Lynn Baird

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Lynn Baird

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 11, 2024

Education

High school

Springville High School

Bachelor's

Brigham Young University, 1986

Graduate

Brigham Young University, 1990

Personal

Birthplace

Salt Lake City, Utah

Religion

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Profession

Civil Servant

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Lynn Baird ran for election for Mayor of Las Vegas in Nevada. He lost in the primary on June 11, 2024.

Baird completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Lynn Baird was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Baird's professional experience includes working as a civil servant and certified public manager. He earned a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1986 and 1990, respectively.

Elections

2024

See also: Mayoral election in Las Vegas, Nevada (2024)

General election

General election for Mayor of Las Vegas

Shelley Berkley defeated Victoria Seaman in the general election for Mayor of Las Vegas on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shelley Berkley (Nonpartisan)	53.2	129,977
		Victoria Seaman (Nonpartisan)	46.8	114,429

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	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 244,406
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Las Vegas

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Las Vegas on June 11, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shelley Berkley (Nonpartisan)	35.7	25,839
✔		Victoria Seaman (Nonpartisan)	28.9	20,942
		Cedric Crear (Nonpartisan)	18.9	13,700
	Submit photo	Tera Anderson (Nonpartisan)	4.3	3,148
		Kara Jenkins (Nonpartisan)	2.3	1,679
	Submit photo	Dan Chapman (Nonpartisan)	1.9	1,403
		Donna Miller (Nonpartisan)	1.5	1,111
		Lynn Baird (Nonpartisan)	1.3	970
	Submit photo	Irina Hansen (Nonpartisan)	1.2	849
		William Walls (Nonpartisan)	0.9	661
	Submit photo	Michael Pacino (Nonpartisan)	0.9	619
		Deb Peck (Nonpartisan)	0.8	581
	Submit photo	Kola Akingbade (Nonpartisan)	0.8	547
		Eric Medlin (Nonpartisan)	0.5	385

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 72,434
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Janiecia Fernandez (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Baird in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lynn Baird completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Baird's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Lynn Baird. As a manager or assistant manager for the Unemployment Security Division from 2007-2022, up to 500 people at a time called me boss. I strove daily to treat them with kindness and fairness, providing them with the resources they needed to successfully do their jobs so that our fellow Nevadans were able to weather the storms of life, such as the Great Recession of 2008 and COVID-19.

My wife calls me a variety of names—mostly good—because my deepest desire is to help her feel fulfilled and cherished.

4 people in their twenties call me dad, and I work hard every day of their lives to provide for their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs.

My former boy scouts over the last 20 years probably call me crazy because of my love of tying knots and for climbing whatever mountain is within 500 miles of me, but together we worked through the scouting program, and I helped them develop into upstanding individuals.

My friends in India, where my wife and I served as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2023, call me someone they miss very much. Among other things, we taught piano lessons for free and worked with young single adults in planning and carrying-out activities designed to foster fellowship and religious conviction.

My church friends call me brother, for we’re all brothers and sisters on this earth and should treat each other accordingly.

Lastly, I strive to live a life of discipleship so that my Savior calls me his.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• In order to become our best selves and our best city, we need to change and improve from the inside out. Strengthening families by building moral, value-based foundations is the key to this, for I believe stronger families lead to sustainable higher educational and personal achievement as well as lower crime rates. I believe parents can and should be their children’s best teachers. However, some parents don’t know where to start, so one of my key programs will be to provide weekly “Family Time” lesson outlines to assist parents in teaching values such as honesty, hard work, respect and compassion.
• Sufficient affordable housing is a valley-wide concern. As such, I propose to create a task force comprised of council members from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas & Henderson; a Clark County commissioner; and representatives from housing organizations, developers and the Nevada Resort Association. Working together, I believe we can find solutions to our housing problem. Although each entity has needs and wants that must be considered, the greater good of the entire community must be our goal. Maintaining green space and a clean environment is critical. Having sufficient affordable housing is vital. Developers need to make a profit. I believe we have the money, resources and people in this valley to handle this concern as we work together.
• Strengthening our youth is a priority. Working with CCSD, I intend to bring in quarterly speakers to motivate our youth. I intend to sponsor a monthly video competition at the high school level on topics such as pornography, violence and drugs. I intend to sponsor a public values and morality training program that will teach respect for the law and promote a sense of public conscience. I intend to promote academic excellence through a Mayor's Honor Roll, encourage academic improvement through an Improvement Roll, and digitally recognize stories of social and personal achievement. These programs will address the root causes of many of the problems we face.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about improving families, education, public safety and in finding common ground on which we can all work together to strengthen our homes and our community.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are so many people who I look up to: my dad and mom, my siblings, my church teachers and leaders, kind friends and neighbors, people who have overcome great challenges, etc. Most of all, I look up to my Savior and want to follow Him because He is the best example of the kind of person I want to be.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I believe our political philosophies are shaped by our internal values and convictions, so I have been influenced more by books such as "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and scriptures than by political books. I recommend surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you, kinder than you, and more successful than you--and learning from them.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important traits a civic leader should have are honesty, integrity, compassion, accountability, hard work and respect.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am honest. I work very hard. I try to be very respectful of others.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The most important responsibility for the mayor is to lead for the future. They must work with the City Council to make sure effective laws are passed and projects are implemented in a timely manner. They must work with the City Manager to make sure these things happen and the city runs smoothly. The mayor is the figurehead for the city and must set a good example in how they conduct themselves. Mayors have a responsibility to be transparent, accountable and to communicate with constituents effectively—listening and speaking—especially when they have differing views. Mayors have a responsibility to help the people work together for the common good of the community.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to see Las Vegas Valley on its way to becoming a place where people love to raise their families. Seeing stronger families, a greater sense of community with people working together to achieve common goals, and seeing a high percentage of students really doing a good job in learning would make me very, very happy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember walking on the beach in California and getting tar on my shoes shortly after the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill. I remember hearing about protests like Bloody Thursday and anti Viet Nam War protests about the same time. I was six at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I grew up in a farming community where we always had lots of chores to do at home including vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, doing the dishes by hand, taking care of the animals, milking the cow, weeding the garden, practicing the piano, etc. My very first paid jobs were picking fruit at local orchards and hauling hay for local farmers. These and other jobs taught me the value of consistent effort and hard work. Though I didn't get paid for doing chores, they taught me the value of working for the greater good of the family.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Outside of the Book of Mormon and Bible which bring me to God, my favorite book is Les Miserables. I love how it portrays that despite opposition, we can see each other for who we can be come and that we can all change and make an incredible, positive difference in the world around us.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Bishop Bienvenu Myriel in Les Miserables had a choice. He could treat Jean Val Jean as the criminal he was, or he could treat him like the good man he could become. He chose to see the good in Jean Val Jean instead of seeing a thief and someone considered to be the dregs of society. By doing so, Jean Val Jean became the man that the Bishop envisioned. I would find great satisfaction in being like Bishop Bienvenu Myriel and doing that for others.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

I woke up this morning with the hymn "Lead Me into Life Eternal" running through my head. I haven't sung that song in many decades and don't know why it was on my mind. I love to sing, and this hymn has a nice message (and really nice bass line). I also love to play organ, but this hymn would be tricky for me to play because of the intricate pedal line.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I've struggled with some OCD/perfectionist tendencies, and it is easy to get down on myself. Through the grace of God, I am working through these challenges and pressing forward much more cheerfully than before.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

To me, a leader is less about a position and more about a lifestyle. It's about encouraging those around you to greatness. It's about planning and delegating so that everyone around you is better because you were there. It's about doing what's right even when no one is looking. It's about looking out for those who aren't able to look out for themselves.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

I believe a mayor should set the tone of the city. Our city's image as "sin city" reflects our perceived tone. Through hard work, a change of focus, and a return to moral values such as kindness, integrity and respect, I would like to change the tone of the city. I would like Las Vegas to become a city filled with strong families that live in affordable housing, with students who love to learn, with citizens who respect the law due to a belief in public morality, and with flourishing businesses that treat others fairly. By prioritizing these things--by setting the tone and leading by example--these can become a reality.

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

N/A

What do you love most about your city?

The people!

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

We have a huge task ahead of us of strengthening our families and of helping our young people want to excel. These, along with more visible concerns such as obtaining affordable housing and public safety, will be our greatest challenges.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

I know there needs to be checks and balances, moderation and consistency, but I feel that for the most part, the state should allow our city to govern itself without imposing too many rules while providing support on a macro-level.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

Similarly, given those same checks, balances, moderation and consistency, the federal government should allow cities to govern themselves without imposing too many rules while providing needed support.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I have a really good Knock-Knock joke. You start.


I love puns and know a lot of clean farm jokes, too.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

The ideal mayor’s office and law enforcement would work together very closely to make sure common goals for public safety and are being achieved.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Many friends have endorsed me.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Everything needs to be above board, and everyone should be held accountable for decisions that are made and not made.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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