July '07 Nevada Government—Governor Jim Gibbons Column

Governor Gibbons Names Public Works Board Members
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS today [July 26, 2007] announced the appointment of five new members of the Nevada Public Works Board, which approves and oversees state building projects. Governor Gibbons recently signed legislation requiring the Board’s seven members to have expertise in the construction industry, thereby increasing its efficiency and saving Nevada taxpayers money.

Under the revised statute, the governor appoints five of the Board’s members, each of whom now must have experience in a field related to construction, specifically:

Engineering or architecture (one member)
Financing or managing construction projects (one member)
Construction law (one member)
General building contracting or general engineering contracting (two members)

The Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly each appoint one member, who must also be a licensed general building or engineering contractor.

Governor Gibbons’ appointees and their qualifying areas of construction expertise are:
     Roy Walker, president of WES Construction, Reno—engineering
     Phil Peckman, CEO, Peckman Sign Company, Las Vegas—finance
     Ivan "Renny" Ashleman, I.R. Ashleman, II, Ltd., Las Vegas—law (reappointment)
     Tito Tiberti, president, JA Tiberti Construction, Las Vegas—general contracting
     Tom Metcalf, Metcalf Builders, Carson City—general contracting

"Public Works has an important responsibility to the people of Nevada, not only to manage quality control of our public buildings, but also to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. I am committed to streamlining this process as much as possible, and each of these board members has assured me he shares that commitment. The taxpayers of Nevada deserve efficiency at every step from design to completion," said Governor Gibbons.

Public Works Board members serve four-year terms.

Governor Gibbons Names Rick Eaton
Director of Homeland Security
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS today [July 25, 2007] announced the selection of Rick Eaton, currently Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the federal Department of Homeland Security, as Director of the Nevada Department of Homeland Security. Eaton will replace former Director Lawrence Martines, who resigned this month.

"Rick Eaton has distinguished himself during a nearly 30-year career in federal law enforcement. His experience has given him an ideal mixture of familiarity with the federal Department of Homeland Security and knowledge of Nevada. I am pleased to bring a man of such qualifications back home, where his expertise will greatly advance our efforts to protect Nevadans," said Governor Gibbons.

In his more than 29 years of service in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and Immigration Customs Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security, Rick Eaton has overseen investigations of illegal activities ranging from drug smuggling and money laundering to human trafficking. His current jurisdiction as Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Sacramento includes eastern California and all northern Nevada. His numerous awards include two United States Senate commendations for outstanding leadership and contributions to the community and the Department of Justice. In addition, Eaton became the first INS officer to receive a national award from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives for outstanding accomplishments in criminal justice.

Eaton also has an outstanding record of community service, particularly in his volunteer work for the Boy Scouts of America. In Reno in 1994, he established the first Boy Scout troop ever chartered to the Justice Department. He became the first Nevadan to win the Spirit of Scouting Award, and was later named one of the 60 Outstanding Scoutmasters in the United States.

Eaton served as Special Agent in Charge of Investigations in Reno from 1994 until 2000, and he still considers Reno home. He makes a weekly commute to his office in Sacramento, which he is eager to shorten to a daily half-hour drive to Carson City. Eaton will retire from federal service on August 3rd. He begins his job as Nevada's Director of Homeland Security August 6th.

"I am looking forward to coming home," said Eaton. "I am also eager to apply my talents to the challenges Nevada faces in protecting our homeland. I'm an inclusive manager; I like to bring everybody on board. I believe I can improve communication among our state's law enforcement agencies and the federal government, which is vital to homeland security. I also look forward to helping build our department into a proactive force that will help protect Nevadans from any threat."

Governor Gibbons Attends Community Forum in South Lake Tahoe
Fire Safety and Prevention Among Key Issues
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS joined California Assemblyman Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) this evening [July 23, 2007] during a community forum held in South Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe Mayor Kathay Lovell and fire officials from both California and Nevada were also present.

"Everyone—federal and state agencies, residents, management agencies, business owners and environmental entities—shares a common goal, an environmentally healthy and functioning Lake Tahoe Basin," said Governor Jim Gibbons. "The Lake Tahoe Basin and the forest resources must be managed by proven forestry practices based on sound science."

Governor Jim Gibbons also discussed the joint Nevada-California Blue Ribbon Fire Commission that will conduct a comprehensive overview of forest management in the Lake Tahoe Basin, including the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Details regarding the fire commission will be released later this week.

During the forum, testimony was heard from local residents, many of whom lost their homes in the Angora Fire. A number of those residents raised concerns regarding the permitting process for fuel reduction on private property.

** More than 250 homes were lost in the Angora Fire, which burned over 2,000 acres in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Close to 600,000 acres have already burned across Nevada this fire season.

Photo: Governor Jim Gibbons pictured during the community forum held at the South Tahoe High School.