Some commissioners hope for Askew deal

Bruce Woodbury was named chairman of the Clark County Commission because his colleagues were confident he would restore some calmness to the board after several controversy-plagued months.

Now they are looking to the 17-year commission veteran to resolve a heated dispute by determining whether County Manager Dale Askew stays or goes.

Some county officials believe Woodbury's mission to keep the commission away from controversy might lead him to work a deal with Askew, who would then step down from the position he has held for two years.

But Woodbury said today no such agreement has been discussed, and if any deal were to be proposed, it would not come from him.

"Nothing like that is going on," said Woodbury, who also heard the rumors of the deal involving him. "That's nothing I'm going to suggest. If a deal is made, it will be by Dale Askew, not Bruce Woodbury. I'm not going to play those games."

Commissioners Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny came forward last week while Askew was on vacation and called for his resignation. Both commission members said Askew was not innovative and didn't accomplish anything as the county's leader.

Askew, who was originally scheduled to return to work on Monday, now plans to return to Las Vegas today.

Although four of the seven commissioners have said they support Askew, a lack of the majority vote has hardly deterred Herrera and Kenny. The two have said Commissioner Lance Malone also supports their effort, although Malone has yet to comment.

And while Commissioner Mary Kincaid has maintained she believes Askew is doing a solid job for the county, Herrera insists that she shared the same concerns about the county manager as he and Kenny.

Herrera and Kenny have said Askew was hired to guide the county through a transition period after County Manager Pat Shalmy was run out of office in 1997. They said Askew lacks the energy and leadership his staff desires.

The two board members also have said the last straw was when Administrative Services Director Thom Reilly announced he was leaving his post to pursue a teaching career at UNLV.

Not only is Reilly one of several administrators who has left over the last two years, he is the person Herrera and Kenny have said they want to replace Askew.

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