Rulffes doesn’t want to take district for a ride

Wednesday, March 1, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

Hey Rulffes! Nice ride.

Or maybe not.

With Clark County Schools Superintendent Walt Rulffes entitled to a $500-per-month car lease under his new contract, he might be forgiven for indulging in a lease on a flashy vehicle.

But Rulffes said that's not his style. He also has ruled out using the vehicle the district bought for his predecessor, Carlos Garcia - whose choice of a Ford Explorer XLT with four-wheel drive, six-CD sound system and third-row seating raised eyebrows at the district.

Garcia said he needed the four-wheel drive to visit campuses under construction. Rulffes, however, brings to the office the penny-pinching habits he advocated during seven years as the district's chief financial officer.

"I don't need a Hummer," said Rulffes, who will earn $290,000 annually through July 2007. "I'll park and walk in - I'm not in a hurry," Rulffes said.

He currently drives his own car, a 2003 Lexus 300 series.

The district's 2004 purchase of the new SUV for Garcia was a source of controversy. Critics argued that the superintendent could get by with a less expensive vehicle. The price tag for the Ford Explorer was $29,888, which included a $7,300 "extras" package.

Garcia said he needed the SUV to visit school construction sites that are often off unpaved roads. When Garcia left in July, the district moved the Ford over to its car fleet.

Several years ago Rulffes began reining in employee use of district-owned vehicles. Administrators turned in their keys to the so-called "white fleet" in exchange for stipends toward fuel costs. The switch drew praise from watchdog groups including the Nevada Taxpayers Association.

A 2005 legislative audit urged the district to go even further and establish better methods of tracking vehicle usage. A newly hired fleet manager is doing just that, Rulffes said.

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said she was pleased the district was carrying out the recommendations. She said she was also pleased that Rulffes has no plans to shop for a candy-apple red convertible.

Emily Richmond can be reached at 259-8829 or at emily@lasvegassun.com.