School Board candidate raps Garcia’s new Explorer

By Emily Richmond

Friday, June 18, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

A Clark County School Board candidate took aim at Superintendent Carlos Garcia's new SUV Thursday, calling the purchase of a new Ford Explorer using district funds "a total waste."

Ryan Devins, a mortgage broker seeking to unseat incumbent Denise Brodsky for the District E seat, said he has filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission about the purchase of the $29,888 sport-utility vehicle.

"I can understand if the superintendent needs a car, but $7,300 in luxury upgrades?" Devins asked. "Why does he need a six-CD changer?"

The superintendent's contract calls for the district to provide him with a vehicle, Walt Rulffes, deputy superintendent of operations, said. The $7,300 options package is listed separately on the invoice but was part of the original price negotiated for the car and not added on later, Rulffes said.

For the 2003-04 fiscal year the school district spent $19.5 million on vehicles, Rulffes said, including $17.5 million for new school buses and $2 million for new police and facilities vehicles.

The school district eliminated nearly 100 vehicles last year when it ended its practice of providing cars to administrators, Rulffes said. Garcia's previous car, also a Ford Explorer, has been rotated into the district's fleet and will likely be used by a facilities supervisor, Rulffes said.

Garcia said he needs a four-wheel drive SUV because of his frequent visits to school construction sites, many of which are located off main roads. As for the "luxury" extras, Garcia said he made no requests for any additional features and was told the $7,300 was included in the initial price quoted for the vehicle.

Stephen Augspurger, executive director of the Clark County Association of School Administrators, said he saw nothing excessive in the vehicle purchase.