Carlos Fernandez

Carlos Fernandez

Nonpartisan

Nevada Board of Regents District 1

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

0

Predecessor

Laura Perkins

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Personal

Profession

Executive Director

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Carlos Fernandez is a member of the Nevada Board of Regents, representing District 1. He assumed office on January 16, 2025. His current term ends in 2029.

Fernandez ran for election to the Nevada Board of Regents to represent District 1. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

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

Biography

Carlos Fernandez was born in Rionegro, Colombia, and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended the College of Southern Nevada and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he served as Student Body President. His career experience includes working as the executive director for the American Institute of Architects - Las Vegas & Nevada Chapters, public policy manager for the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, and program manager for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas He has been affiliated with the Vegas Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Las Vegas, UNLV Alumni Association, AIA National ArchiPAC, and Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, Inc.

Elections

2024

See also: Nevada State Board of Regents election, 2024

General election

General election for Nevada Board of Regents District 1

Carlos Fernandez defeated Matthew Bowen in the general election for Nevada Board of Regents District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carlos Fernandez (Nonpartisan)	57.8	50,112
	Submit photo	Matthew Bowen (Nonpartisan)	42.2	36,526

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 86,638
= 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.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nevada Board of Regents District 1

Carlos Fernandez and Matthew Bowen defeated Ida Zeiler in the primary for Nevada Board of Regents District 1 on June 11, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carlos Fernandez (Nonpartisan)	38.5	8,500
✔	Submit photo	Matthew Bowen (Nonpartisan)	31.1	6,860
		Ida Zeiler (Nonpartisan)	30.4	6,710

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,070
= 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

• Nathaniel Waugh (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Fernandez received the following endorsements.

• Bartenders Local 165
• Culinary Union 226
• Nevada Faculty Alliance
• Southern Nevada Central Labor Council
• Teamsters of Southern Nevada
• Nevada Impact
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Run for Something
• Vegas Chamber
• Vegas Desi

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Carlos Fernandez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fernandez'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 am Carlos D. Fernandez, a dedicated public servant and advocate with extensive experience in the fields of association management, public policy, and community engagement.

My tenure as Executive Director at the American Institute of Architects, Public Policy Manager at the Vegas Chamber, and Student Body President at UNLV has grounded me in the challenges and opportunities within Nevada’s educational and workforce systems.

My background is rich in leadership, strategic advocacy, and fostering educational advancements, all aimed at creating more cohesive, supportive learning environments that directly align with the state's evolving workforce needs.

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?

• Engage: I am committed to making higher education accessible to every Nevadan. By breaking down barriers and offering diverse pathways such as certificate programs and apprenticeships, along with traditional degrees, the goal is not just to meet our community where they are; it is about opening doors and pioneering paths to a brighter future for everyone.
• Empower: I believe our students’ journeys shouldn’t just begin; they should culminate in success. By providing comprehensive academic advising, integrating industry-focused career counseling, and fostering community engagement, I aim to keep students motivated, supported, and on track to creating a better future for themselves and their families.
• Elevate: I understand that graduating isn’t the finish line; it’s the beginning of a promising career path. I am dedicated to continuously aligning educational programs with the evolving demands of the job market, ensuring our graduates are not just diploma holders but skilled professionals ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am particularly passionate about education reform and workforce development. I believe in building strong educational frameworks that support student success from the ground up, addressing the immediate and future needs of Nevada’s economy. My commitment extends to enhancing student support systems, improving completion rates, and ensuring our education system aligns with the realities and opportunities of the current job market. My approach is focused on creating tangible results in educational attainment and economic advancement for all Nevadans.

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

I believe that integrity, transparency, and commitment to the community are paramount for any elected official.

Integrity ensures that decisions are made based on what is right and just, not merely what is popular or politically expedient.

Transparency fosters trust and accountability, allowing constituents to understand the decision-making process and hold their leaders accountable.

Commitment to community ensures that the elected official always acts with the best interests of their constituents at heart, prioritizing public service over personal gain.

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

I believe my strong sense of empathy, dedication to public service, and ability to collaborate effectively across different groups and interests equip me well for office. My background in public policy and community engagement has provided me with the skills to listen, understand, and act on behalf of the needs and concerns of our community.

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

The core responsibilities of someone elected to the office of University Regent include advocating for accessible, quality education; ensuring the alignment of educational programs with workforce demands; and stewarding public resources effectively.

Additionally, it involves engaging with students, faculty, and the community to understand and address their needs, ensuring that the educational institutions under NSHE continue to serve as engines for personal development and economic growth.

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

My very first job was as a 9 year old owning my own small toy business at the Broad Acres Swap Meet in North Las Vegas. I did this as my parents worked selling clothes to provide for our family upon immigrating to the United States. This job, though small, taught me the value of hard work and responsibility.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Vegas Chamber of Commerce

AFL-CIO/Southern Nevada Central Labor Council

Nevada State Education Association

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I am a strong advocate for financial transparency and government accountability. Public servants should see themselves as a stewards of the community's trust and resources. This responsibility requires clear, open, and honest reporting of financial activities and decisions. Building trust through transparency not only enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations but also ensures that entities like educational institutions fulfill their roles and commitments to the public.

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.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Carlos Fernandez campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Nevada Board of Regents District 1	Won general	$52,766	$0
Grand total			$52,766	$0
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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Nevada Board of Regents District 1

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Laura Perkins	Nevada Board of Regents District 1 2025-Present	Succeeded by -