Brian Sandoval shows he’s not afraid to reach out to the left

By David McGrath Schwartz

Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval may be hard right on taxes, but in other policy pursuits, he’s taking a more moderate tack.

One notable and new example is his push for private school vouchers, which prompted hand-wringing and excitement last week from people on both sides of the debate.

Instead of making the change through legislative action, which could be in effect as early as 2011, Sandoval will seek to do it by changing the Nevada Constitution — a process that will take at least five years, his office said last week.

“We’ve seen too many voucher programs (in other states) struck down by courts,” said Dale Erquiaga, senior policy adviser to Sandoval. “We want to go about this in the cleanest and most transparent way possible. That, to us, is a constitutional change.”

But what it will also do, intentionally or not, is diffuse a potentially contentious issue for the 2011 session, when Sandoval and lawmakers will try to balance a budget that’s $2.2 billion short of the funding needed to preserve current services.

Sandoval’s approach on vouchers is consistent with most of his work since November as he has tried to create a centrist transition team. But his policy position will come as a surprise to both those for and against vouchers, who had not considered constitutional issues to be a significant hurdle.

Keith Rheault, state superintendent of education, raised concerns that a voucher system could cost public education as much as $100 million. Libertarian-leaning groups have seen the upcoming legislative session as a potential game-changer for education reform, with vouchers high on the list.

Erquiaga said a legislative approach would only allow nonreligious institutions to take advantage of vouchers. Although conservative groups say there’s a workaround through personal tax credits or giving the money to parents, Sandoval’s approach has another advantage: It postpones a polarizing debate for another day.

This is consistent with the broader theme of the early weeks of the administration. When not talking taxes, Sandoval has reached out to the vast middle of the state, especially the establishment, at the risk of angering the right.

Liberals see his position on taxes as a fatal flaw: This administration may be competent and efficient, but his uncompromising position on taxes will kill state services.

Conservatives, meanwhile, are antsy over Sandoval’s moderate appointments, even if they applaud his fiscal position. He has named moderates such as Erquiaga, former Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert as chief of staff, Clark County School Board member Terri Janison as Las Vegas director and reappointed veteran chiefs to senior department positions.

His transition team is a who’s who of the well-connected, middle-of-the road establishment. His incoming energy director is considered an environmentalist.

(Gov. Jim Gibbons reached outside the usual political players, only to have their competency questioned.)

Sandoval has also been busy with outreach to a broad swath of Nevada. Almost all groups he has met with so far think a tax increase is inevitable in the 2011 session — including local governments, K-12 superintendents, higher education leaders, and a new coalition of health and human services providers, the state’s leading liberal group and the teachers union.

That group, called Nevada Values Coalition, said Sandoval listened attentively to its concerns, but he stood by his promise not to raise taxes.

“I would not say I was encouraged,” said Jan Gilbert, Northern Nevada coordinator for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, a member of the newly formed coalition. “I was pleased with how generous he was with his time, and his listening. I admire (him) for that ... But I don’t feel like we were heard.”

Erquiaga said Sandoval plans to meet with business leaders in the medical, construction, homebuilders, banking, gaming and mining industries in the coming weeks.

He has not met with some of the leading conservative groups.

“If there was some self-organizing group of conservatives that wants to put together an organization, the governor-elect is happy to meet with them,” Erquiaga said.

Erquiaga said Sandoval’s education reforms go beyond vouchers. Other pieces — open enrollment within districts, promotion of charter schools and magnet schools — will be proposed and debated in the session.

Sandoval plans to meet with Democratic legislative leaders soon.

In a media briefing Friday, Erquiaga said Sandoval would not soften his position on taxes. But he is, on other issues, eager to work with the Legislature.