Sandoval to attend governors’ conference in Washington

By Cy Ryan

Published Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 | 1:52 p.m.

Updated Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 | 5:59 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval will fly to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to attend the National Governors Association Conference – even though the state doesn’t pay dues to the organization.

He will not be taking any staff but intends to meet with federal officials, says Dale Erquiaga, Sandoval's special assistant. Sandoval is using unspent campaign funds to pay for the trip.

Sandoval will return to Nevada on Monday evening. During his absence, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki will be in charge.

Before he leaves, he and his wife Kathleen will release a report Wednesday from the Children’s Cabinet, where the first lady works. The report deals with early child education and child care issues.

The contents of the report won’t be public until Wednesday, but the early care and education programs employ 9,000 workers, “more than commercial banking and warehousing and storage and on a par with Nevada’s mining industry,” Erquiaga said.

Although the Legislature showed up for work on the Monday holiday, Sandoval wasn't in his office. Erquiaga said the governor and his wife were at St. Vincent’s Dining Room in Reno helping to serve meals to the poor.

The governor does plan to attend a Tuesday address to the Legislature by Sen. Harry Reid.