May '08 Nevada Government—Governor Jim Gibbons Column

Governor Honors Fallen Peace Officers

During the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony on the Capitol Mall, Governor Jim Gibbons today honored the service and sacrifice of all of Nevada’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Two names were added to the memorial to honor officers who died in the line of duty in the past year: Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Police Department Officer Adam Joseph Menuez and Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Kara Kelly-Borgognone.

“These two officers deserve our thanks for their courage and sacrifice,” Gibbons said. “Without men and women like Adam and Kara willing to take risks to ensure our safety, our families would not have the security we rely on each and every day. We owe them and their families our eternal thanks and appreciation.”

Officer Menuez and Trooper Kelly-Borgognone are the 102nd and 103rd names added to the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which was dedicated on the State Capitol Mall in Carson City in 1998. The first officer killed in the territory now known as Nevada was Sheriff John L. Blackburn, who was killed in 1861 while

making an arrest.

Officer Menuez, who was killed in a vehicle crash July 4, 2007, was the first tribal officer killed in the line of duty in Nevada. Trooper Kelly-Borgognone, who was killed

in a traffic accident this February, is the first female peace officer killed in the line of duty in Nevada.

“These two tragic deaths remind us of the dedication of all our public safety officers and the risks they take for us,” Gibbons said. “The peace officers on the street, protecting each of us every day, have a commitment to service that exceeds all others, and I thank all of them for their service.”

Aside from the Governor’s remarks, the memorial ceremony included a presentation of colors by the combined Nevada Law Enforcement Honor Guard, memorials for Officer Menuez and Trooper Borgognone and a 21-gun salute.

Governor Submits Spending Reductions

To Legislative Panel

Governor Jim Gibbons will submit many of his budget reductions to the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee for its review, following the advice of the Nevada Attorney General’s office.

The Interim Finance Committee, which handles Legislative fiscal issues between Legislative sessions, has 15 calendar days to hold a hearing on the Governor’s

spending reductions or they are “deemed approved” under state law.

The Attorney General’s opinion states that “past construction of (the law outlining budget changes) has produced a long standing practice and procedure that neither

the Legislature nor the IFC have required their prior approval for work programs implementing reserves.”

While the Governor has tried to follow the accepted practice of previous administrations, he said he’s more than willing to comply with the Attorney General’s opinion.

“By submitting these budget reserves to IFC for approval, we are making a significant shift in the precedent set by previous governors and previous Legislatures,” Gibbons said. “The Attorney General’s office advised me that this is probably how it should have been done in the past, but lawmakers never objected, so it never became an issue.”

The submission to IFC includes more than 300 work programs, or individual budget changes that were primarily incorporated into the Governor’s initial round of 4.5

percent spending reductions that he directed in January.

Other spending reductions will require the approval of the Legislature during the 2009 Legislative Session, while others, such as holding positions open, do not

require submission to the Interim Finance Committee. Legislative leadership has already reviewed and agreed to these reductions in private meetings with the

Governor.

Governor statement on Hepatitis C Investigation

“The revelation that another 77 people have potentially been infected with Hepatitis C due to medical procedures is both heartbreaking and disturbing. My thoughts and prayers go out to those infected. This again shows the need for swift and strong action by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners to ensure that the physicians who played a role in these infections aren’t practicing medicine while these investigations are ongoing. I have appointed Dr. Ronald Kline, Dr. Beverly

Neyland and Dr. Robert Wiencek as temporary members of the board to replace permanent members currently conflicted on this issue. I expect that with these members, the full board will act immediately to address this. We need to ensure the people of Nevada have confidence in their health care system so that they receive the medical care they require.”

Gibbons Appoints Executive Director, Two

Commissioners for Economic Development

Governor Jim Gibbons announced his selection of Michael Skaggs as the new executive director of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development and the appointment of Luis Valera and Miranda Du as commissioners.

Skaggs has made a career out of economic development, including extensive work in the southwest as a consultant and advocate for regional development efforts. He most recently served as Vice President of Solutions for DW Turner Public Relations and Advertising in Albuquerque, developing communications strategies for business, government and non-profit enterprises.

He previously served as president and CEO of Next Generation Economy, Inc. in Albuquerque, Vice President of Albuquerque Economic Development and Chairman of the Economic Development Group in Phoenix.

“Mike Skaggs has left behind him a trail of economic development wherever he worked,” the Governor said. “He has tremendous experience working in Nevada as a consultant; he’s familiar with our state and region, and I’m confident he will help drive economic development here in Nevada.”

While serving as chairman of the Economic Development Group, Skaggs consulted with the Nevada Economic Development Commission, the Nevada Development Authority, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

“My initial focus will be to engage our leadership and all of our partners in developing fresh economic goals for the state, along with a strategy that we all agree will achieve the desired results,” Skaggs said. “Collaboration will be a key phrase for us. It’s essential that we worked closely with other parts of government and the 13 development authorities across the state. By working together on mutual objectives, we will be able to take on a very ambitious agenda and see results quickly.”

Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki applauded the appointment and said Skaggs will bring with him a tremendous amount of knowledge about best practices throughout the region that will help position the state for a prosperous future.

“Michael Skaggs has a proven record of success in economic development, and I am delighted that he has agreed to accept the executive director position," said Krolicki, chair of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. "We welcome the experience he will bring to the job and look forward to working together for many years to come."

Skaggs is scheduled to begin his service to the state by May 23, 2008.

Governor Gibbons today also announced the appointment of Luis Valera of Henderson and Miranda Du of Reno as members of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

Valera is currently the government relations director for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a board member with the Latin Chamber of Commerce. He is the former public affairs director with the Nevada Resort Association and previously worked as a financial advisor at Orgill Singer Insurance & Investments. He is a graduate of UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts and the Boyd School of Law.

Du is currently a partner at the law firm of McDonald Carano Wilson, LLP. She has Bachelors of Arts degrees in Economics and History from the University of California, Davis and her law degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. “I believe Luis and Miranda will be exceptional additions to the Nevada Commission on Economic Development,” Gibbons said. “They both have tremendous experience working with the business leaders of this state, and I’m confident they’ll serve us well.”

Valera said he was honored by the appointment.

“There’s nothing more important than continuing to diversify Nevada’s economy,” Valera said. “Nevada is a fertile ground for new and innovative business, and I look forward to doing whatever I can to foster such growth.”

Du said the lifestyle Nevada can provide is a critical tool in helping lure businesses to Nevada and encouraging entrepreneurs to set up shop in the Silver State.

“Not only do we have a tremendous tax structure, but there is not another state in the country that can provide the quality of life we have here in Nevada,” Du said. “I firmly believe Nevada is one of the best places in the country to do business.”

The appointments of Valera and Du take effect July 1, 2008.