Bible retires from state gaming post

Friday, Aug. 21, 1998 | 10:39 a.m.

Bill Bible, the man who guided the casino industry through its greatest period of growth, is stepping down as chairman of the state Gaming Control Board, a post he has held longer than anyone else in Nevada history.

The 54-year-old Bible, who comes from a family with a long record of public service in Nevada, said Thursday he will retire Sept. 18 after nearly 10 years as the state's top gaming regulator.

For months, Bible had been telling friends he was anxious to return to private life, a luxury he hasn't had since he began his career in state government as a top budget administrator in 1971.

He said his retirement will allow him to devote more time to his duties as a member of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission as it moves toward completion of its work in June. The nine-member panel will hold hearings in Las Vegas in November.

Gov. Bob Miller, who made Bible one of his early appointments in 1989, announced the chairman's retirement in a Thursday afternoon news release, and word quickly spread in Carson City and along the Las Vegas Strip.

Colleagues described Bible, the son of the late Nevada Sen. Alan Bible, as an "institution" in state government circles.

"Nevada has been very fortunate to have had the benefit of Bill Bible's leadership, knowledge and credibility on the Gaming Control Board for almost 10 years," said Miller, who retires in January.

"Over the past decade, he has distinguished himself as a stable influence on Nevada's most important industry during some very difficult times. I know of no finer person who has devoted so much of his career to public service."

Miller named Control Board Member Steve DuCharme, who has served alongside Bible for nearly eight years, to succeed Bible as chairman and fill out the remainder of his term, which expires Jan. 1, 2001.

The governor described the 51-year-old DuCharme, a former police detective, as someone who has "earned a solid reputation beside the best."

Ducharme on Thursday credited Bible for creating a steady regulatory environment that made the casino industry appealing to Wall Street.

"He helped legitimize the industry," DuCharme said. "I think he's provided stable regulation that's been free from political influence."

Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., who made Bible his budget director in 1983 after Bryan was elected governor, said Bible headed the Control Board during an "extraordinary" time for Nevada and will leave his mark on gaming here for years to come.

"He enjoys a great measure of respect for his personal integrity and has instilled confidence in gaming regulation," Bryan said.

For the past 10 years Bible has presided over unprecedented growth on the Strip, where he has played a role in the licensing of every major megaresort from the Mirage to the upcoming Bellagio.

At the same time, he helped establish Nevada as the country's regulatory model as gambling exploded on the national scene.

Despite his retirement, Bible's influence over gaming here is likely to remain high.

DuCharme, his good friend, said he hopes to advance Bible's agenda.

"I have bought into Bill's programs," DuCharme said. "I want to sustain the high level of regulatory integrity that has been established by Bill. I only hope that I can carry it on as well as he does."

DuCharme predicted the transition to his leadership would be "seamless."

Miller, meanwhile, appointed one of Bible's right-hand men, Dennis Nielander, to fill out the remaining months of DuCharme's old term, which expires Jan. 1. Nielander heads Bible's Corporate Securities Division.

The four-year term of the other board member, Brian Harris, also expires in January, which means Nevada's new governor will have the option of making two appointments next year.

Bible, who by state law can't take a job in the casino industry for one year, said he decided to leave early so that he can do some hiking in the mountains up north before winter.

He also wanted to give DuCharme enough time to put together a budget and a plan for the 1999 Legislature, he said.

As for his own employment plans, Bible said he hasn't decided what he'll do after he leaves office.

"I'm not ready to quit working yet," Bible said. "I have some irons in the fire."

His friends have speculated that Bible's knowledge of gaming, politics and fiscal matters makes him ideally suited as a government-affairs consultant.

"I think Bill can write out his own ticket," said Bryan, who tabbed Bible to run his 1988 Senate campaign. "He's very bright and highly respected for his intellect, and he brings a wealth of experience in terms of state government, finance and gaming control."

Bible's good friend, Jim Mulhall, who serves as vice president of governmental relations for the Nevada Resort Association, called the retiring Control Board chairman a perfect public servant.

"Years from now, when people say they want to go into public service, teachers will point to Bill Bible and say, 'That's the kind of person you should be,' " said Mulhall, who worked closely with Bible as Miller's former chief of staff.

"To whatever extent Bill withdraws from public life, there will be a void that will be hard to fill."