Askew’s status remains in limbo

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Nov. 10, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

Clark County Manager Dale Askew confirmed Thursday that he asked a friend's advice about a severance package but emphasized he is not yet ready to surrender his job despite pressure from some commissioners.

Askew said rather than leaving the county on his own terms he will see if his fate ends up on a Clark County Commission agenda.

Commissioner Mary Kincaid said this morning that during a meeting with Askew on Tuesday afternoon, the county manager appeared fatigued by some board members' constant push for his resignation.

"He told me he was tired of all this stuff and had been talking to (former county manager) Pat Shalmy and was thinking about putting together a severance package," Kincaid said. "I told him that had to be his decision."

Commissioners Erin Kenny, Dario Herrera and Lance Malone have criticized Askew's managerial style and communication skills and said they want a new administrator.

Askew's contract expires in April, and the board must give him 90 days notice if it does not plan to extend it an additional two years.

Kincaid said Askew and his wife are discussing his future, and the county manager said if he decides to leave he will bring a letter of resignation and compensation package before the board.

"I had a feeling he's made a decision that he's not going to stay a long time," Kincaid said.

Askew said he has discussed severance packages with Shalmy, now the president of Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Shalmy has said when new commissioners joined the board in 1996, he could "see the writing on the wall" and decided to leave. Askew, then Shalmy's assistant, took over.

But Askew said he did not discuss a severance package with Kincaid and does not plan to resign because the majority of commissioners continue to support him.

"I have the support of the majority of the board. I went around to commissioners and that indeed is the case," Askew said. "I'm not considering leaving; I'm not asking for a severance package."

Whether the board has the votes to oust Askew is doubtful. While Kenny and Herrera would welcome the move, Malone -- who lost his job to Chip Maxfield -- has wavered on whether he would vote. Even if Malone participated, the fourth vote would be hard to come by.

Commission chairman Bruce Woodbury, who along with Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates is a staunch supporter of Askew, said Malone should not vote on Askew's future.

"Commissioner Malone, with all due respect, should not play a role," Woodbury said.

Kincaid said she believes with Askew's intelligence and kindness he could find a better-paying job that is less stressful. However, Kincaid said, if the county manager decides to stay, she will support him and would never cast a vote to fire him.

"If he decides to leave, it's his own decision," Kincaid said. "I'm going to respect whatever decision he makes."