New governor scores high with forceful message

CARSON CITY -- In challenging times, leaders always seem to surface when they're needed most.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, in an hourlong televised address to Nevadans on Monday night, demonstrated to many that he has the makings of one such leader.

Guinn, looking forceful and determined, promised to guide Nevada into the millennium with a new fiscally responsible attitude.

Biennial short-term planning forced Guinn to deal with a $141 million budget shortfall this year, even though the state took in $238 million more in revenue than it did two years ago.

"There's a new day in Nevada," the conservative Republican told reporters after delivering a well-received speech that talked about bringing common sense, integrity and hard work to state government.

Republicans universally hailed his message as something that has been a long time coming.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who hasn't dealt with a Republican governor at the Legislature in 16 years, hailed Guinn as having a solid command of the budgetary process and an unwavering vision of Nevada's future in the 21st century.

Even Democrats, though they expressed concern about a lack of substance in his address, marveled at how well he delivered his remarks. Guinn was not supposed to be this good of a speaker.

At least one prominent Democrat, however, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, wasn't very impressed with Guinn's talk.

"I think it proves he's a good administrator," Titus said. "But it had very little content about the future of this state.

"He talked about the mechanics of government -- how to reform the budget. But if you don't accompany that with any policies, then what's the point? All you're doing is changing the bookkeeping."

Titus said Guinn needs to do more than just overhaul every state agency with a zero-based budget that reflects only the essential public services. "Zero-based budgeting is not a silver bullet," she said. "You don't put it into place and automatically you have smarter children, cleaner air and less crime. You've got to set some agenda to go along with these reforms."

But other veteran politicos found Guinn's pledge to instill financial responsibility and efficiency in state government refreshing and timely.

Guinn vowed not to present another budget in two years with a $141 million shortfall. The state, he said, must come to grips with its long-term growth needs immediately. "This is a time for creativity, innovation and accountability in state government. We must meet today's needs today and plan for tomorrow's needs not tomorrow, but today."

Long-range planning indeed is Guinn's vision for the state, and he put lawmakers on notice that he expects them to be part of a bipartisan effort to turn Nevada into a lean economic machine in two years.

Only a government outsider could come to the statehouse with that kind of idealism.

Guinn, a former corporate CEO who ran for public office for the first time last year, appeared bent on making the state bite the bullet whether it likes it or not. He did the same thing when he served as Clark County's school superintendent and as president of UNLV.

The new governor didn't sugarcoat his words. He expressed regret that the cuts he's had to make will cost several hundred state workers their jobs.

But he also said he was prepared to make other difficult decisions in the future if necessary.

Many who listened to Guinn came a way with the feeling he was talking from his heart.

"I'll always be up-front with you, even when it would be easier to resort to rhetoric," Guinn said at the close of his address. "And at the end of the next four years, I may not be the most popular governor in Nevada history. But you can count on me to always do what I think is right.

"Being governor," he said, "is about leadership, not popularity."

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