Extreme Makeover – Nevada Economic Development edition

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011 | 4:14 p.m.

Gov. Brian Sandoval today continued his assimilation of the state’s economic development function by appointing some well-known names in key staff positions.

Sandoval and lawmakers already had announced some board members last week.

And I will leave to others to point out how Sandoval's assertion of control here is not just because he believes this issue is the state's path out of the recession but also an implicit rebuke to all those who came before, including Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who has to be stung by the new economic development order. Or maybe I won't leave it to others.

But the most significant news out of today’s announcements by the governor is that Steve Hill, the longtime Las Vegas chamber activist and successful businessman, will be the interim executive director of the Office of Economic Development. Hill had helped Sandoval during the session on this issue and surely will soon lose the “interim” from his name – despite a process of the board forwarding a short list of permanent candidates to the governor. This has “done deal” written all over it.

Hill has studied economic development across the country and already has a passel of ideas. And, if you recall, the new law gives the holder of that position immense freedom to do the job.

Sandoval also appointed two other known commodities – one, Terri Janison, as regional director for economic development, and another, Sonia Joya, as his southern director.

Janison did the good soldier bit for the governor, leaving an elected position on the Clark County school board to make some money and be a buffer to his education critics. And Joya worked for disgraced Sen. John Ensign for many years, but like some others, has not been tainted and has a solid reputation. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the old Team Ensign – Pete Ernaut, Mike Slanker and others– has morphed into Team Sandoval.

But the real story here is Hill, who has his work cut out. I still say that he’ll have to apply a lot of lipstick to this pig to make it attractive to anything other than data centers or warehouses or other like businesses.

I hope he proves me wrong.