Bill Bible seen as a perfect fit for NRA

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999 | 11:10 a.m.

To many, Bill Bible, the career bureaucrat born into a prominent Nevada family, is an unlikely candidate to take the reins of the casino industry's influential political arm.

As chairman of the state Gaming Control Board for 10 years, the 55-year-old Bible was not afraid to make tough decisions that went against the industry.

In the months before he was hired last week as president of the Nevada Resort Association, there was much talk on the Strip that Bible couldn't work with industry's high-powered lobbyists and political operatives because of his many clashes with them over the years.

Last July, when it looked as though Bible's chances of landing the coveted job were dead, he returned to his first love, state government. He was elected chairman of the Nevada Ethics Commission, where big things were in the works.

But last week, when NRA Chairman Mike Sloan, his longtime friend, called with a lucrative six-figure offer, Bible jumped at the chance to hook up with the very people he had regulated. Heavyweights, such as Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, Park Place Entertainment President Arthur Goldberg and Mandalay Resort Group Chairman Mike Ensign, all signed off on his hiring.

And now, those within the industry are saying Bible is a perfect fit for the NRA -- the right man at the right time to lead the organization into the next millennium.

"We could not have dreamed of finding someone with a better resume of experience for the job," said Sloan, who is credited with engineering the deal. "He will bring a systematic approach to developing a long-range plan for us."

American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf, who will be Bible's counterpart in Washington, said Bible's hiring gives the NRA a bigger presence on the political scene.

"You've got a man who is respected not only in Nevada, but throughout the United States and internationally for his knowledge of the gaming industry and his integrity," Fahrenkopf said.

Bible, who is resigning his post at the ethics commission, brings a wealth of experience in all of the areas the NRA needs to protect its interests.

He's a numbers man with a keen understanding of budgets, having served as the state's budget director from 1983-87.

His knowledge of gaming, a result of his decade on the Control Board and two-year stint on the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, is unparalleled among his peers.

And he has a good command of politics, a trait he picked up from his late father, Sen. Alan Bible, D-Nev. In 1988, Bible put his knowledge of politics to work when he ran Richard Byran's first Senate campaign.

Bible's years in Carson City also have taught him how to play the inside game at the Legislature. He once headed the Legislature's Fiscal Division.

As he attempts to reshape the NRA, known more for its clash of egos than its political clout, Bible likely will have to call upon all of his skills.

He'll be getting big bucks to do it. He reportedly will receive more than $250,000 a year over the next two years to redefine the association's priorities.

"Since the organization was founded, the needs of gaming have changed dramatically," Bible said. "I'm going to assess the capabilities of the organization, adapt it to today's environment and prepare it for the gaming world of the future."

Those words should be comforting to NRA members, who in recent months have been fighting again with each other.

Retiring NRA President Richard Bunker has been credited with holding the group together during some periless times.

But Bible now is being asked to take things a step further -- to show the NRA how to take a global view of the dangers facing the industry.

Those within the NRA know that more has to be done than just lobbying. They know that as gambling continues to come under attack across the country, the industry must develop a full-fledged public relations machine to put out its story.

"People are hoping Bible will bring a vision to the organization," one NRA insider said. "More planning needs to be done."

Planning, it turns out, is Bible's specialty.

"I'm obviously not going to make any earth-shattering changes," Bible said. "There's a solid foundation there.

But Bible said it's clear to him the association needs to be "more pro-active on state, federal and local issues."

That may mean a significant change in the organization's dues structure, which hasn't been altered in years, according to some within the NRA.

In Washington, Bible said, the NRA is in good hands with veteran lobbyist Wayne Mehl, a former top aide to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Bible described Mehl's lobbying efforts as "fruitful and productive."

As for Carson City, Bible said he plans to be involved in shaping the NRA's legislative agenda.

Just how that will affect the role of lead lobbyists, Billy Vassiliadis and Harvey Whittemore, remains to be seen.

Both, however, are said to be looking forward to working with their new boss.

Bible acknowledged that he has had disagreements on a professional level with some casino operatives over the years.

But he added: "I've had good relationships with the people in the industry, and I would expect that to continue."

The honeymoon appears to have started.

"What the industry needs right now is an activist, somebody who can take control on a day-to-day basis and do the things that need to be done," one NRA insider said.

Those close to Bible know he's the kind of guy who likes to take control.

Analysis