Stavros Anthony

Stavros Anthony
Anthony in 2023 at Nellis Air Force Base
Stavros Anthony
Born	Stavros Steve Anthony 13 1, 1957
Birthplace	St. Clair Shores, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, retired law enforcement officer
Known for	37th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
Education	University of Nevada, Las Vegas (M.A., Ph.D.)
Children	2
Website	[stavrosfornevada.com Official site]

Stavros Steve Anthony (Template:Lang-el; born January 13, 1957) is an American politician and retired law enforcement officer serving as the 37th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada since January 2, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Anthony won the 2022 Nevada lieutenant governor election, defeating incumbent Democrat Lisa Cano Burkhead. Born in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, to a family of Greek heritage, Anthony built a career in law enforcement before entering politics. He served on the Las Vegas City Council representing Ward 4 from 2009 to December 2022, and held the position of Mayor Pro Tempore of Las Vegas from 2020 to 2022. As lieutenant governor, Anthony serves alongside Governor Joe Lombardo and presides over the Nevada Senate. His tenure has been marked by advocacy on issues including opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports and efforts to eliminate high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Nevada, as well as scrutiny from the Nevada Commission on Ethics regarding potential ethics violations.

Early Life

Stavros Steve Anthony was born on January 13, 1957, in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He is of Greek descent, a background that has been a visible part of his public identity throughout his political career. His Greek heritage has been noted by media outlets and community organizations, and he has maintained ties to the Greek-American community throughout his career. Anthony later relocated to Nevada, where he would build careers in both law enforcement and politics.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Nevada chapter endorsed Anthony during his political career, reflecting his engagement with various ethnic and cultural communities in the Las Vegas area.

Education

Anthony holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He later pursued graduate education in Nevada, earning both a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). His advanced academic credentials from UNLV, one of the state's flagship universities, distinguished him among Nevada politicians and complemented his professional experience in law enforcement.

Career

Law Enforcement

Before entering politics, Anthony had a career in law enforcement. He served as a police officer, eventually retiring from the profession. His background in policing informed his later political positions on public safety and law enforcement matters. The specifics of his rank, department, and years of service were part of his professional biography as he transitioned into public office.

Las Vegas City Council (2009–2022)

Anthony was elected to the Las Vegas City Council to represent Ward 4, taking office on July 1, 2009. He succeeded David Steinman in the position. Ward 4 encompasses portions of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and Anthony represented its residents for over 13 years on the council.

During his time on the council, Anthony was involved in a range of municipal issues affecting Las Vegas, including matters related to development, public safety, and city governance. His tenure coincided with the city's recovery from the Great Recession and subsequent growth periods. The ANCA Nevada chapter endorsed Anthony for his Ward 4 seat, citing his engagement with community issues.

On June 16, 2020, Anthony was selected to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore of Las Vegas, succeeding Michele Fiore in the role. As Mayor Pro Tempore, Anthony served as the acting mayor in the absence of the mayor and held a leadership position within the council. He served in this capacity until December 7, 2022, when he departed the council to assume his duties as lieutenant governor. He was succeeded as Mayor Pro Tempore by Brian Knudsen, and his Ward 4 council seat was filled by Francis Allen-Palenske.

2015 Las Vegas Mayoral Campaign

In 2015, Anthony ran for Mayor of Las Vegas. His candidacy attracted attention in part due to his Greek-American background, with the Greek Reporter covering his campaign and noting his roots in the Greek community. Anthony did not prevail in the mayoral race, but continued to serve on the Las Vegas City Council and maintained his political profile in the city.

Congressional Consideration

Anthony at one point considered a campaign for the United States Congress, drawing on his profile as a Republican city councilman and former police officer. The Nevada Independent reported on his exploration of a congressional bid, noting his law enforcement background and city council service as potential assets in a federal race. Anthony ultimately did not pursue the congressional seat and instead turned his attention to statewide office.

2022 Lieutenant Governor Election

Anthony entered the 2022 race for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada as the Republican nominee. He faced incumbent Democrat Lisa Cano Burkhead, who had been appointed to the position. The race took place against the backdrop of a competitive election cycle in Nevada, with closely watched contests up and down the ballot, including the high-profile United States Senate race between Catherine Cortez Masto and Adam Laxalt.

Anthony won the election, defeating Burkhead to become the 37th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada. He took office on January 2, 2023, alongside Governor Joe Lombardo, also a Republican, forming a Republican executive leadership team in the state. His victory marked a shift from Democratic control of the lieutenant governor's office and was part of a broader Republican performance in Nevada's executive branch races in 2022.

Lieutenant Governor of Nevada (2023–present)

As Lieutenant Governor, Anthony serves as the president of the Nevada Senate, presiding over the chamber during legislative sessions. The lieutenant governor's office in Nevada also oversees the Nevada Tourism Commission and has other statutory responsibilities. Anthony serves alongside Governor Joe Lombardo.

Anthony became involved in the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) as part of his duties, participating in the organization's activities and committees.

Transgender Athletes Advocacy

A prominent aspect of Anthony's tenure as lieutenant governor has been his advocacy against transgender athletes competing in women's sports. He established a task force focused on the issue, which drew both support and criticism. The Nevada Commission on Ethics undertook an investigation related to Anthony's activities on this matter. In August 2025, a review panel for the Ethics Commission found credible evidence that Anthony had potentially violated state ethics laws in connection with his advocacy and the task force.

According to reporting by The Center Square, Anthony stated that all of his bills were killed during the 2025 legislative session without receiving a hearing, and he attributed this to his opposition to males competing in female sports. The blocking of his legislation also resulted in staff layoffs within his office.

HOV Lane Elimination Efforts

In August 2025, Anthony appealed to the Trump administration for federal assistance in eliminating high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) across Nevada. Anthony argued that HOV lanes should be removed, and he sought federal cooperation on the matter.

Ethics Complaints

Anthony's tenure has been accompanied by multiple ethics complaints. In addition to the investigation related to the transgender athletes task force, a separate ethics complaint was filed in late 2025 alleging that Anthony had used social media to promote a newly published book in a manner that potentially violated ethics rules. The August 2025 review panel finding that credible evidence existed of potential ethics law violations represented a formal step in the ethics process, though it did not constitute a final determination of wrongdoing.

Staffing Controversies

In 2025, a former senior adviser to Anthony publicly stated that she had been pushed out of her position in December of the prior year. According to The Nevada Independent, the adviser alleged she was replaced with an alumnus of Turning Point USA, a conservative activist organization. The former staffer said she had worked with Anthony for an extended period before her departure.

Constituent Engagement

Anthony has maintained constituent outreach throughout his time in office, including visits to rural Nevada communities. In late 2025, he held a meet-and-greet event at a venue in Spring Creek, near Elko, where he met with constituents and local officials including Elko Police Chief Kyle Ward.

2026 Re-Election Campaign

As of late 2025, Anthony faced a potential challenge in his bid for re-election. Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, a Democrat from Las Vegas, announced plans to seek the lieutenant governor's office, stating she intended to focus on reviving Nevada tourism if elected. The Reno Gazette Journal reported on Jauregui's candidacy and her plans to unseat the incumbent Anthony.

Personal Life

Anthony is of Greek heritage, with his birth name rendered in Greek as Σταύρος Αντωνίου. He has two children. Anthony resides in Nevada, where he has lived since pursuing his graduate education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has been involved with community organizations in the Las Vegas area, including engagement with the Greek-American and Armenian-American communities.

His official campaign website is stavrosfornevada.com, which he has used for both his lieutenant governor campaign and ongoing political activities.

Recognition

Anthony's election as lieutenant governor in 2022 was noted in the context of Greek-American political achievement, with Greek Reporter having previously profiled him as a notable Greek-American figure in Las Vegas politics. His membership on committees within the National Lieutenant Governors Association reflects his participation in national networks of state-level officials.

His long tenure on the Las Vegas City Council, spanning more than 13 years, and his service as Mayor Pro Tempore were notable aspects of his political career prior to assuming statewide office.