Cedric Crear is an American politician, businessman, and community leader based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He currently serves as a member of the Las Vegas City Council, representing Ward 5,[1] and was an unsuccessful candidate for the mayor of Las Vegas in the June 2024 primary election.[2][3][4]
Cedric Crear | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Las Vegas City Council Member, Ward 5 | |
| In office 2018–2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ricki Barlow |
| Commissioner, City of Las Vegas Planning Commission | |
| In office 2015–2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1969 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Keiba Crear |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Howard University (BS), Bishop Gorman High School |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
| Website | https://cedriccrear.com |
Early life and education
editCedric Crear was born in 1969 to John and Barbara Crear [5] and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he still lives in his childhood home in historic West Las Vegas.[6] His father John Crear was the second African-American doctor registered in the state.[7] He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 1987,[8] where he excelled in tennis, achieving an undefeated record and winning four state championship titles.[9] He then attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., on a tennis scholarship. He was captain of the team for three years and a two-time conference champion,[10] graduating in 1992.
Business career
editPrior to his political career, Crear founded Crear Creative Group, a full-service marketing, advertising, and consulting firm, in 2006.[8] He also established Crear Outdoor Advertising.[11] Before that, Crear was a sales and marketing executive for Station Casinos from 1997-2002.[12]
He is a partner in business ventures including Shaq’s Big Chicken restaurants in Las Vegas[13] and in Memphis.[14]
Since 2021, Crear has been a member of the Board of Directors of Lexicon Bank.[11]
Political career
editMayoral Campaign
editIn March 2021, Crear announced his candidacy for the 2024 Las Vegas mayoral election, focusing on enhancing community safety, promoting tourism, and fostering job creation.[2]
Las Vegas City Council
editCrear represents Ward 5, of which he is a lifelong resident,[15] on the Las Vegas City Council. He won the March 27, 2018, special election to complete the council term of his predecessor, Ricki Barlow, which ended in 2019.[16] He then won re-election to a full four-year term in the April 2019 election.[1]
One of Crear's key initiatives while on the Council has been implementation of The HUNDRED (Historic Urban Neighborhood Design Redevelopment) Plan,[17] a community-led approach to revitalizing the Historic Westside community of Las Vegas.[18][19]
Nevada System of Higher Education
editCrear served on the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education from 2007-2018.[12] He was first elected in 2006, and was re-elected in 2012 as the representative for District 1 in Clark County. He served as chair of the Cultural Diversity and Title IX Compliance Committee and vice chair of the Business, Finance and Facilities and Investment committees.[1]
City of Las Vegas Planning Commission
editBefore his tenure on the city council, Crear was appointed to the City of Las Vegas Planning Commission in 2015, and served until 2018.
Community involvement
editCrear has served on numerous non-profit and civic boards, including The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, and the Andre Agassi Charitable Association.[20]
Personal life
editCrear is married to Keiba Crear, and they have two daughters. The family resides in West Las Vegas.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Ward 5: Cedric Crear". City of Las Vegas. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ a b "Cedric Crear says he is running for Las Vegas mayor". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 12 March 2021.
- ^ "Ward 5 Councilman Crear Says He Is Running for Las Vegas Mayor". 8 News Now. 12 March 2021.
- ^ "How Hoover Dam Hiring Discrimination Set Back Growth of Nevada's Black Community". The Nevada Independent. 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Distinguished Nevadan Nomination Form" (PDF). Nevada System of Higher Education.
- ^ "Councilman Crear enters Las Vegas mayor's race". Las Vegas Sun. 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Minority Health Month: Celebrating Dr. John Crear". Nevada Partners. 17 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Q&A with Cedric Crear, president of Crear Creative Group". Las Vegas Review Journal. 19 August 2013.
- ^ "Las Vegas Councilman Reunited with Long Lost Varsity Jacket". News 3 Las Vegas. 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Ward 5". City of Las Vegas.
- ^ a b "Cedric Crear Joins Lexicon Bank Board of Directors". Lexicon Bank.
- ^ a b "Cedric Crear". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Big Chicken". LinkedIn.
- ^ "Shaq's Big Chicken restaurants coming to Memphis area". News 3 WREG-Memphis. 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Replacements Named for Planning Commission". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ "Crear wins Ward 5 Las Vegas special election". The Nevada Independent. 27 March 2018.
- ^ "About Hundred Plan". City of Las Vegas.
- ^ "Las Vegas councilman helps put Historic Westside back on the map". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Las Vegas-raised councilman wants to give back to Historic Westside". 8 News Now. 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Cedric Crear" (PDF). UNLV.
- ^ "Board Members". Great Basin Bird Observatory. 11 August 2015.