Gibbons drops airport from safety panel

By J. Patrick Coolican (contact)

Friday, July 20, 2007 | 7:21 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons has removed the lone representative of McCarran International Airport from the state's Homeland Security Commission.

Gibbons, a Republican, hasn't selected a replacement yet for Rosemary Vassiliadis, who is currently deputy director of the Clark County Aviation Department and the wife of a prominent Democrat.

The governor is also replacing Robert Hadfield of the Lyon County manager's office.

The 14-member board advises the governor on homeland security needs and planning.

There were conflicting accounts Thursday about whether the airport would now be represented on the commission. The chairman, Dr. Dale Carrison, said the governor's office told him no McCarran representative was being considered.

But Melissa Subbotin, the Republican governor's spokeswoman, said, "We will be considering a number of applicants, and a candidate from the airport could possibly be one of those individuals."

Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera, a Democrat and legislative representative on the commission, said he was unaware of the replacements. He praised Vassiliadis and her service and encouraged the governor to find someone with ties to the airport.

"Absolutely somebody from the airport ought to be on the commission. You only have to look to 9/11 , to see what weapons they used , to know that," he said.

Carrison said he would continue to consult airport officials, even if none is named to the commission.

Nevada political circles buzzed over whether the decision to replace Vassiliadis was politically motivated.

She's the wife of Billy Vassiliadis, a leading Democratic strategist who's the chief executive of R&R Partners, an advertising and public affairs firm.

R&R Partners battled the governor in the recent legislative session over transportation dollars because Gibbons sought to take money from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. R&R produces the LVCVA's "What happens here, stays here" advertising campaign.

Friends and colleagues of Rosemary Vassiliadis were furious about both the removal and how it was handled. Rather than making the telephone call himself, the governor had a junior aide to his chief-of-staff call her.

Subbotin said Vassiliadis hadn't been asked to step down. "Members of the board serve at the pleasure of the governor," she said, suggesting that Vassiliadis had been relieved of her duties instead of being given an opportunity to resign.

When asked about any political motivation behind the move, Subbotin said : "I am not going to speculate on motives but, you know, he has appreciated her service. But he's looking to bring some new members on to the board."

Rosemary Vassiliadis said in a statement: "I appreciate my time on the commission and am honored to have served with the board. I worked with committed people who dedicated themselves to the safety and security of Nevada. I have every confidence the board will fulfill its tremendous responsibility."

This is the second appointment-related eyebrow-raising episode this week for Gibbons.

He also replaced Michon Mackedon, one of the fiercest Yucca Mountain opponents on the Nevada Nuclear Projects Commission, with Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley, a well-known advocate of the proposed nuclear waste repository. Late Wednesday, after Eastley's pro-dump record began circulating, the appointment was rescinded.

Earlier this year, Larry Martines stepped down after a brief tenure as Gibbons' homeland security adviser. He had received low marks from law enforcement and ran afoul of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev ., for apparently misrepresenting the views of Nevada law enforcement officials on a homeland security matter.