Cedric Crear Explained

Cedric Crear
Office:Las Vegas City Council Member, Ward 5
Term Start:2018
Term End:2024
Predecessor:Ricki Barlow
Office1:Commissioner, City of Las Vegas Planning Commission
Term Start1:2015
Term End1:2018
Birth Date:1969
Birth Place:Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Keiba Crear
Children:2
Education:Howard University (BS), Bishop Gorman High School
Occupation:Politician, businessman
Website:https://cedriccrear.com

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]

Early life and education

Cedric 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

Prior to his political career, Crear founded Crear Creative Group, a full-service marketing, advertising, and consulting firm, in 2006. 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.

Political career

Mayoral Campaign

In March 2021, Crear announced his candidacy for the 2024 Las Vegas mayoral election, focusing on enhancing community safety, promoting tourism, and fostering job creation.

Las Vegas City Council

Crear 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.

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

Crear 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

Before 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

Crear 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

Crear is married to Keiba Crear, and they have two daughters. The family resides in West Las Vegas.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ward 5: Cedric Crear . City of Las Vegas . 2024-04-16.
  2. Web site: Cedric Crear says he is running for Las Vegas mayor . 12 March 2021 . Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  3. Web site: Ward 5 Councilman Crear Says He Is Running for Las Vegas Mayor . 12 March 2021 . 8 News Now.
  4. Web site: How Hoover Dam Hiring Discrimination Set Back Growth of Nevada's Black Community . 25 February 2024 . The Nevada Independent.
  5. Web site: Distinguished Nevadan Nomination Form . Nevada System of Higher Education.
  6. Web site: Councilman Crear enters Las Vegas mayor's race . 11 March 2021 . Las Vegas Sun.
  7. Web site: Minority Health Month: Celebrating Dr. John Crear . 17 May 2020 . Nevada Partners.
  8. Web site: Q&A with Cedric Crear, president of Crear Creative Group . 19 August 2013 . Las Vegas Review Journal.
  9. Web site: Las Vegas Councilman Reunited with Long Lost Varsity Jacket . 19 July 2022 . News 3 Las Vegas.
  10. Web site: Ward 5 . City of Las Vegas.
  11. Web site: Cedric Crear Joins Lexicon Bank Board of Directors . Lexicon Bank.
  12. Web site: Cedric Crear . Ballotpedia.
  13. Web site: Big Chicken . LinkedIn.
  14. Web site: Shaq's Big Chicken restaurants coming to Memphis area . 25 September 2023 . News 3 WREG-Memphis.
  15. Web site: Replacements Named for Planning Commission . 3 June 2015 . 2024-04-17 . Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  16. Web site: Crear wins Ward 5 Las Vegas special election . 27 March 2018 . The Nevada Independent.
  17. Web site: About Hundred Plan . City of Las Vegas.
  18. Web site: Las Vegas councilman helps put Historic Westside back on the map . 3 December 2021 . Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  19. Web site: Las Vegas-raised councilman wants to give back to Historic Westside . 12 January 2024 . 8 News Now.
  20. Web site: Cedric Crear . UNLV.
  21. Web site: Board Members . 11 August 2015 . Great Basin Bird Observatory.