Askew returns, ready to work

Coming off a weeklong camping trip in the Utah mountains, Clark County Manager Dale Askew reclined in his office chair Monday smiling and joking.

It was almost as if Askew was oblivious to the storm of controversy that raged through the County Government Center in his absence.

But it quickly became clear that was not the case.

Askew said he spent much of his interrupted vacation thinking about a recent attempt to force him to resign. The coup was orchestrated by Clark County Commissioners Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny a day after Askew left town.

"You cannot help but take it a tad personally," Askew said. "But it goes with the territory. This whole thing is about me and I'm accountable."

Herrera and Kenny have complained that Askew lacks the energy and innovation to lead the county. They also accused Askew of being a poor communicator and claimed he didn't try to keep outgoing administrators from leaving their county jobs.

Askew returned to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with commissioners and reaffirmed his commitment to his job. On Monday he spent most of his day addressing the attacks launched while he was on vacation.

One aspect of Askew that likely won't change is his personality: "I'm an accountant," he said. "I'm not a personality person; I'm a logical person."

That is why Askew has the support of the majority of the board and was able to escape continued discussions about his resigning. He is backed by commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Bruce Woodbury, Mary Kincaid and Myrna Williams.

Kenny and Herrera were unavailable for comment Monday.

"The county couldn't be in a much better financial situation than it is today," Gates said Monday.

The county will gain five new Metro Police substations and fire stations during the next five years and secured a $100 million bond to expedite the Las Vegas Beltway, Gates said. The projects were approved without tax increases.

"Dale doesn't play politics with commissioners," Gates said. "What you see is what you get."

What Herrera and Kenny hope to see is a better communicator. Askew said he will focus on making sure he has regular conversations with all the board members and that their needs are met promptly.

Although the two board members calling for his resignation have said he works more closely with some commissioners than others, Askew said he tries to be even-handed with his time and commitments.

"I try to please everyone and be fair and objective," Askew said. "Certain personal relationships develop over time that don't develop with others."

While Kenny has expressed her dissatisfaction with Askew since former County Manager Pat Shalmy was forced out of office in 1997, Herrera's comments came somewhat as a surprise, Askew said.

Two weeks before he spoke publicly about his wishes to oust Askew and replace him with Administrative Services Director Thom Reilly, Herrera voiced his support for Askew.

"I think (Herrera) wants someone younger like himself, who is in the early part of their career rather than someone like me who is in the mid- to late part of their career," Askew said. "He wants someone with a younger outlook on the job."

Askew said that theory has its pros and cons. A younger person would lack Askew's experience, which includes 12 years as assistant county manager before he was named top administrator.

The county manager also denied telling Herrera he would replace ineffective department heads, as Herrera announced following their meeting last week.

He said if any directors leave the county, it will be through an early-severance plan approved by commissioners in June. The two-year buyout program for employees with more than 15 years experience is tied to a strategic realignment -- some positions might not be refilled, other jobs can be done with computers.

While Herrera and Kenny might not be thrilled that Askew is staying, he is firm on his decision.

"We had frank discussions about myself and my position and I'm comfortable with staying," Askew said.

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