Gibbons fills two key vacancies in administration

Monday, July 27, 2009 | 3:38 p.m.

Stacy Woodbury

Lynn Hettrick

CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons has named a former longtime assemblyman and former head of the state Ethics Commission to fill key posts in his administration.

Lynn Hettrick, who served 14 years in the Assembly, said he has accepted the job of deputy chief of staff because he agrees with the governor’s hard stance on taxes.

Stacy Woodbury, who was executive director of the Ethics Commission for four years, was also named a deputy chief of staff.

Woodbury said she was pleased to join an experienced team to help state agencies through tough times.

They succeed Deputy Chief of Staff Mendy Elliott and Legislative Director Jodi Stephens, who both resigned with a number of other staffers.

Hettrick, 65, said Gibbons is doing the best job he can for the state and he added that he didn’t think the Legislature explored all of its options before it decided to raise taxes. Hettrick was co-speaker with Democratic Assemblyman Joe Dini, D-Yerington, in the 1995 Assembly and was minority leader from then until 2006 when he left the Legislature.

Woodbury has spent the past few years doing Web design and writing a book on the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as executive director of the state Dairy Commission and as deputy secretary of state under Secretary of State Dean Heller.

Robin Reedy, Gibbons’ chief of staff, said their hiring was part of the reorganization she had planned in the governor’s office. Past administrations have had two deputy chiefs of staff, she said.

Hettrick, with his background on the Ways and Means Committee and Taxation Committee, will be working with the Tax Department. Woodbury will be assigned the Ethics Commission.

Reedy said they will be assigned other agencies in state government to work with.

In announcing the appointments, Gibbons said both have strong records of public service “and will help me accomplish many of my goals, including expansion of renewable energy in Nevada…” The governor said they would help in preparing for the economic recovery that will come.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By nightmare

7/27/09 at 3:47 p.m.

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At this point in the Gibbons era, I think being unemployed is better for your image than serving on his staff.
By nvwilnd

7/27/09 at 4:22 p.m.

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I agree with nightmare....although I know little of Stacy Woodbury, Lynn Hettrick is like a little version of 0, he is in a league with Sharron Angle.... God help this State
By DessertSun

7/27/09 at 4:49 p.m.

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Excellent. Good to see progress! Theres a lot of real issues that need to be tackled. Let's get busy!
By afveteran

7/27/09 at 6:01 p.m.

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I agree with Lynn Hettrick in that the lawmakers did not make enough of an effort to hold down the top lines of taxation and spending for the next 2 years, and holding down the increase of government in Nevada. Our kids and grandkids that work will be paying forever for those that don't.
By renomuse

7/27/09 at 9:05 p.m.

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afveteran, where were you when Bush was bleeding tax money out of every American orifice? You hypocrites kill me.
By cnev

7/28/09 at 1:57 a.m.

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The Dairy Commission? Nevada has a dairy commission?
You mean those skinny, starved out animals we see along the side of the road that Gibbons uses to excuse his taxes?
Oh! Those are BEEF cattle.
Coulda fooled me.
By wondering

7/28/09 at 6:52 a.m.

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So Hettrick thinks that the lawmakers did not explore all of it's options? Where was "OUR" Gov with other options other than saying 1 thing on tv and then reversing it within the next week. Easy to blame others. They may not have gotten it perfect but alot better than throwing something out and walking away. Just wondering.