Herrera calls for removal of Askew

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Aug. 6, 1999 | 10:55 a.m.

After just seven months on the Clark County Commission, Dario Herrera said he has concluded that the county's top administrator lacks the innovation and energy to lead the valley into the next century.

Thursday the first-term commissioner stunned the majority of his colleagues by publicly announcing it is time for County Manager Dale Askew to resign.

"Dale was brought in to lead us through a transition period, and those times are over," Herrera said. "For seven months to this day, I haven't seen an innovative or dynamic approach to deal with challenges we face today and tomorrow."

Herrera's comments came two weeks after he voiced his support for Askew.

While the 26-year-old former state legislator said fellow Commissioners Erin Kenny and Lance Malone have similar feelings about Askew, the other four board members made it clear Thursday that the county manager has their support.

Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury, who has served on the board for more than 17 years, said Askew was not hired to guide the county through a transitional phase. Askew was assistant county manager for 12 years before being named county manager.

"We were hiring a county manager for the foreseeable future," Woodbury said. "I didn't see it as being temporary or transitional."

Kenny also was on the board when Askew was hired in 1997 to replace County Manager Pat Shalmy, whom she claims was forced out by Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates in 1997. Kenny said she never believed the move was permanent.

"Clearly I was incredibly upset when Commissioner Gates threw Pat out of office after 13 years of exemplary service to the county," Kenny said. "Dale I think was supposed to be a transitional figure."

Woodbury and Kenny both leaned toward Aviation Director Randy Walker when Walker and Askew were being considered for Shalmy's job. Woodbury said Thursday that Askew has been an effective leader.

Most recently Askew helped secure a $200 million bond issue that accelerated construction of the Las Vegas Beltway, Woodbury said. The bond was based on excess gasoline tax money.

"That was very creative and innovative. He doesn't take credit for it, but it was his idea," Woodbury said. "The only problem I have with Dale is he doesn't toot his own horn enough."

When grumblings of Kenny's dissatisfaction with Askew were heard two weeks ago, Herrera said in an informal conversation that he supported the county manager and saw no reason for his removal.

On Thursday Herrera said he didn't think the effort was appropriate at that time but has since changed his mind.

"That was before I learned that Dale was doing nothing about losing the best administrator in Clark County," Herrera said.

Some county officials said Thursday that they believe Kenny convinced Herrera to go public with the move to oust Askew. Both Kenny and Herrera denied the speculation.

"This is the best thing for my constituents," Herrera said. "We need somebody who is respected by the commissioners, the community and the staff that serves under him. The current county manager cannot claim he has the respect of the groups just mentioned."

Herrera said Askew was a poor communicator and that administrators who departed the county were replaced with "mediocre" managers. He and Kenny were particularly upset that Thom Reilly, administrative services director, is leaving the county.

Herrera said Askew made no effort to keep Reilly, who accepted a job as an associate professor at UNLV.

Reilly said today that Askew offered to give him a raise, but teaching is his first love and the profession he has always wanted to pursue.

"I'm real excited about this opportunity," said Reilly, whose last day is Aug. 20. "I'm not leaving because I don't like the commission or the county manager; this is a dynamic organization. I'm leaving because I love to teach, and the university has given me an excellent job offer."

Commissioner Mary Kincaid said Reilly made similar remarks to her on Wednesday. He said becoming an associate professor was his dream job, and he made it clear that his decision to leave the county was not about money.

Kincaid also said she was concerned about Herrera's move to oust Askew after spending only seven months on the commission.

"The first year in office you're just getting your feet wet and learning how things work. I really never thought about whether a city manager or county manager was being innovative, I thought about learning to do my job."

Commissioner Myrna Williams said while the county will miss Reilly, she was never concerned about the reasons behind his departure.

"Thom is doing what he really wants to do; his educational background is in social work," Williams said.

And while Herrera said he would like to see Reilly succeed Askew, other commissioners said Reilly had no interest in the position. Reilly wouldn't discuss the possibility and said the issue was between Askew and the commission.

"I just think this whole thing is out of line," Williams said. "Dale has done an excellent job."

Woodbury, who said he was approached by Kenny several days before Herrera discussed his problems with Askew, said he is bothered that Herrera spoke publicly about the county manager while Askew is on vacation. Woodbury plans to schedule a meeting between the commissioners and Askew when he returns Aug. 16.

"We would have liked to keep this issue in-house and not be dragging any dirty linen in public," Woodbury said. "The commissioners need to come to me as chair and Dale as manager to make sure these issues are addressed."