Governor’s staff chief takes unusual step of fundraising

By David McGrath Schwartz

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The governor’s chief of staff, Robin Reedy, is hitting up his supporters for money to help finance his reelection bid.

In a move that political observers say is unprecedented for recent governors, Reedy sent out an invitation last week inviting potential donors to a fundraiser Friday in Northern Nevada that she is hosting for Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Politicians’ staff working on the taxpayers’ dime generally avoid wearing multiple hats because it raises questions about balancing state time with campaign time, as well as the appearance that campaign contributions could affect an administration’s behavior toward an individual or interest group.

But Reedy said her past political experience as head of the Douglas County Republican Party and Sierra Nevada Republican Women makes it natural for her to host a fundraiser for Gibbons.

“It would be stranger if I didn’t,” she said.

She said she is organizing the fundraiser on her own time, without using any taxpayer resources. She said she would report the cost of the fundraiser as an in-kind contribution, which she expected to be about $1,000.

Chiefs of staff and other top aides to elected officials walk a fine line between political and government service. Campaign questions are routinely passed from taxpayer-paid spokesmen to campaign operatives. Some say Reedy is crossing that line.

A chief of staff is “too close to the governor,” said Fred Lokken, a professor of political science at Truckee Meadows Community College. “You can’t help but have this interpreted as buying favor and influence,” he added.

The problem with the chief of staff hosting a fundraiser, Lokken said, is this: Those who don’t show up could imagine having less access to the administration. Those who do will be perceived from the outside as trying to buy influence. “You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It puts everybody in an extremely awkward situation,” Lokken said.

He added that it doesn’t appear to violate any ethics laws.

“There’s not anything that officially prohibits it, other than good taste,” he said.

Reedy said she has been active in Republican politics for more than a decade, including for much of the time she worked for the elected treasurers.

“I’ve always managed to make my political choices separate from my own work,” she said. “I easily put in eight to 16 hours a day as chief of staff. That’s why the fundraiser was sent out via e-mail. I don’t have time to sit down and do an invitation.”