Guinn’s new chief of staff is welcomed

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 | 8:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Michael Hillerby, a trained opera singer and a veteran lobbyist, takes over as chief of staff for Gov. Kenny Guinn at the end of this week, and he says not to expect any major changes.

"We'll be watching the economy and the budget and Yucca Mountain," said Hillerby, who succeeds Marybel Batjer, who will join the Cabinet of California Gov.-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger at the end of this week.

Guinn's chief of staff is one of the most powerful people in state government, handing out direction to state agencies.

Hillerby, who has been deputy chief of staff, was the front man for Guinn in the recent Legislature, pushing the administration programs.

The selection of Hillerby drew praise from Assembly leaders.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said Hillerby was a "bright thoughtful person."

"He gained a lot of expertise. He's a very good choice," said Buckley, who called Batjer's departure a "big loss."

"She is a very talented person who will do well in California. This is good for Schwarzenegger and bad for Nevada," she said.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said she had a good relationship with Hillerby. She noted that even though she was in the minority in the Senate and in the opposite party from Guinn, Hillerby "did a good job keeping me in the loop."

Titus said she had criticized Guinn on occasion, but "that didn't keep Mike from talking to me."

Hillerby, 39, is Guinn's fourth chief of staff in his five years in office. Others were Peter Ernaut and Scott Scherer. Ernaut went into private business and Guinn appointed Scherer to the state Gaming Control Board.

"They have all gone upward and not backward," Guinn said at a news conference Tuesday.

Hillerby has been deputy chief of staff since March 2001. Before that he was director of the state's Cultural Affairs Department for 18 months, and before that he was arts and culture manager for Reno.

He has sung in about 30 operas including "Rigoletto" and "The Merry Widow." He was a lobbyist for about eight years for such groups as Washoe Health System, dentists, veterinarians and accountants.

Batjer will be the Cabinet secretary for Schwarzenegger, making sure the Cabinet members know and carry out the policies of the governor.

Asked if she was concerned about the reports that Schwarzenegger groped women, Batjer said: "I won't dignify that with an answer."

Batjer, who said she did not actively seek the new job, met with Schwarzenegger last month to talk about issues common to both states. She said there was no talk of a job at that time. Guinn said Schwarzenegger called him Tuesday and asked if it was all right to offer the job to Batjer.

Guinn said the two states share interests. He noted Nevada put money into freeway construction in Southern California to relieve bottlenecks for tourists getting to Las Vegas. The two states also share Lake Tahoe, and there is mutual concern over the expansion of Indian gambling in California.

Batjer said she has not yet been involved in any policy issues in California.

Batjer stressed she was a fourth-generation Nevadan but since her graduation from Carson High School, she has worked mainly outside the state for the federal government and for Pete Wilson, the former Republican governor of California.