Candidates lining up to succeed regent

By Cy Ryan

Monday, July 28, 2008 | 11:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Candidates already are lining up to replace university regent Thalia Dondero of Las Vegas, who was stopped from serving another term by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Gov. Jim Gibbons said he has been contacted by people interested in succeeding Dondero in January when her term expires.

And Gibbons said he would consider Dondero to appointment to a two-year term, along with considering other candidates.

Dondero was one of 21 candidates barred by the state Supreme Court from being re-elected due to a 12-year term limit. She was unopposed in this election and will continue to serve until her current term ends in January.

Secretary of State Ross Miller, the state’s chief election officer, said it will be up to the governor to choose a replacement for Dondero, but Miller said the governor could appoint Dondero to serve for two years until the 2010 election.

"There is a list of individuals who have expressed interest already," Gibbons said. He said he does not want to release the names because he hasn’t received their applications.

"I have already been contacted personally by some of them," Gibbons said. The ruling by the Supreme Court was handed down Friday.

He said Dondero "would certainly be a candidate we would review."

Clark County School Trustees Ruth Johnson in District B and Mary Beth Scow in District A are entered in the nonpartisan primary election. If either comes in first or second, the next highest vote getter will go into the general election.