Editorial: Five years of leadership

Friday, June 23, 2006 | 7:17 a.m.

In the five years that he has held the job of Clark County manager, Thom Reilly's philosophy has been to engage the community in dealing with many of our complex issues.

We hope the next county manager continues Reilly's philosophy, as it has resulted in much progress and comparatively little controversy in regard to managing the fundamental services affecting people's lives. Reilly created or participated in many citizen task forces to address such issues as homelessness, red ink at the county hospital and growth.

He also showed individual strength when the moment called for it, such as when he devised a plan to get the long-delayed Regional Justice Center opened, and when he decided the overburdened Family Services Department needed a new director immediately as opposed to waiting for the results of a national search.

Toughness was not lacking either, as indicated by his successful stand against a 25.6 percent wage and benefits hike over four years that was proposed by the powerful police union.

Reilly's effective management style was bound to catch another employer's eye, which is what happened this week when Chancellor Jim Rogers tapped him to become a vice chancellor and lead the university system's new Health Science Center. The Board of Regents will almost certainly ratify the appointment.

We hope the qualities that Reilly brought to the county manager's job - eagerness to work with the community, support for social service programs, an eye for efficient organization and ability to communicate well with the elected commissioners - will be models for future county managers.