Governor stuck with gas-guzzling vehicle

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005 | 8:51 a.m.

CARSON CITY - With the rising price of gasoline, some governors are giving up their luxury cars for more fuel-efficient models.

Gov. Kenny Guinn is stuck, at least for the time being, with his gas-guzzling Cadillac Escalade. A spokesman for the Cadillac dealer, Scott Motors of Reno, said the Escalade gets 23 miles per gallon on the road and 16 in the city.

But the Energy Department says the vehicle gets 17 miles per gallon on the highway and 13 in the city.

Steve George, Guinn's press secretary, said Tuesday the company provides a free vehicle to the governor. This year the dealership did not have any smaller models, so they gave the governor the Escalade.

George said the governor is waiting for a more fuel-efficient vehicle. He said Guinn drives it only in Carson City to and from work and to the airport in Carson The Cadillac that the governor had before got more than 20 miles per gallon, George said.

An Associated Press survey found several governors have abandoned their larger cars in favor of smaller models. For instance, it reported Florida Gov. Jeb Bush parked his Ford Expedition and uses a Ford Escape hybrid when he travels around Tallahassee.

Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Tom Vilsack of Iowa shifted to SUVs that run on E85, a gas-ethanol blend. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has abandoned his Lincoln Navigator that got about 15 miles to the gallon and switched to a Ford Escape hybrid that gets twice the mileage, according to the AP survey.