Former police chief hopes to oust incumbent in Henderson mayor race

After nearly winning re-election outright during the June primary, incumbent Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero will face the former Henderson Police Chief Hollie Chadwick in the general election. 

The election comes amid a recent ethics complaint against Romero alleging a conflict of interest stemming from her consultant work and the businesses she has represented coming before the city council. 

Chadwick announced in May 2025, months after being terminated by the city, that she was challenging Romero in order to bring transparency and accountability to the Henderson City Council.

A candidate who receives a majority of the vote in nonpartisan primary races wins the election outright, but Romero, who faced four challengers in June, received 49.75% of the vote, roughly 29,000 votes.

Chadwick received 23% of 13,432 votes during the election. Adam Price, who also ran and received 21% of votes, endorsed Chadwick following the primary. 

Before entering office Romero launched a consulting firm. She was elected to represent ward 1 in 2019. 

In 2022, she was elected mayor, winning the race outright during the primary with more than 70% of the vote.

Following this year’s primary election, Price, president of the Henderson Democratic Club, filed a complaint with the Nevada Commission on Ethics about Romero, alleging that her consulting work with developers that come before the city is a conflict of interest. 

Romero has disputed the accusation, saying she has abstained from voting on items related to consulting work. 

The Las Vegas Review-Journal found she has also repeatedly abstained from voting on issues related to Las Vegas Paving Corp because her son and husband work for the company.  

In a previous interview with Nevada Current, Chadwick said people liken Henderson City Council to high school because of the drama, adding it was “setting the wrong tone for the community.”

Romero pushed back on the allegation the council doesn’t get along, telling The Nevada Independent that council meetings run “smoothly and effectively” and arguing that collaboration is why Henderson scores high when it comes to quality of life. 

On her website Romero says that “transparency in our government is paramount,” adding that “I believe it is critically important for elected officials to actively respond to questions and concerns; which I have done and will continue to do throughout my service.”

Chadwick is running under the promise to bring more transparency to the city, previously telling Current that elected officials shouldn’t “just give a little sound bite and not give the meat and potatoes.”

“Our city deserves a leader who listens, acts, and understands the importance of trust between government and the people,” Chadwick said on her campaign website. “It’s time to bring authentic leadership that puts you first.” 

Chadwick, who was appointed chief of police in May 2023 and terminated two years later without cause, has  faced scrutiny in her previous position. 

A 2023 Las Vegas Review-Journal investigation found Chadwick cleared the disciplinary record of a detective who was accused of using the N-word and calling Black, latino and LGBTQ people “savages” and “garbage.” The Review-Journal noted at the time she “fled when a reporter tried to ask her a question at a public event.”

The Current previously reported that the city police supervisors’ union filed a complaint with the Nevada Employee Management Relations Board in 2024, alleging Chadwick denied overtime resulting from union leave provisions in Nevada law and the city’s collective bargaining agreement. 

Romero had far out-raised Chadwick as of July 15 campaign finance reports. She had $700,000 on hand at the end of June; Chadwick had nearly $3,000

Culinary Union, Vegas Chamber, and Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions are among the organizations that endorsed Romero. Chadwick is endorsed by the Nevada Voter Alliance, the Nevada Narcotic Officers Association, and Nevada Teamsters.