Assemblyman Hickey steps down from political limelight

Friday, April 10, 1998 | 9:39 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Saying that the 1997 Legislature took too much time away from his family and painting business, freshman Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, says he's putting politics behind him, for now.

"The needs of my family and our business are such that I simply must put them first," Hickey said today. "The job in the Legislature is not a part-time job if you want to do it right.

"What I couldn't in good conscience juggle any longer -- was being a part-time dad, an occasional son to my elderly parents and an absentee owner of my family's business."

Even when the Legislature is not in its biennial session, Hickey said he must spend two to three hours a day on public business.

He said he may return to politics when his four children are older.

His departure is the latest blow to any hopes of the Republican Party capturing control of the Assembly in 1999. Democrats had the majority last year 25-17.

Since then, Republican Assembly members Deanna Braunlin of Las Vegas and Joan Lambert of Reno have announced they won't seek re-election, and Jack Close of Las Vegas and Mark Amodei of Carson City have said they will run for the state Senate.

In Hickey's District 27, there are 7,400 registered Democrats and 6,000 registered Republicans.