Askew says it’ll take majority to oust him

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000 | 11:34 a.m.

Despite continuing pressure to resign, Clark County Manager Dale Askew said Tuesday he won't leave his post unless a majority of the seven-member commission votes him out.

Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny, who has long been critical of Askew, took the first formal step to oust him Tuesday, when she requested a closed-door session next Tuesday between commissioners and Askew.

Kenny initially asked that Askew's contract be discussed during the commission's regular Tuesday meeting, but then decided on a private session. She could not be reached for comment this morning.

Askew's contract expires in April and the board is required to give him 90 days notice if it does not to wish to extend his agreement another two years. Askew has been manager since April 1997 when Pat Shalmy stepped down.

Whether the majority of the board supports Kenny's move has been in question since she and colleague Dario Herrera first made the push to get rid of Askew in August 1999.

Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury and board member Yvonne Atkinson Gates have said that they want Askew to stay. Commissioner Mary Kincaid has said she will not vote to fire Askew. Lance Malone, who lost his bid for re-election and will leave office in January, has said he will abstain.

Commissioner Myrna Williams, who could be the deciding vote, has steered clear of the controversy and did not return a call today.

"I still think I have the support of the majority of the board," Askew said Tuesday evening. "Until such time that that changes, I have no plans to retire or resign."

Atkinson Gates called Kenny's decision to place the item on the agenda "blind ambition."

The upcoming legislative session is one of the most important the county has faced in years, and it is imperative the county's administration is stable, Atkinson Gates said.

During the next session, for example, the state might transfer more tax authority to the county. Atkinson Gates said Askew is familiar with the legislative issues and is best equipped to protect the county from any harmful measures that might arise.

"They're talking about switching things from state government to county government, and we need to make sure we're not negatively impacted by those," Atkinson Gates said. "Dale has a great rapport with many of the legislators up north. I don't think this (agenda item) is well thought out."

Since 1999, Herrera and Kenny have publicly criticized Askew for his management style. They said Askew lacks communication skills and has his favorite board members whose projects are accomplished more quickly.

The two have recommended Thom Reilly, the county's former administrative services director who now is a professor at UNLV's School of Social Work, as Askew's potential replacement. While with the county, Reilly often acted as a liaison between Askew and some commissioners.

The agenda notice for Tuesday's meeting says the board will discuss the "professional competence" of Askew. It notes that Askew's contract calls for either party to provide notice to the other 90 days before the agreement expires.

"I think it's a very good idea for us to at least have a discussion on whether or not we should renew his contract," Herrera said. "It's incumbent upon us as elected officials to gauge whether or not Clark County is being run as effectively as it could be."

Herrera said he is unsure whether there are enough votes to terminate Askew's contract. And the commissioner said if the majority of the commissioners vote to keep the county manager, that doesn't necessarily put the controversy to rest.

"I hope that if at the end of the day Dale's contract is renewed, then at the very least he should have a better understanding of what our concerns are and work diligently to address those concerns," Herrera said. "If that doesn't happen, it will continue to be an issue."