Editorial: Wrong man for the times

Thursday, July 5, 2007 | 7:30 a.m.

St ate homeland security chief Larry Martines is quitting after a short, divisive tenure carrying out Gov. Jim Gibbons' foolish mandates.

As reported in Tuesday's Las Vegas Sun by Jeff German, a spokesman for the governor had nothing to say about Martines' departure, which is ironic given the alleged importance of his position.

On Jan. 1, just seconds after taking the oath of office, Gibbons appointed Martines and Phil Galeoto, who took over the state Public Safety Department. "Nevadans should be assured that their leaders are in place, ready for any emergency," Gibbons crowed in a news release.

Gibbons added that Martines "has the necessary skills to work with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to make our homeland security efforts more effective."

Martines went to Washington and won the support of Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., for the creation of a major state terrorism intelligence center in Carson City by giving the false impression that law enforcement officials were behind the idea.

After writing Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in support of the plan, the senators had to withdraw their support because they eventually learned the truth: The center would conflict with those in Reno and Las Vegas, and law enforcement officials agreed the major facility should be in Southern Nevada, which anyone with a lick of common sense would say is a no-brainer. The Carson City plan, one of Gibbons' stated priorities, is just a vanity project for a governor who wants a place close to the mansion where he can play commander in chief.

Although Martines was the point man, Gibbons bears the responsibility. This mess is just another example of the governor's failed leadership and his shortsighted vision for Nevada.