Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Assemblyman to resign to become assistant to attorney general

2013 Legislative Session - Day 3

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Assemblyman John Hambrick talks with Assembyman Wesley Duncan before a meeting of the Health and Human Services Committee during the third day of the 2013 legislative session Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 in Carson City.

Assemblyman Wesley Duncan of the 77th (2013) Nevada Assembly District.

Assemblyman Wesley Duncan of the 77th (2013) Nevada Assembly District.

Cross one name off the list of Republican candidates in the running to become the Assembly speaker.

Las Vegas Assemblyman Wesley Duncan resigned his post to work with Attorney General-elect Adam Laxalt's administration.

Duncan was entering his second Assembly term and was on the short list of candidates in the running to serve in the chamber's top leadership post, which was recently vacated by embattled Assemblyman Ira Hansen.

Duncan, a Clark County prosecutor, will be one of Laxalt's top advisers. Like Laxalt, Duncan is an Iraq war veteran who worked as a prosecutor during his time overseas. Both of them were also officers in the Judge Advocate General Corps.

By law, the Clark County Commission will appoint a Republican to replace Duncan before the session begins in February.

Assembly Republicans are meeting Tuesday in Las Vegas to choose a new speaker to replace Hansen.

Now that Duncan is out of the running, Las Vegas Assemblyman Paul Anderson is the frontrunner. Assemblymen John Hambrick and John Ellison are also on the short list along with others.

Last week, Hansen stepped down from the speakership after facing a firestorm of criticism for writing newspaper columns that were offensive to minority groups, women and the LGBT community. Hansen was elected by the 25-member Assembly Republican caucus after the party won back the Legislature in the Nov. 4 elections.

Laxalt's staff sent out a news release Friday to break the news that Duncan was leaving his legislative post.

Duncan said the post was a "new, critically important position" and that he was "honored to have been offered" the spot, according to the media release.

Also joining Laxalt's team of advisers is former federal prosecutor Nicholas Trutanich.

Trutanich and Laxalt attended Georgetown University's law school together.

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