Gov. Brian Sandoval’s optimism in inaugural address a tough sell

By Anjeanette Damon, Delen Goldberg, David McGrath Schwartz

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 | 2 a.m.

As he was sworn in as Nevada’s 30th governor Monday, Brian Sandoval had one goal: project hope and optimism despite the economic troubles confronting the state.

It said as much in the official program: “Optimism is the foundation of courage.”

In his 10-minute inaugural address, Sandoval said he was optimistic or expressed optimism 10 times and used the word “opportunity” 13 times.

“Some would have us believe that Nevada’s best days are behind us — that we must resign ourselves to what we have momentarily become,” Sandoval said. “We dare not go down that road. We must have the optimism to remind each other that Nevada’s long history is one of opportunities realized. Of succeeding even when others said we couldn’t.”

He spent far less time dwelling on the state’s current hardships. “Nevadans from all walks of life are faced with unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcy — hardships forged in the crucible of three long years of economic crisis,” he said.

Inaugural speeches are intended to set the tone for a politician’s time in office.

It was clear what tone Sandoval wants, as he walked a line between optimism and naiveté. Telling people to be optimistic is one thing. Getting them to move forward while dealing with joblessness, underwater homes and an inadequate education system, is another.

Still, observers of state government said Sandoval’s optimism is an important element of leadership, but far from the only one. The state doesn’t need an unrealistic leader who sounds like the real estate boosters of 2006: Buy now while the getting is good! The market can only go up!

“That’s what we need: optimism, looking forward,” Barry Smith, executive director of the Nevada Press Association, said. But, Smith added, “our problems are fairly obvious. What’s not so obvious are the answers, the plans and direction.”

The inaugural speech wasn’t designed to go into those details. And uplifting oratory can’t mask the hard realities and dismal tasks that begin in earnest later this month.

On Jan. 24, in his State of the State address, Sandoval will reveal how he plans to balance the state’s budget, which is billions of dollars short of funding needed to maintain current services.

“He’s doing his best to tell people ‘Believe me.’ And you know he believes it. But in the legislative process, rhetoric does not carry the day,” said former state archivist Guy Rocha, who attended the inauguration. “We still don’t know how he is going to get there.”

Elliott Parker, a professor of economics at UNR, put it more bluntly: “We don’t have a reason to be optimistic.”

But, he said, “we won’t have a reason to be optimistic unless we are optimistic.”

After his speech, Sandoval signed an executive order suspending new regulations on business, promoting ethics and issuing a proclamation telling parents to read to their children. Sandoval’s Chief of Staff Heidi Gansert acknowledged the proclamations were aimed more at sending a message than addressing immediate problems.

“It’s setting the tone so that businesses know we are a friendly environment,” Gansert said when asked to name a pending regulation that would impede business development in Nevada.

Same for the ethics executive order. It isn’t aimed at any specific abuse, but more at the perception that state officials are being “wined and dined,” said Dale Erquiaga, Sandoval’s senior adviser.

Afterward, reporters asked Sandoval about the source of his optimism.

“I guess I’m not as cynical as you,” he said. “The numbers have been improving over the last few months. Things are starting to trend upward. And as I said, I am going to be a governor who is going to be personally engaged in this process. There are companies out there who want to bring jobs here. The most important thing here is to give an opportunity to the people of the state of Nevada to get back to work.”

Many of those who listened to the speech said they bought into Sandoval’s optimism about Nevada’s future. But for some that optimism quickly faded when asked if it extends to the upcoming legislative session, which begins next month.

“Absolutely, we have reasons to be optimistic,” said David Fraser, director of the Nevada League of Cities. “All of the things that have made Nevada great still exist.

“But I’m always cautious about what awaits us in the session. And we’re certainly nervous about that.”

Sandoval has said he will look to local government coffers to make up the state shortfall and to take on some state services.

Clark County School Board Vice President Carolyn Edwards laughed when asked if she’s optimistic about the coming year. School officials are bracing for budget cuts in excess of 10 percent.

“I’m optimistic that we can improve the educational system in Nevada,” Edwards said. “I’m not optimistic about the proposed budget cuts. We will have to work very hard to make it the least painful we can.”

Edwards’ long-term hope for Nevada schools is centered on restoring a significant amount of what has already been cut once the economy rebounds.

John Restrepo, who runs an economics and public policy research firm and is chairman of the state’s Economic Forum, said the recent dose of economic reality is cause for optimism.

“We have become more realistic as a state about the challenges facing us,” he said. “We’re moving on from a period of irrational exuberance, cheerleading and ignoring what’s going on around us.”

Restrepo said he doesn’t expect a recovery until at least 2012. Until then, the economy will continue to “bounce along the bottom.”

That, in the Nevada of 2011, passes for optimism.