Museums boss out of a job

Friday, Jan. 21, 2000 | 10:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The director of the state Division of Museums and History, who drove his car for months in Nevada without paying taxes on it, is out of a job.

Doug Mishler, the $66,334-a-year director, left his position in Carson City Wednesday. His superior, Michael Hillerby, the director of the state Department of Museums, Library and Arts, said Thursday it was a "mutually beneficial decision," when he was questioned if Mishler had been asked to resign.

Sources within the division, who asked not to be named, said there was unrest in the agency, which was partly due to Mishler and partly due to the staff. One complaint was of Mishler taking two vacations before he had been on the job for six months.

Mishler could not be reached for comment.

Hillerby said he was pleased with the direction the division was heading and praised the staff as "good people."

No replacement has been named for Mishler, who was hired for the top job last July.

Mishler drove a late model Toyota, which bore an Oregon license plate for several months. He had bought the car in Oregon before his state appointment. The law requires registration in Nevada within 30 days after the vehicle arrives in the state.

And Mishler did not pay the use tax on the car. He said he bought the car in Oregon where he has property -- a state that has no sales tax. But bringing property into Nevada for use requires payment of a use tax.

After he was questioned about his car, he went to the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety and registered the vehicle, paying a fee of about $300. He was asked at the time if he was a resident of Oregon, and he replied he was a resident of both Oregon and Nevada.

Hillerby, when he learned Mishler was driving a car with Oregon plates, ordered him to get them changed.

Before taking the state job, Mishler worked as southern coordinator for the Nevada Humanities Committee in Las Vegas.

Hillerby said he was not sure when he would fill the job. His first priority, he said, is getting a director for the Nevada State Museum in Carson City. He said there are 13 candidates and interviews will begin soon.