Forum ‘a tremendous experience’

Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

Peter Bernhard

School: Western High Sun Youth

Forum years: 1965, 1966

Graduation: 1967 College: Harvard (1971), George Washington Law School (1975)

Occupation: Attorney, practicing commercial litigation

Accomplishments: Admitted to the Nevada Bar (1975); appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn to the Nevada Ethics Commission (1999); appointed by Guinn to chairmanship of the Nevada Gaming Commission (2001)

When Peter Bernhard sat down 39 years ago to write a column for the Las Vegas Sun on his experiences at the Sun Youth Forum, he knew he had to keep his obligation to the other students to write the consensus opinion, not his.

That was tough because of the 30 students, he was among only nine who thought wiretapping was an intrusion on people's rights.

"I recognized why the law was developed, but still I was concerned -- and still am -- about privacy rights and government interference," Bernhard said.

Bernhard also wrote in the column about corruption in gambling, an issue that would be of great importance to him later in life as head of the commission that oversees gaming in Nevada.

"It was agreed gambling, or taking a chance, is part of human nature," Bernhard wrote. "Thus gambling will exist whether it is legal or illegal. In Nevada, honest operation of casinos is of prime importance ... to attract tourists."

Bernhard, who had been a Sun paperboy, said while participating in the Youth Forum he was "impressed with the caliber of moderators," who included Bill Briare, the future mayor of Las Vegas.

Bernhard said he was fortunate in his youth to have other good adult role models, including former Clark County District Attorney George Dickerson.

"I used to deliver the Sun to George Dickerson and he gave me the advice to go to law school because, as an attorney, no two days are alike," Bernhard said.

At the forum, he also was "impressed with the diversity of opinions that were expressed. It was a tremendous experience to witness the exchange ideas of people with divergent backgrounds."

As for the Sun reaching the 50-year plateau, Bernhard said: "It is a credit to the Greenspun family (owners of the Sun) and (late Assistant to the Publisher and longtime Youth Forum Director) Ruthe Deskin and their commitment to the Southern Nevada community."

Ed Koch can be reached at 259-4090 or at koch@lasvegassun.com.