Valentine finalist for county job

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

Former Las Vegas City Manager Virginia Valentine is the leading candidate for the assistant Clark County manager position left open in August when Mike Alastuey resigned, county sources said today.

Valentine, who surprised City Council members in April when she announced her resignation, is one of three finalists scheduled to be interviewed by Clark County Manager Thom Reilly today.

Murray and Associates, the California-based recruitment firm hired to conduct a nationwide search, chose her as a finalist.

"They made a recommendation and with her background it's not a surprise," Reilly said Tuesday.

None of the finalists were immediately available for comment.

The two other candidates are: Gail Waiters, assistant city manager of Oakland, Calif., and former chief of staff for the Santa Clara Water District; and Marlene Lockard, vice president of E-Government Strategy and the state's former chief information officer.

Lockard worked as Richard Bryan's chief of staff when he was governor. She was the first female chief of staff in state history.

County officials say Valentine, senior vice president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, is the likely front-runner because of the reputation she earned during her four years as Las Vegas city manager and because of her engineering experience. Valentine was the first general manager of the Regional Flood Control District.

Reilly said that locally "both (Lockard and Valentine) have a very good reputation."

Reilly said Valentine, who said she left the city to spend more time with her 2-year-old daughter, expressed interest when the job became available. County sources say Reilly called Valentine about the job and met with Valentine on several occasions to discuss the position.

Reilly said Murray and Associates received about 100 applications for the job, which pays a maximum of $150,000 a year. The firm whittled the number of candidates to 12.

During the last month, the finalists gave presentations to a team of senior managers, department heads and community leaders. The county-assembled team chose five finalists.

Reilly excused two late Tuesday -- a county executive from Colorado and a city manager from Southern California. Reilly declined to release more information about the two men.

A year ago, Reilly hired Catherine Cortez-Masto to fill a newly created third assistant county manager position, overseeing the county's judicial functions such as the public defender's office. Rick Holmes is the other assistant county manager and has responsibility for development services.

The person chosen to replace Alastuey will oversee the information technology, election, parks and community services and social services divisions.

Reilly is expected to make a recommendation to the commission by early November.