Thursday, April 1, 2010 | 2:18 p.m.
Three months after a judge accepted the proposed settlement agreement, the first divorce of a sitting governor in Nevada remains in limbo.
Gov. Jim Gibbons said the sour economy is to blame.
The Republican facing a GOP primary in June in his bid for re-election said it's been impossible to comply with the requirement that he sell certain property and split the money with his wife, Dawn, before the divorce decree is official.
Under the order Washoe County Family Court Judge Frances Doherty issued on Dec. 28, the governor was given 60 days to pay Dawn $275,000 as her share of the couple's property in Elko County. He also was supposed to list their Reno home for sale within 30 days. But so far, he hasn't done either.
"He's supposed to cash her out," Cal Dunlap, Dawn's lawyer, told the Nevada Appeal. "He can't get his divorce until the money is paid."
Gibbons said he still has hopes of retiring on the Elko County property near Lamoille so has been trying to borrow money to pay Dawn off for her share. But so far no one has been willing to give him a loan.
"Nobody wants to take a loan on vacant land," he said. "It's really difficult. People say they're willing to help but they've kind of shied away."
As for the Reno home, he said the problem is that "there's just nothing selling."
"I've tried. I've really, really tried," he said. "Sure, they will (buy) if you give it away."
Gibbons said that condition that he pay before the divorce decree is issued is "something I've never heard a court do before."
But he said he is actively trying to raise the money. He said he wants the divorce finalized so both of them can move on with their lives and has no reason to try delay things.
Dawn Gibbons said she too is trying to move on with her life. She began a new radio talk show this week on a Reno radio station, KBUZ-1270 AM.
She has rented a place on the Las Vegas Country Club grounds as her permanent residence. But she said that until the divorce is final, she is maintaining access to the apartment next to the governor's mansion for when she is in northern Nevada.
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Information from: Nevada Appeal, http://www.nevadaappeal.com
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