Guinn to name Chanos as new attorney general

Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 | 10:14 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said Thursday he will name Las Vegas attorney George J. Chanos, husband of the state consumer advocate, to succeed Attorney General Brian Sandoval.

Chanos, a business litigator, will take over when Sandoval is elevated to federal judge, which could come as early as November.

Chanos, a Republican who has never held political office, said he will run for election in 2006 for a four-year term. His wife, Adriana Escobar Chanos, the state consumer advocate under the attorney general's office, would would resign to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, Chanos said.

She served as a member of the state Public Utilities Commission before being named as consumer advocate.

Chanos said he is "honored by the trust and confidence" that Guinn has shown in him.

Sandoval is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 29 on the first leg to confirmation as U.S. District Court judge in Reno, succeeding Howard McKibben.

The committee is expected to vote the following week and the full Senate the week after that on Sandoval's nomination. President Bush would then sign the commission for a lifetime appointment.

Sandoval could be sworn in by early November.

The attorney general oversees about 160 lawyers out a total of office of 350 employees. The job pays $110,000, with salary jump to $133,000 after the next election.

Chanos graduated in 1981 with a bachelor's in psychology from UNLV, where he was president of the study body. He supervised a volunteer staff of more than 100 students and was involved in constructing and operating a 15,000-watt FM radio station.

He worked as an intern for Sen. Paul Laxalt until he entered the University of San Diego School of Law where he gained his law degree in 1985.

After graduation, Chanos practiced business law in San Diego, and from 1990 to 1992 he served as president of GameMakers Inc., the company that designed and produced 50,000 copies of a board game called Notable Quotabies.

He returned to practice law in San Diego from 1993 to 1995, when he returned to Las Vegas. He is involved in forming and representing corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. He has concentrated on contract negotiations, litigation and dispute resolution.

Regent Bret Whipple, who had put his name in the hat for the appointment, said he was excited for Chanos and wished him "all the best." Whipple, chairman of the Board of Regents, said he will not be run against Chanos for the office in 2006.