Women gain leadership roles

Diana Sahagun

Friday, May 31, 2002 | 11:11 a.m.

When Virginia Valentine says goodbye to Las Vegas City Hall today, she will be leaving behind a city that is gradually becoming a place where women are in charge.

Valentine in 1998 was hired as the first female city manager in the city's history, under the city's first female mayor, Jan Jones. As she pursues a new career beginning July 1, Valentine leaves behind a city where one-third of department heads are women, some whom she hired or promoted.

It's a legacy Valentine shrugs off, saying she wants to be remembered for the quality people she hired at the city, regardless of their gender or race. But other city officials say in Valentine's four-year tenure as city manager -- even though it was not her conscious plan or policy -- she boosted opportunities for women and helped diversify city government.

In the city's most recent managerial job openings -- including Business Development, Human Resources, and Leisure Services -- women have won the roles.

Barbara Jackson, promoted to Leisure Services director in June 1999, said the number of women in leadership roles is a positive sign.

"I think it reflects well on the city," she said. "The city should be reflective of all that the city has to offer and all of its diversity, whether that's ethnicity race, or gender.

"I give (Valentine) the credit for making that happen for me."

Since she joined the city, Valentine hired several women, including Claudette Enus as Human Resources director and Lesa Coder as Business Development director. She also promoted Jackson to the top spot.

Valentine also hired or promoted men to top positions, including Bob Genzer as Planning Department director and David Washington as Fire Chief in 2001.

Prior to Valentine's arrival and under the leadership of Jones, Sharon Segerblom was promoted to Neighborhood Services director in 1996, and Roni Ronemus to City Clerk in January 1997; Valentine was hired in 1998.

"I didn't hire any of these people because they were African-American or female," Valentine said. "I think the fact that we have a more diverse group now is more of a reflection of what the community looks like and the changing demographics."

Women are rising through the ranks of government nationally and becoming more competitive as they're pursing pursing higher education degrees that give them new opportunities, said Judith Saidel, director of the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society at the University of Albany in New York.

"It's part of a national trend toward recognizing the talents of a broader band of individuals in our culture," Saidel said. "There is an upward trend, which is positive, although it is certainly not an an accelerated pace."

Of the city's 18 departments, six women are in top positions, including Valentine as city manager.

Out of the 21 departments in Clark County appointed by the county manager, nine directors are women, a little more than 40 percent. Women hold other top positions, including Catherine Cortez Masto, who is assistant county manager.

In Henderson, there are 12 department heads under the city manager, of which women make up one-third. City Manager Phil Speight has three executives on his team, including Bonnie Rinaldi, assistant county manager, and Vicki Taylor, assistant to the city manager. Shauna Hughes, appointed by the City Council, is the city attorney.

Of North Las Vegas' 14 departments, four women are directors, including Debbie Lamb, court administrator.

Valentine has grown accustomed to breaking the glass ceiling.

She was the only female in her graduating class in civil engineering at the University of Idaho in 1980. And she was the fourth woman to register as a professional engineer in Nevada.

She announced her resignation last month, effective today, to spend more time with her young daughter. Starting July 1, she will serve as senior vice president of government affairs for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Valentine insists that the staff she has hired while city manager has made the city stronger.

"The ability to attract qualify people to the city is what I'm proudest of," she said. "I had some great candidates who were white males too, (Communications Director David) Riggleman and (Deputy City Manager Doug) Selby, and I am very proud of them, too."

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald saw the beginnings of a more diverse city nearly 10 years ago, when she served as assistant city manager in Las Vegas in 1994. At that time, Jones was mayor and established a female team which included another female deputy city manager.

It was only a matter of time before a woman was hired as city manager, Boggs McDonald said. She credited Jones for much of the change.

"(Jones) showed that you can be a female and the head of an organization and be just as tough, just as intelligent and just as capable as any male who had served in those roles," said Boggs McDonald, who in 1999 became the first woman to serve on the City Council. "(Jones) opened the door from which people like myself, people like Virginia Valentine and others came."

Jones says she made a conscious effort to bring qualified women into the city of Las Vegas, including her city manager.

"I think that one of the benefits of being mayor was it allows women to be very visible in a position of leadership," said Jones, who served as mayor for eight years and did not seek re-election in 1999. "You are the CEO, and I think it's important to then use that ability to identify well-qualified professional women that you can promote."

By having women in top department positions, Jones said it accelerates the institutional perception of women as competent leaders. It's not only good for the city put for private business.

"Government and business is always better served by having both men and women in senior management positions," said Jones, who now serves as vice president of communications for Harrah's Entertainment Inc. "It says the city of Las Vegas is a progressive, forward-thinking city."

Mayor Oscar Goodman, who had a law partner at one time who was a woman, said he doesn't think of the gender or race of employees -- just whoever is best for the job.

"I think we're gender-blind when it comes to government," Goodman said. "I never think -- in terms of government -- whether someone has a dress on or a suit on when they sit in front of me.

"I think that the city has been very progressive under (Valentine's) leadership and fiscally responsible in what appears to be now very hard time and I think that is what her legacy will be."