Locals to vie for top county post

Jeff Schweers

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Clark County's next chief administrator likely will come from the ranks of top planners and managers now on the payroll or someone in the local business community with government experience.

Clark County Commissioners said they want to find someone local who has experience and an understanding of the county's growth-related problems and its financial structure to replace County Manager Pat Shalmy, who announced his resignation Thursday.

"My desire is that we don't do a national search," commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates said. "I think we have some of the best and brightest right here in the county limits that we can find a very competent person to fill Pat's shoes."

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, the only board member remaining who voted for Shalmy's appointment in 1984 as county manager, said he too wants to explore local candidates first.

The short list of candidates include former comptroller Guy Hobbs, Henderson City Manager Phil Speight and Clark County Sanitation District Manager Jim Gans. Other names mentioned include former Assistant County Manager Dale Askew, Family and Youth Services Director Kirby Burgess, North Las Vegas City Manager Linda Hinson and Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager Pat Mulroy.

Gates said she wants to bring a recommendation to the rest of the board as soon as possible, hopefully by the Feb. 18 board meeting.

Sensing the County Commission wanted a new manager, Shalmy announced Thursday -- his 56th birtday -- that he was resigning in April after more than 12 years at the helm of one of the nation's fastest-growing communities.

Gates said nobody asked Shalmy to leave.

Shalmy's announcement came within days of Administrative Services Director Terry Murphy's announcement to resign as of March 3. Speculation has been rampant at the Clark County Government Center that their departure signals a flood of management people leaving as well, and that Assistant County Manager Randy Walker will return to his former position as deputy director of Aviation.

Assistant County Manager Jim Ley and Special Projects Coordinator Karen Larson would stay as long as the commission wants them to keep on board.

Shalmy's departure is expected to have a deep impact on county government, especially for those who see him as the glue that has held the county together during fractious times.

But some commissioners said the board has become more unified, and that change may be in order.

"It's going to have an initial impact, no doubt," Commissioner Lance Malone said. "People are going to be wondering what's going on, and rightly so. But no way do I feel we're going to fall apart. We're seven strong commissioners who will continue the task of running this county to the best of our abilities."

Shalmy had considered staying through the end of the Legislature and resigning in the summer, but decided that this was the best time to step down from his $140,000-a-year job. He leaves with a six-month contract buyout and whatever he accumulated in his retirement fund after 18 years as a county employee.

"I said if I ever felt the board changed enough to where it wanted to have their own manager, I would make that call," Shalmy said. However, he acknowledged that the defeat of longtime ally Paul Christensen last fall and the resignation of Jay Bingham from the commission forced him to re-evaluate his own career plans.

"I honestly feel if I wanted to stay, I could," Shalmy said. "There was no indication otherwise."

Shalmy said he's seen the board change dramatically over the last few years, with only one commissioner remaining from the days he was first appointed manager. And in 1993, he survived an attempt by former commissioners Don Schlesinger and Karen Hayes to oust him.

"I looked at the composition of the board, the newness of the board, and sensed they want a new manager," Shalmy said. "I have friends in government who have been through tough times and have been asked to leave publicly. That is not the case here."

Shalmy was hired as director of comprehensive planning in 1979 after a stint working as a planner for Gainesville, Fla. He rose shortly to assistant county manager, and in 1984 was appointed manager.

During his tenure the county has more than doubled in population, and he has overseen the creation of master plans, regional transportation and flood control programs and the construction of the $66 million government center.

"I believe we have been as far ahead of the curve as we could be," Shalmy said, acknowledging that the county has not kept up as well as it could in recent years on things such as traffic and air quality.

"Even though we are trained to foresee these things, nobody foresaw the growth and changes we have seen," he said. "But I know the things we've done are long-lasting things for the citizens to enjoy."

Shalmy said he has no job lined up, "no bird in hand," but has had several offers from friends he's made over the years in the gaming and business community.

"A lot of friends have said if you ever leave your job at the county, call me," Shalmy said. "Now I'll find out what that is."

One persistent rumor is that Shalmy will go to the Nevada Resort Association, or head up a task force to build a privately funded monorail.

"I know that Pat is a tremendous commodity," Commissioner Erin Kenny said. "Any organization that gets him is going to be very lucky."

The resignation caught several commissioners off-guard, who were told of Shalmy's decision moments before holding a hastily organized news conference.

"I was really surprised. However, I respect his position," said Gates, who could not attend the conference because of a prior engagement.

Woodbury, a longtime ally of Shalmy's, was the only commissioner at the news conference.

"This is not a happy day for me, personally," Woodbury said, "or in my opinion for the county."