Official admits to objectional e-mail

Thursday, April 1, 2004 | 11:50 a.m.

By Cy Ryan

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- A high-ranking member of Gov. Kenny Guinn's administration has told his staff in a e-mail he thinks that Sen. Sandra Tiffany of Henderson "is an a------."

Terry Savage, director of the Information Technology Department, confirmed today that he sent the e-mail to staff executives on Sept. 9. The e-mail with the expletive said, "Now it's no surprise to anyone I hold that view, and one could even argue it's true."

Savage and Tiffany tangled during the Legislature over the state's computer system.

Savage, a Cabinet member and Guinn appointee, said he has since apologized to Tiffany.

"I was pretty annoyed for a while, but I got over it," Savage said. He agreed it was an "inappropriate" thing to do on the e-mail system and said "I regret it happened."

He said he informed the governor's office about the incident. Greg Bortolin, Guinn's press secretary, said "Terry knows this is not the kind of think we expect to happen.

"Everybody in the governor's office is hopeful everyone can move forward," Bortolin said.

No disciplinary action was taken. Savage offered the apology and informed the governor only after the e-mail started being circulated last month.

Tiffany said Savage called her and left a message apologizing for his action about two weeks ago. She said she did not know what he was talking about, but she later received a copy of the e-mail. The Sun also received a copy of the e-mail.

"It is not very smart to make derogatory remarks on the state's e-mail," Tiffany said. "I'm surprised at his unprofessionalism."

Tiffany said she was more concerned about what Savage has done since than his description of her.

"We told him he could upgrade his mainframe" computer, Tiffany said. "Instead he went out and bought a new one.

"It's the first time I knew that Terry Savage was not respectful of the Legislature."

She said legislative staff is looking into allegations that he did not follow the Legislature's intent by shifting positions and money from one account to another.

Savage said he and Tiffany are trying to do the same thing -- improve the computer system. He said he will provide a better explanation in 2005 of what his department is trying to do.