Editorial: Legacy of Gallagher is strong leadership

With a letter of resignation last Friday to Gov. Kenny Guinn, Dorothy Gallagher ended her 22 years of public service as a member of the Board of Regents. This is a board historically prone to controversy and infighting as it oversees the state's University and Community College System. Throughout her tenure, Gallagher was a voice of reason on the board, a regent whose intelligent points of view were expressed strongly but always with dignity. On a board known for its Northern Nevada vs. Southern Nevada schism, Gallagher could be counted upon to support what was good for the whole state. This wasn't always easy for the regent from Elko -- in 1999 Southern Nevada Regent Mark Alden publicly called for her resignation in his drive to stir up north-south animosities during discussions about funding for the state's two universities. Gallagher's legacy is that of a regent who showed steady leadership during the state's peak growth period. In her final years, she stood strongly behind! the creation of the Henderson State College, at a time when doubting Thomases almost killed it. We believe the college will grow in stature as time goes by, and hope no one ever forgets Gallagher's role in its creation.

Gallagher's resignation comes at a time when the board is about to plunge into another internal controversy, this one involving Regent Linda Howard's perusal of student and employee records. Gallagher's steadying influence will be greatly missed as the board tackles this latest controversy and all the critical public policy decisions ahead.

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