Republicans tab Hambrick as speaker, Fiore as majority leader

By Kyle Roerink

Published Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014 | 8:29 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014 | 9:37 p.m.

After more than two hours of deliberation, the 25-member Republican Assembly caucus elected Las Vegas Assemblyman John Hambrick as its new speaker.

In the No. 2 spot is Assemblywoman Michele Fiore as the majority leader. She is the first female Republican ever to be elected to that post.

With three sessions worth of experience, Hambrick is one of the most seasoned lawmakers in the Assembly. He’s attempted to win leadership posts in the past and had his name in the hat when Republicans made their first attempt at a speaker in mid-November.

But after a firestorm of bad press for the original speaker designee Ira Hansen, Hambrick was able to forge the groundwork for winning the top spot.

There was talk on Tuesday that Hansen might take another stab at the speaker job. That didn't happen, but he did land another leadership post as assistant majority leader.

Fiore is known for her fundraising clout and unabashed, charismatic public speaking. She is in her second term and was voted the most conservative lawmaker in the 2013 session by the Nevada Policy Research Institute.

The institute ranked Hambrick No. 9.

Hambrick and Fiore will have to unite Assembly Republicans during a session that could mean the continued control of the Legislature or the loss of the majority in 2016. For Republicans, a successful session might require raising taxes to boost education and health care spending. Gov. Brian Sandoval and Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson have both signaled they want to revamp the state’s public education system. To do so, they will need the support of Assembly.

Shortly after winning the speakership, Hambrick said he will back Sandoval’s reform plan. He’s known Sandoval for more than a decade, having worked on his campaigns for attorney general and governor.

Hambrick said he doesn’t know the details of the education package just yet.

“Starting tomorrow, I have a lot of reading to do,” he said.

The announcement punctuates what’s been an up-and-down month for Republicans.

This is the second time they elected leadership since they won back majority control of the Legislature in the Nov. 4 election.

Ira Hansen was the original speaker slated for the 2015 session. He came under fire for writing newspaper columns that disparaged minorities, women and members of the LGBT community.

Facing a backlash from the commentary and criticisms from Democrats and fellow Republicans Gov. Brian Sandoval and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, Hansen stepped down from the leadership post.

His departure called into question whether there was a rift between moderate and conservative Republicans.

Hansen is known as a staunch Republican. When he landed in the top spot, some viewed him as the spoiler who would prevent tax increases from going through.

After stepping down, Hansen said he was targeted for his conservative views.

"Ultimately, this whole attack has very little to do with my views. The powers that be are planning a massive, more than $1 billion, tax increase and I stood in the way as speaker. I have already served two terms as an assemblyman without any of these vicious attacks. It was only when I had risen to leadership that this smear campaign occurred. That is the real reason for this and it is vital the public understands that."

John Ellison, the speaker pro tem, said Assembly Republicans are focused on one thing: moving forward.

“Everybody wanted to come together for the state of Nevada,” he said.

Hambrick’s opposition for the speaker slot was two-term Assemblyman Paul Anderson. Anderson was originally the majority leader but ran for speaker when the spot opened back up. Anderson is slated to serve as chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Fiore beat out Pahrump Assemblyman James Oscarson, a two-term lawmaker who will serve as chairman of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee.