Clark County Council Debates Changing Rules to Require Aligned Voting, Allow Removal of Members from Boards

Proposed updates to Rules of Procedure aim to justify 2025 removal of Councilor Michelle Belkot from C-TRAN board, but face pushback over concerns about independent representation.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:47pm

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The Clark County Council is considering changes to its Rules of Procedure that would give the council explicit authority to remove councilors from boards and commissions, as well as require councilors serving on those bodies to vote in alignment with the council's positions. The proposed updates are seen as a response to the council's 2025 removal of Councilor Michelle Belkot from the C-TRAN board, which led to a criminal investigation and lawsuits. Belkot and some other councilors argue the new language would undermine independent representation and district-specific priorities.

Why it matters

The debate over the council's rules highlights an ongoing tension between the desire for unified, council-directed representation on regional boards and commissions, versus preserving the independence of individual councilors to vote based on their constituents' interests. The outcome could impact how the council oversees and manages its appointed representatives, with implications for transparency, accountability, and the balance of power between the council and its members.

The details

The proposed changes to the Rules of Procedure would explicitly grant the council the authority to remove councilors from boards and commissions, as well as require those councilors to vote in alignment with the council's positions on issues. This is seen as a response to the council's 2025 removal of Councilor Michelle Belkot from the C-TRAN board, after she indicated she would vote against the council's position on light rail funding. A criminal investigation later found the council violated open meetings laws in that removal process.

  • The council continued debating the proposed rule changes on January 22, 2026.
  • Belkot's removal from the C-TRAN board occurred in 2025.

The players

Michelle Belkot

A Clark County Councilor who was removed from the C-TRAN board in 2025 after indicating she would vote against the council's position on light rail funding. She argues the proposed rule changes are aimed at justifying her removal and would undermine independent representation.

Sue Marshall

The Clark County Council Chair, who said the council should be able to force councilors serving on boards to vote in alignment with the council's positions.

Glen Yung

A Clark County Councilor who said he wants the ability to restrict councilors from serving on boards if they do not vote as directed by the council.

Matt Little

A Clark County Councilor who initially voted to remove Belkot from the C-TRAN board but later changed his vote, agreeing with Belkot that the council's rules did not mandate how she should vote.

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What they’re saying

“What would even be the point of any of you being elected if we're all supposed to think-tank, lockstep vote? That has never been the county council.”

— Michelle Belkot, Clark County Councilor

“No, as a matter of fact, I'm not. We would elect to take our authority and remove the councilor in that specific situation. That is what this draft language gives us authority to do.”

— Glen Yung, Clark County Councilor

“If the council comes to a position, a councilor will follow those orders and vote accordingly. If a councilor does not vote that way, he wants the ability to restrict that councilor from being on a board.”

— Glen Yung, Clark County Councilor

“You want to control people.”

— Michelle Belkot, Clark County Councilor

What’s next

The council will use the discussion from the January 22nd meeting to draft revised language for the Rules of Procedure, which will then be subject to a public hearing before further consideration.

The takeaway

The debate over the council's proposed rule changes highlights an ongoing tension between the desire for unified, council-directed representation on regional bodies versus preserving the independence of individual councilors to vote based on their constituents' interests. The outcome could impact transparency, accountability, and the balance of power between the council and its members.