By Mark Hansel (contact)

Wed, Dec 3, 2008 (12:46 p.m.)

Fretwell

The Las Vegas City Council today, in a unanimous vote, chose Elizabeth “Betsy” Fretwell to replace Douglas Selby as city manager.

Selby announced his retirement last month, effective in January.

The appointment is pending the negotiation of a contract with Fretwell and approval of that contract by the council at the Jan. 21, 2009, meeting.

Fretwell, who is currently a deputy city manager, has been involved in local government administration for almost 16 years. Prior to joining the City of Las Vegas, Fretwell held the position of intergovernmental relations director for the city of Henderson, Nevada, where she headed public policy and program research and development for the city manager, mayor and city council, and served as the city’s chief lobbyist at the Nevada State Legislature.

In 2006, Fretwell was appointed by then-Gov. Kenny Guinn to the Medical Education, Research and Training Commission.

Before joining the City of Henderson, Fretwell worked for Clark County in public policy and organizational analysis. She coordinated countywide strategic planning activities, including commission planning sessions, performance measurement, leadership development and business planning. She also served as a lobbyist at the Nevada State Legislature for two sessions, including acting as chief lobbyist in 1997.

Fretwell will assume the position on Jan. 23, 2009.