Chairman to be named in next few weeks

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001 | 10:43 a.m.

No decision will be made this week, Jack Finn said, because of the approaching Labor Day holiday. A decision could come as early as next week, but is more likely to come the week after that, he said. Guinn still needs to meet with several candidates for the position, Finn said.

The state's top gaming regulatory position was vacated Aug. 1 by Reno attorney Brian Sandoval, who is considering a run for attorney general in 2002.

Last week Guinn told Sun columnist Jon Ralston he is considering two Las Vegas attorneys for the position: John Bailey and Pete Bernhard, who is currently chairman of the state's ethics commission.

Guinn also named former Hilton executive and Ethics Commission member Raymond "Skip" Avansino as a candidate, though Ralston reported Avansino was "clearly ... not in the running anymore."

Both Bailey and Bernhard are Southern Nevadans, and Guinn indicated earlier this month that Bob Sader, former Democratic state assemblyman from Reno, was also on his short list for the commission chairmanship.

Many other names have come up as potential candidates for the chairmanship. They include state Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas; Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell; Scott Scherer, member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board; former attorney general Brian McKay; Jeffrey Rodefer, assistant chief deputy attorney general for the gaming division; and Las Vegas attorney Uri Clinton, who unsuccessfully challenged state Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, in last year's Democratic primaries.