September '10 Nevada Government—Governor Jim Gibbons Column

Governor Gibbons Appoints New Member To Nevada Tax Commission

August 31, 2010 – Carson City, NV – Governor Jim Gibbons today appointed Craig M. Witt to the Nevada Tax Commission. Witt is a well-known and experienced businessman from Minden, Nevada. He has been involved in various agriculture businesses in Northern Nevada since 1973. He is a member of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Nevada Landscapers Association and the Nevada Farm Bureau.

“Craig’s professional experience will make him a valued asset to the Nevada Tax Commission,” Governor Gibbons said, “I am pleased he has accepted the appointment and I am certain he will serve the people of Nevada with honor and fairness.”

The Nevada Tax Commission is an appointed group of business people, with various professional backgrounds, who supervise the overall administration and operations of the Department of Taxation. The Commission adopts regulations (Nevada Administrative Code), enforcement and audit policy, and approves forms and procedures of the Department. The Commission hears taxpayer appeals of hearing decisions and, under statutory authority, makes decisions to ensure consistency among taxpayers and various taxes.

“My goal in business has always been to find a recipe for success and I intend to bring that positive attitude to the Tax Commission,” Witt said, “I am honored that Governor Gibbons has selected me for this post and I look forward to working with the other members of the Commission.”

Mr. Witt is filling the term of former-Commissioner Hank Volger, who resigned from the Commission. Witt’s term will expire on October 31, 2012.

Nevada To Receive $83.1 Million For K-12 Schools For The Current School Year

August 30, 2010 – Carson City, NV – Governor Jim Gibbons received official notification today that Nevada will receive $83.1 million in one-time federal funding for the 2010-2011 school year. The funding is part of the “Edujobs” bill passed by Congress and signed into law on August 10, 2010. Application documents were received by the Governor’s Office on Friday, August 13, and Nevada applied for funding on Monday, August 16. Nevada was one of the first five states to apply for the funding.

“I will move quickly to distribute this money to our schools and our children. The school year is underway and the jobs created by these funds are needed now. Our students need this support now,” Governor Gibbons said, “We appreciate the speedy approval process established U.S. Department of Education and we will expeditiously distribute this money to our school districts.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan commended Nevada for being one of the first states to apply for this special federal funding. The funding is expected to create 1,400 teaching and teaching support jobs statewide during the current school year.

Governor Gibbons has received assurances from the superintendents of both Clark County and Washoe County School Districts that the new federal funds will be used to create new teaching jobs and not to fund raises for existing teacher positions.

Governor Gibbons has communicated to school superintendents and school boards that his preference is to fund additional teaching positions to reduce class sizes, not only in primary grades but also in upper elementary grades, and in important subject areas such as high school mathematics.

Governor Jim Gibbons Selects New Appointees To Fill Boards And Commissions Seats

August 27, 2010 – Carson City, NV – Several Boards and Commissions will welcome new members following a string of appointments made this week. To highlight a few selections: The Nevada State Contractors Board’s newest member is Jim Alexander, a longtime contractor and community advocate in the Las Vegas area, who has a goal to offer justice to both sides of the fence. The Commission for Common-Interest Communities and Condominium Hotels will add two new members in Scott Sibley and Robert Schwenk, and Kathleen Ann Conaboy will serve on the Education Commission of the States.

Nevada State Contractors Board’s new Commissioner Jim Alexander said: “I would like to guarantee fairness to contractors, while offering protection to homeowners and consumers.”

Alexander employs 20 people in the pool-contracting business he has owned in the southern Nevada area for more than 20 years, and is a former law enforcement officer. He has been a member of the Freemasons for 42 years and is a Shriner. Alexander’s term begins Nov. 1, 2010.

Scott Sibley

Sibley, a Las Vegan, is a publisher of Current Nevada Legal News, managing partner in the real estate development and management firm of El Gran Patron/Equis Group, and a former state Assemblyman (2005-2007). Sibley’s term begins Oct. 2, 2010.

“I look forward to serving on the Commission. I recognize the importance of homeowners associations and condominium hotels in our community, especially at this crucial time in the state,” said Sibley.

Robert Schwenk

Schwenk currently manages the compliance department of the Southern Highlands Homeowners Association for Terra West/Olympia Management Services in Las Vegas. His term will run from Oct. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2013. Regarding his appointment, Schwenk said: “I am pleased to serve the state of Nevada on the Commission and I will do my level best to perform in an excellent manner.”

Governor Gibbons appointed Kathleen Ann Conaboy -- a member of the law firm McDonald Carano Wilson, who deals with education among many other issues in her work -- as Commissioner for the Education Commission of the States. Conaboy lives in Reno. She was appointed August 6, 2010 and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.