Guinn decrees term limits for state boards

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 10:19 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Constitution limits the governor and other state elected officials to two terms, and Gov. Kenny Guinn is going to extend that policy to major state boards and commissions.

After a person has served eight to 10 years on a board, it's time to give somebody else a chance, he said Wednesday.

"There are a lot of commissions we're looking at," says Guinn. "And there is a variety of people who have never had a chance to serve who would like to serve."

The Nevada Gaming Commission and the state Athletic Commission, two of the most sought-after appointments by citizens, are examples of boards that have members appointed by the governor.

Carrying out the policy isn't easy, as shown by the case of Dr. James Nave, who served on the Nevada Athletic Commission for 11 years. He's a longtime personal friend of Guinn's. But to give somebody else a chance, Guinn named Amy Ayoub of Las Vegas to succeed Nave.

"We all know people who serve in these public positions, even if they are appointed by another governor," Guinn said. "It's not that they are not doing a good job. I have not come across any of them who have not done what I consider to be a very good job.

"It's just opening it up to a public policy to allow some turnover so other people can get the opportunity," he said, adding it brings in fresh blood.

"Generally speaking when people know that's what it is when they go in there (two terms), you don't have to wait until they can no longer do the job or maybe there is a problem after 15 or 20 years," he said.

Most of these jobs receive little pay. For instance, members of the Athletic Commission receive $80 a day for each meeting.

Former Gov. Bob Miller, early in his administration, said he would start that policy. But later it fell into limbo with the governor reappointing people to three and four terms.

Guinn knows there's the counter argument. The longer a person stays on a commission, "the better knowledge bank you have, the better you can do," he says. But the governor, state officers and members of the Legislature are limited to so many terms.

There will be exceptions, the governor said. "When you've got nine people on a board and eight are brand new and the other person is going into his 10th year, they could stay because of public policy and good management."

This policy probably won't apply to minor boards and commissions, which Guinn acknowledges "are very tough to fill."