Moore off hook with board after criticism of regent

Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 11:38 a.m.

Making a stinging public criticism about a member of the Board of Regents didn't appear to be a good career move for Richard Moore, especially after he had served less than two months as founding president of a planned state college in Henderson.

But it sure worked out that way.

Moore received a vote of confidence Thursday from eight of the 11 regents after a personnel session where, according to the agenda, his "character, alleged misconduct, professional competence or physical or mental health" were to be discussed.

After the hour-long discussion behind closed doors, Regent Douglas Roman Hill made the motion "to give a vote of confidence to Dr. Moore for his unfailing efforts to bring higher education to the people of Nevada."

Nothing was mentioned of Moore's Feb. 1 comments to an audience at UNLV where he called Regent Steve Sisolak "an enemy of this project," referring to the four-year state college that will be built only if the Legislature funds it in 2001.

Sisolak, who said Moore later apologized for his remark, called other board members after the incident, including Chairwoman Jill Derby, who put the matter on the Thursday agenda.

A day before that meeting Derby, appearing before the Sun editorial board, said, "There is a lot of support on the (regents) board for Dr. Moore."

In the end, Sisolak simply did not have anywhere near enough votes for the issuing of a reprimand to Moore, who in December was given the job of president amid controversy over a selection process that did not call for a national search.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick voted no. Sisolak and Regent Mark Alden abstained. After the vote, Kirkpatrick and Sisolak told the audience at the Community College of Southern Nevada's West Charleston campus that they are not enemies of the state college.

In making his motion to support Moore, Hill praised him for having "the courage" to take on the task of getting the state college off the ground.