Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Sandoval proud of wife after she lashed out at school board

Carson City Memorial

AP Photo/Cathleen Allison

From left, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, first lady Kathleen Sandoval and Brig. Gen. William R. Burks attend a memorial ceremony for three Nevada National Guard members on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Carson City.

Click to enlarge photo

Pedro Martinez, the deputy superintendent of the Clark County School District, participates in a roundtable discussion with the Las Vegas Sun in Las Vegas Thursday, August 25, 2011.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said Wednesday he “fully supports” his wife, Kathleen, in her comments criticizing the Washoe County School Board over its firing of Superintendent Pedro Martinez.

But the governor declined to take a position on whether the board was justified when it relieved Martinez of his duties. Tyler Klimas, a spokesman for the governor, said Sandoval does not comment on pending litigation, referring to the lawsuit filed by Martinez.

Kathleen Sandoval, according to a report in the Reno Gazette-Journal, called the decisions by the board narrow and shortsighted. She suggested they could cost the district federal grant money.

Asked by the Sun whether he supported his wife’s comments, Sandoval, in a prepared statement, said, “Kathleen has over 15 years of experience in child and family services, grant funding and education issues.

“I fully support her when she speaks out on issues important to her,” he said. “I am proud of her passion and support her initiatives on improving education in Nevada.”

Kathleen Sandoval suggested the school board did not follow the rules. The state Attorney General’s Office has been asked to determine if Nevada’s open-meeting law was violated when it held the closed-door session and decided to oust Martinez.

Kathleen Sandoval is director of operations of the Children’s Cabinet in Reno.

She was one of many speakers at the board’s Tuesday meeting who criticized the secrecy in determining that Martinez was relieved of his duties.

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