County manager survives year of pressure

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

A meeting that many predicted would spell the end for Clark County Manager Dale Askew instead became a day of relief Tuesday for the top administrator, who has been under fire for more than a year.

Commissioners unanimously voted to table an item that called for a discussion about Askew's "professional competence" and a vote on whether to renew his contract, which expires in April.

Because the board tabled the issue, it would take a majority vote of the board to even get the item back on an agenda. Board members supportive of Askew, therefore, saw Tuesday's action as a victory.

"It was the outcome that I expected," Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates said. "Now that this is over and behind us, it's time for the commission to work together and support the county manager."

If the item does not reappear on the commission agenda by Jan. 30, Askew automatically receives a two-year extension.

Because commissioners Erin Kenny and Dario Herrera could not drum up the majority of the board's support to oust Askew, it is doubtful they could do it to place the issue back on an agenda.

Herrera, who met with Askew over the weekend, has agreed to try to work with the county manager. He and Kenny claim Askew lacks communication skills. Kenny, according to her colleagues, was opposed to tabling the item but had no support.

"I'm very encouraged by what happened today," Askew said. "I'm comfortable this is put to rest and now I can focus on the business of running the county, which is what I should be doing."

Weary from constant discussions about his future, Askew had talked about possible compensation packages with friends. Those discussions have quieted for now as Askew intends to work on his relationships with board members.

"I still maintain if a commissioner has a concern with me, I'd prefer we deal with it one on one," Askew said. "I'm more responsive in that format than in a public meeting."

Commissioners Atkinson Gates, Bruce Woodbury and Myrna Williams have stood firmly behind Askew, leaving the county manager's fate with board members Mary Kincaid and Lance Malone.

Despite an animated conversation with Kenny as the board registered its votes Tuesday, Kincaid stuck by her word that she would not vote to fire Askew.

Individual board members reportedly decided that tabling the item was the best way to resolve the controversy that already was pitting commissioners against one another.

"I wanted it to be on the agenda; it got everything out in the open," Atkinson Gates said. "It's time for us to start working with him and not sabotage him."