Assembly leader offers apology on behalf of ill colleague

Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, took to the Assembly floor Friday to apologize for Marvel's use of the term "wetback" during a Feb. 5 meeting of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

The apology came the same day about 30 people gathered outside the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno to protest the slur by Marvel, who was listed in critical condition at a Carson City hospital with pneumonia.

Marvel is "a man of integrity who has worked in these halls for every Nevadan, regardless of their ethnic background," Hettrick said. "We also know him to be human - capable, as we all are, of making mistakes.

"John Marvel is a man of character, willing to take responsibility for his actions and willing to make amends. Until he is well enough to do that, in John's behalf, I would offer a sincere personal apology and deepest regrets for a very unfortunate incident."

At the Reno protest, Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, read a prepared statement issuing an apology to the Hispanic community.

"I know John, and I believe he would apologize to each of you personally," O'Donnell said.

Protesters prayed for Marvel's quick recovery and gathered signatures on a get-well card for him.

But they said the Legislature should be held to a higher standard and act as an example for the rest of the community.

"We want to bring an awareness to the people of Nevada that (racial slurs) will no longer be tolerated, especially in the Legislature," said Jesse Gutierrez, director of Nevada Hispanic Services.

Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, touched off the furor when he said the state should hire "wetbacks" to do repair work at the Lost City Museum in Overton because they have knowledge of working with adobe.

"Wetback" is a term that refers to Mexicans who enter the country illegally.

Marvel, 72, a member of the Assembly since 1979, was admitted Feb. 7 to Carson-Tahoe Hospital. Doctors called his long-term prognosis good after he underwent exploratory surgery Thursday night.

"What they found was a really serious case of pneumonia that's been going on for a long time," Hettrick said, adding Marvel is so ill that only his family has been allowed to visit him at the hospital.

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