Chancellor Rogers’ TV station urges Gibbons to call it quits

By David McGrath Schwartz

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 2 a.m.

A Las Vegas TV station owned by higher education Chancellor Jim Rogers called Monday for Gov. Jim Gibbons to resign for the good of the state.

The KVBC Channel 3 editorial said Gibbons is failing Nevada by opposing any tax increase to address critical needs.

“You cannot be taught judgment,” said the editorial, delivered by Rogers’ son Perry, editorial chairman of his father’s Sunbelt Communications. “There is no hope for you to learn that at this point in your life. But you can do the honorable thing and step aside.”

Jim Rogers has been sharply critical of Gibbons for proposing cuts in education to balance the state budget, which has already been cut by $914 million and is still $250 million short on revenue. But the elder Rogers said he had nothing to do with the editorial. He said his son operates independently and “doesn’t call me for approval.”

He said that when Perry Rogers mentioned he was going to call for Gibbons to resign, “I said, ‘It’s up to you.’ ”

Ben Kieckhefer, the governor’s spokesman, said Gibbons would not resign or budge from his stance against raising taxes.

Kieckhefer pointed out that neither party’s legislative leadership is calling for higher taxes right now. “Is he calling for their resignations, too?” Kieckhefer said.