Sandoval named Nevada Gaming Commission chairman

Wednesday, March 31, 1999 | 8:59 a.m.

Sandoval, 35, a rising GOP star, was appointed chairman by Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn. He was named to the commission last April by then-Democratic Gov. Bob Miller.

Curran was appointed to the Gaming Commission 10 years ago by Miller and became chairman two years later. While Sandoval will take over as chairman April 28, Curran will remain as a panel member until Guinn can find a replacement. The governor said he'll focus his search in southen Nevada.

Sandoval was completing his second terms in the Nevada Assembly when he quit last year to take the assignment on the commission, which oversees Nevada's multi-billion-dollar casino industry.

He was one of several Assembly Republican incumbents who chose not to seek re-election in 1998. While the November elections left his seat in GOP hands, Assembly Democrats won other seats to expand their voting edge from 25-17 to 28-14.

In addition to his Gaming Commission duties, Sandoval also was selected last December by Nevada members of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to fill a TRPA seat previously held by Las Vegas casino executive Steve Wynn.

Sandoval graduated from Bishop Manogue High School and the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his law degree from Ohio State.

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