County manager Askew prepared to quit

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 10:57 a.m.

Pressure mounted for Clark County manager Dale Askew to step down and make way for a new administration Wednesday, one day after three of the four incumbent Clark County commissioners recaptured their seats.

Clark County sources said commissioner Mary Kincaid visited Askew's office Tuesday to discuss his future. Askew reportedly told Kincaid he is considering putting a severance package together to bring before the board.

Neither Askew nor Kincaid returned repeated phone calls this morning.

However, Pat Shalmy, president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and former county manager, said Askew has called him to discuss compensation he received when he left the county in 1996.

"We're friends, and I had a conversation with him about how I exited," Shalmy said. "He asked about the compensation I had earned, and I advised him that if it's going to happen, he needs to be thinking about it."

Askew's three-year contract expires in April, and if the board does not wish to extend it another two years, it must give Askew 90-days notice. Commissioners Dario Herrera and Erin Kenny have made it clear they want Askew out.

Whether the commission has the four votes needed to oust Askew, however, is questionable.

Commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates and board chairman Bruce Woodbury still stand strongly behind Askew. Board member Lance Malone has sided with Kenny and Herrera, but since he lost his bid for re-election to Chip Maxfield he has said he will not vote on the matter.

Woodbury said this morning that he and Kincaid spoke about county issues Wednesday, but Kincaid did not mention meeting with Askew. He said he too had heard the meeting took place.

"I called Dale to find out what's going on," Woodbury said. "But until I hear from Dale, I don't know what's going on."

County sources also said Chamber of Commerce chairman Bob Forbuss had discussions with the county manager about leaving. Forbuss said this morning that other than hearing commissioners' concerns, he has tried to stay out of the situation.

"I've talked to commissioners, and I'm hearing them say they have concerns," Forbuss said. "But it's their call. I'm trying to stay away from it."

Askew considering leaving on his own terms creates a different situation than last year when Kenny and Herrera opening discussed their intent to try to gain the four votes needed to oust him. The commissioners criticized Askew for his management style and lack of communication skills.

When rumblings of another attempt to remove Askew from office resurfaced last month, the county manager acknowledged something could happen before the mandatory 90-day notice period for his contract extension.

"It can happen any time," Askew said at the time. "I suspect after the election there will be some type of effort made."