GOP grumbling over Guinn keeping Miller appointees

CARSON CITY -- Republican leaders say some party faithful are grumbling that Gov. Kenny Guinn is keeping most of the cabinet and high executives from the Democratic administration of Bob Miller.

Dan Burdish, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party, says he has received a "couple of calls" from people "who want to know what he's (Guinn's) doing."

Joe DiLonardo, chairman of the Carson City GOP Central Committee, said there's been "apprehension" about the holdovers.

Both Burdish and DiLonardo were quick to defend Guinn, who had said during the campaign he planned to go slow during the transition and not make any massive changes immediately.

Burdish said the governor must wrestle with a $137 million shortfall in the budget first. He is offering them (Miller's appointees) "short-term opportunities."

"Once he gets the budget under control, he (Guinn) can start bringing in his own people." He said this was "very sensible" not to make immediate changes.

When he explains this to people, Burdish said they are usually satisfied. And the governor's office, he said, "has kept in touch" with party leaders so that they can answer some of the questions that arise.

DiLonardo said "people are concerned" about few new Republican faces being named to top jobs. But he said, "It takes time to find his way around," referring to the governor who took office Monday.

"I'm sure there are lots of favors he owes," DiLonardo said. He added there are some good people in these top jobs and Guinn wants to "see if he's comfortable with them."

Guinn has retained Budget Director Perry Comeaux; Carol Jackson, director of the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation; Marlene Lockard, head of the Department of Information Technology; Human Resources Director Charlotte Crawford; Prison Director Bob Bayer; Gaming Control Board member Dennis Neilander and Conservation and Natural Resources Director Peter Morros.

Also staying on are some members of the office staff.

Outside his own staff, Guinn has made only one new major appointment -- Bobby Siller -- to the state Gaming Control Board.

Sixteen years ago in the last change in parties, much the same thing happened when Democrat Richard Bryan replaced Republican Bob List as governor. Bryan retained many of the List appointees and that upset some Democrats, particularly in Carson City, who were hoping for some top jobs.

Bryan did bring in his own office staff and budget director.

Guinn has said he wants to take his time to size up the holdovers to see what type of job they are doing and if they will fit in with his plans.

archive