Job description is regents’ challenge

Jennifer Knight

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

As candidates running for the state Board of Regents make a final push to appeal to voters in next week's election, they face a unique obstacle -- getting people to learn just what their job entails.

"Very few people know what a regent is," said District 2 candidate Bret Whipple, who has been campaigning door to door in his district.

"When I talk to people, I would say 75 to 80 percent of my time is spent telling people what a regent does and the rest of my time is spent telling people why I want to be one."

The Board of Regents is in charge of operating the University and Community College System of Nevada.

With most of the public's attention focused on key congressional races, the nonpartisan, unpaid position of regent is often overlooked. That's why some candidates for regent are including a job description in their latest round of campaign mailers.

"Unlike the bigger races where you've got so much money to do what you need, in these races you're trying to do one mailer or an auto-dial (campaign) so that people will just remember your name," Mike Sullivan, a political consultant, said.

Incumbent Regent Thalia Dondero's newest mailer asks, "What's so important about a University Regent, anyway?" Inside are her views and a brief description telling voters that regents "regulate and monitor the most important entity of all -- the future of our children."

Her District 3 opponent, Paul Aizley, is even more direct. "What do regents do?" asks the mailer. The answer ticks off four areas of higher education that a regent is responsible for.

Sullivan said nonpartisan races like those for university regent often leave voters scratching their heads.

"You'll find the same thing in your county treasurer and county clerk races," Sullivan said. "They are just are not going to understand what these people do. Most people think that the Clark County Commission runs the schools."

Regent Steve Sisolak said getting people to recognize his name was expensive.

"I spent $250,000 four years ago trying to do (that)," he said.

But while most regent candidates try to get across their message as part of their campaign, chances are voters need to remember only one thing -- the name.

"My key is, just remember their name," Sullivan said. "When voters get to the polls, I'm sure they are not going to say, 'I really want to vote for that regents race.'

"They're going to vote for the name."