Departing Krolicki, driven by ‘public service gene,’ eyes Reid’s Senate seat

By Cy Ryan

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 | 2 a.m.

After 24 years in state government, including eight years each as treasurer and lieutenant governor, Brian Krolicki is leaving office.

But that doesn’t mean he’s through with public service.

He doesn’t rule out he may run against U.S. Sen. Harry Reid in 2016 if his Republican friend Gov. Brian Sandoval doesn’t.

And he intends to continue on the committee to bring the Winter Olympics to Lake Tahoe in the future.

Krolicki packed his personal furniture and documents Thursday and said he intends to spend more time with his wife and three children. And he intends to search for employment as a consultant for companies in Nevada.

According to his financial disclosure statement, he already has ties with United Power Technology and Gazillion Inc. He says he still has the “public service gene” and called government office “a noble calling.”

Krolicki considered challenging Reid in 2010 but bowed out when he was criminally indicted for improper paperwork while treasurer. The charges were thrown out.

He says he will wait to see if Sandoval decides to take on Reid. He said he would never run against his friend Sandoval in a GOP primary.

“The governor is first in the queue,” he said. If Sandoval declines to run for the U.S. Senate, “I will consider all my options,” he said.

Some of his proudest moments as treasurer were helping roll out Gov. Kenny Guinn’s Millennium Scholarship program and starting the college saving plan.

As lieutenant governor, he served six years as chairman of both the economic development commission and the tourism commission. Sandoval revised those programs but kept Krolicki as a member on both.

In economic development, he said he was part of a team that brought many credible companies to Nevada. In tourism, he said the program expanded globally to bring tourists to Nevada.

He cited the growth from Asia, where visas 10 years ago numbered 150,000 and now stand at 1.8 million.

That growth he said was the “saving grace of tourism when tourism turned sour” during the recession.

As lieutenant governor he also served as president of the state Senate. Asked if he was frustrated with the long delays and other problems in the Senate, he said, “I understand the delays and I accept the fact there will be frustrations.”

He said he understood the process and was a member of the Republican caucus during the 120-day sessions. “I believe I have the respect of the full Senate,” he said.

He doesn’t see himself becoming a lobbyist at the 2015 Legislature.

Krolicki is still upset about Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto getting a grand jury indictment that he and his top aide mismanaged the college savings program while he was treasurer.

No money was missing and a district judge in Las Vegas dismissed the indictment. “I’m still waiting for an apology from her (Masto) to my family and me,” he said.

“We did nothing wrong and shame on the attorney general for allowing the prosecution to go forward.” He called it a partisan move by Masto, whose husband was arranging a fundraiser for Krolicki’s opponent.

Masto at the time denied the indictment was driven by politics.

Despite the indictment, he says he left office “with a positive image.”

He added, “My public service was enhanced.”

He worked in the treasurer’s office before being elected to the statewide office. Term limits stopped him from serving more than eight years in the two elective offices.