Nevada Governor-elect Joe Lombardo waves as he leaves an event with supporters at Rancho High School Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Lombardo beat incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak.
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022 | 1:21 p.m.
Two more appointees will be joining Nevada Gov.-elect Joe Lombardo's executive staff, bringing with them years of administrative and advisory experience, the incoming Republican's office announced today.
Chris Nielsen, a longtime attorney, was announced as Lombardo's incoming general counsel.
He is joined by Sonia Joya, who was appointed as Southern Nevada director and had previously held the same post under two other governors: then-Gov. Brian Sandoval from 2011 to 2014 and ex-Gov. Kenny Guinn in 1999.
"I'm excited to welcome Chris Nielsen and Sonia Joya to my team," Lombardo said in a statement. "Given his outstanding legal background, I know that Chris will provide judicious counsel and tremendous insight for my administration.”
"Similarly, Sonia brings decades of proven management experience to our team, and I'm confident that she will provide great leadership on our initiatives in Southern Nevada,” Lombardo said.
Nielsen is now general counsel for the Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada and previously served as Sandoval's deputy chief of staff.
Nielsen also served as general counsel under former Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Nielsen has a doctoral degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and a master's degree in taxation from the University of Washington School of Law.
Joya previously served as director of minority and business support in the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
She was also state director for former U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., from 2001 to 2011 and district director for former U.S. Rep. Cresent Harding, R-Nev.
Most recently, Joya served as deputy chief operating officer with the Republican National Committee.
The appointments are the latest of several made by Lombardo.
Joya and Nielsen join incoming Chief of Staff Ben Kieckhefer, Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Wells, Policy Director Michawn Rich and Communications Director Elizabeth Ray.
Lombardo's transition team, which is chaired by political strategist Ryan Erwin, has also announced a leadership council consisting of several statewide community and business leaders.
Additional Inaugural Committee members will be announced in the coming weeks, according to Lombardo’s office.
