]
[[Category:Founders of schools in the United States]]
[[Category:Women founders]]