Carolyn Goodman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolyn Goodman
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Goodman in 2018
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| 22nd Mayor of Las Vegas | |
| In office July 6, 2011 – December 4, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Oscar Goodman |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Berkley |
| First Lady of Las Vegas | |
| In role June 8, 1999 – July 6, 2011 |
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| Mayor | Oscar Goodman |
| Preceded by | Fletcher Jones (as First Gentleman) |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Goodman (as First Gentleman) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carolyn Goldmark
March 25, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent (2009–present) Democratic (before 2009) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Ross |
| Education | Bryn Mawr College (BA) University of Nevada, Las Vegas (MS) |
Carolyn Goodman (born March 25, 1939) is an American politician. She served as the Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2011 until 2024. She was the second woman to hold this important position in Las Vegas. Carolyn Goodman is married to Oscar Goodman, who was also a mayor of Las Vegas before her. She is also known for starting The Meadows School.
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Early Life and Education
Carolyn Goodman was born in New York City in 1939. She grew up in a Jewish family. She went to the Brearley School and later earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Bryn Mawr College in 1961. Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures.
In 1964, Carolyn and her husband, Oscar Goodman, moved to Las Vegas from Philadelphia. She continued her education and earned a master's degree in counseling from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1973.
Career and Public Service
Carolyn Goodman is the person who founded The Meadows School. She also served as its president and is now a trustee emerita. After moving to Las Vegas in 1964, she and her husband became very involved in the local Jewish community. She led the women's division of the local Jewish federation for several years. In 2009, she received an award for her dedication to education from the United Way of Southern Nevada.
Becoming Mayor of Las Vegas
On June 7, 2011, Carolyn Goodman was elected as the mayor of Las Vegas. She won with 60% of the votes in a special election. She officially started her job as mayor on July 6, 2011. She was reelected two more times, in 2015 and in April 2019. Her last term ended in 2024 because of term limits, which means there's a limit to how many times someone can be elected to the same office.
Working with National Leaders
As mayor, Carolyn Goodman met important people. On October 24, 2011, she greeted President Barack Obama at McCarran International Airport. Her husband, the previous mayor, had been upset by some comments Obama made about Las Vegas. Carolyn Goodman told President Obama that "the slate is brand new and clean," meaning they were ready to move forward. She even gave him one of her special mayor chips as a gift.
Supporting Sports in Las Vegas
During her time as mayor, Carolyn Goodman worked hard to bring professional sports teams to Las Vegas.
- The Vegas Golden Knights, an NHL hockey team, started playing in the 2017–18 season. They play at T-Mobile Arena.
- The Oakland Raiders, an NFL football team, moved to Las Vegas in 2020. They play at Allegiant Stadium.
It's interesting to note that both of these stadiums are actually in Paradise, Nevada, which is just outside the official city limits of Las Vegas.
Goodman also tried to bring a soccer team to the city. She helped bring the Las Vegas Lights FC, a second-division team in the United Soccer League (USL), which started playing in 2018. She also showed some support for the Oakland Athletics baseball team to move to Las Vegas.
Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Goodman spoke in interviews about wanting to reopen Las Vegas's casinos and hotels. When asked about how to keep people safe, she said that was up to the businesses. She even suggested that Las Vegas could be a "control group" to see what would happen if casinos reopened.
Her comments caused some debate. Other leaders, like U.S. Representative Dina Titus and Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, disagreed. They emphasized the importance of following scientists' advice to stay home and protect people's health. Governor Sisolak stated he would not allow Nevadans to be used as a "control group" or "placebo."
Family Life
Carolyn Goodman is married to Oscar Goodman, who was the mayor of Las Vegas before her, from 1999 to 2011. They have four children and six grandchildren. Their children have various careers: Oscar Jr. is a doctor, Ross is a lawyer, Eric is a judge, and Cara is a therapist who helps people, including burn victims. Cara was one of the first students to graduate from The Meadows School in 1991.
Images for kids
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Carolyn Goodman in 2018
See also
In Spanish: Carolyn Goodman para niños
