County to let Askew be — at least for now

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

Clark County commissioners were expected to delay a vote today on County Manager Dale Askew's future, temporarily ending a yearlong controversy that infuriated some board members.

Askew has been under fire from Commissioners Erin Kenny and Dario Herrera, who since 1999 have criticized his management style and his lack of communication skills.

The two board members hoped to gain the support of their colleagues in ousting Askew, replacing him with Thom Reilly, a former administrative services director who now teaches at UNLV.

Kenny placed the Askew item on today's agenda, hoping to drum up the majority of the seven-member board's support. But it became increasingly doubtful that four commissioners would vote to fire the county leader. Commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Bruce Woodbury and Myrna Williams stood firmly behind Askew. Mary Kincaid said she would not vote to fire him and Lance Malone -- whose term ends in January -- said he would not vote on the matter.

Rather than taking a vote on whether to extend Askew's contract, which is up in April, the board was expected to consider different options like a one-year performance review.

Today's action doesn't necessarily mean the end of Askew's troubles. Commissioners must give the county manager 90 days notice if they plan to terminate his contract -- giving them until the end of January to revisit the issue.

Herrera, who plans to run for the new congressional seat to be created next year and perhaps is steering clear of controversy, has said he would not pursue further action against Askew after today. However, he said he expects Askew to work on communicating better with all commissioners.

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