Brian Sandoval

Brian Sandoval
29th Governor of Nevada
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Lieutenant Brian Krolicki
Mark Hutchison
Preceded by Jim Gibbons
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
In office
October 26, 2005 – September 15, 2009
Appointed by George W. Bush
Preceded by Howard McKibben
Succeeded by Gloria Navarro
30th Attorney General of Nevada
In office
January 6, 2003 – October 26, 2005
Governor Kenny Guinn
Preceded by Frankie Sue Del Papa
Succeeded by George Chanos
Chairperson of the Gaming Commission of Nevada
In office
April 28, 1999 – August 1, 2001
Appointed by Kenny Guinn
Preceded by Bill Curran
Succeeded by Peter Bernhard
Member of the Gaming Commission of Nevada
In office
April 23, 1998 – August 1, 2001
Appointed by Bob Miller
Preceded by Deborah Griffin
Succeeded by Peter Bernhard
Member of the Nevada Assembly
from the 25th district
In office
January 3, 1994 – April 23, 1998
Preceded by Jim Gibbons
Succeeded by Dawn Gibbons
Personal details
Born Brian Edward Sandoval
(1963-08-05) August 5, 1963
Redding, California, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kathleen Teipner (1990–present)
Children James
Madeline
Marisa
Residence Governor's Mansion
Alma mater University of Nevada, Reno
Ohio State University
Religion Roman Catholicism[1]
Signature
Website Official website

Brian Edward Sandoval (/ˈsændəˌvɔːl/ born August 5, 1963) is the 29th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Nevada[2] and a member of the Republican Party. Sandoval is a former judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. On June 9, 2010, Sandoval defeated his GOP challengers (including the then-incumbent governor Jim Gibbons) to win the Republican nomination for the 2010 gubernatorial election. Prior to his service as a federal judge, he served as the Attorney General of Nevada, the youngest chairman of the Gaming Commission of Nevada and a state legislator. Sandoval was also the first Hispanic candidate elected to statewide office in Nevada.[3]

Early life, education, and law career

Sandoval was born in Redding, California, to Ron Sandoval, an FAA maintenance supervisor, and his wife Gloria (Gallegos) Sandoval, a legal secretary.[4][5] A long-time resident of Reno, Sandoval is of Mexican ancestry.[6] Sandoval graduated from Bishop Manogue High School in Reno in 1981, and attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in English and economics in 1986.[7][8] He then went on to earn a Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1989.[8]

Sandoval passed the Nevada and California bar exams and entered private practice with several Reno law firms.[8] In 1999, he opened his own law firm in Reno.[8]

Nevada Assembly

Elections

When incumbent Republican Jim Gibbons decided to retire to run for Governor of Nevada in 1994, Sandoval ran for the Reno-based 25th District of the Nevada Assembly. He won the open seat and won re-election in 1996. After he resigned from his seat in 1998, Gibbons' wife Dawn Gibbons, won the open seat.[8]

Tenure

Sandoval sponsored 14 bills that became law—including some that prevented felons from suing victims if they are injured committing a crime, increased the penalties for operating a boat under the influence, and allowed indigent defendants to perform community service to defray their legal costs.[9][10]

Committee assignments

Sandoval served on the Judiciary, Taxation and Natural Resources Committees. He also served on the Nevada Legislative Commission, the Advisory Commission on Sentencing, the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Advisory Council on Community Notification of Sex Offenders, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Oversight Committee.[9]

Gaming Commission of Nevada

In 1998, Sandoval was appointed to serve as a member of the Gaming Commission of Nevada, which oversees the state's gaming industry.[9] The following year, at the age of 35, Sandoval became the youngest person ever to serve as chairman of the gaming commission.[6][9] During his time on the commission, Sandoval fought national efforts to block gambling on college sports events, worked on regulations limiting neighborhood gaming and worked for regulations prohibiting slot machines with themes attractive to children.[10]

Attorney General of Nevada

2002 election

Sandoval announced his bid on October 11, 2001 to succeed three-term Democrat Frankie Sue Del Papa who was not eligible to run for re–election as Attorney General of Nevada due to lifetime term limits established by the Nevada Constitution in 1996.[10] His primary major party opposition was Democratic attorney John Hunt from Las Vegas, whom Sandoval defeated by a margin of 58.32% to 33.63% on November 5, 2002.[8][11] Sandoval took office on January 6, 2003.[12]

Tenure

While Attorney General, Sandoval led the state's legal fight against the storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, developed Nevada's first Public Integrity Unit and sponsored legislation strengthening Nevada's laws against domestic violence, drug abuse and human trafficking.[6][9]

As Attorney General, Sandoval was also the chairman and a member of several state boards and commissions, including the Nevada Boards of Pardons, Prisons, Transportation, and Examiners; the Cyber-Crime Task Force; the Committee on Domestic Violence, and the Prosecutorial Advisory Council.[6][9]

Federal district judge

Nomination

In the fall of 2004, Democratic Senator Harry Reid spoke with Sandoval about whether he was interested in serving as a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and that December Reid recommended to President George W. Bush that he nominate Sandoval to a future opening on that court.[13][14] Sandoval was formally nominated by Bush on March 1, 2005, to the seat being vacated by Judge Howard D. McKibben.[15]

On September 29, 2005, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on Sandoval's nomination.[16] On October 20, 2005, the Judiciary committee reported Sandoval's nomination out of committee on a voice vote.[17] Sandoval was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 24, 2005, by a vote of 89–0 (with 11 Senators not voting).[15][18] Sandoval then received his judicial commission on October 26, 2005.[15]

Tenure

Sandoval announced his resignation as Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada on August 15, 2009 to become effective beginning September 15, 2009.[19] On the same day as his resignation became official, Sandoval announced he was running for the Governorship.

Sandoval's chambers were in the Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building in Reno.[6][20][21]

Governor of Nevada

2010 election

In the general election, Sandoval won 53%–41%,[22] against Democrat Rory Reid, the Clark County Commissioner and son of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. He won every county in the state, and all with a majority except Clark County, which Mr. Sandoval won with a plurality (49%–47%).

2014 election

Sandoval ran for re-election in 2014. He won the Republican primary with 90% of the vote. In the general election, Sandoval defeated Democrat Bob Goodman with over 70% of the vote.[23]

Tenure

Sandoval, as the state's 29th Governor, proposed a $5.8 billion 2011 budget without any new taxes. It could cause as many as 361 layoffs and 5% pay reductions for state workers. It also included a 5% cut in primary education and 7% cut in higher education.[24] Sandoval is turning down his pay raise that would have increased his salary from $141,000 to $149,573 per year. He also has said he will take a 5% pay cut to coincide with every other state worker's.[25][26]

The final budget for 2011 avoided deep cuts to education and human services programs. It contained a number of reforms that include ending teacher tenure as well as the practice of deciding layoffs based solely on teacher seniority, allowing local governments to re-open employee contracts during financial emergencies as well as barring collective bargaining by supervisors, and eliminating retirement health insurance for new state employees hired after January 1, 2012.[27]

He appointed U.S. Congressman Dean Heller (R-Carson City) to become U.S. Senator, after the seat become vacant from the resignation of John Ensign.

On September 11, 2014, Sandoval signed a package of bill to provide $1.3 billion in tax breaks and subsidies over 20 years for Tesla Motors in exchange for building the massive Gigafactory 1 battery factory in the state, near Reno. The factory is key to Nevada's efforts to revitalize its economy, which was hard-hit by the mortgage meltdown and the Great Recession, and has yet to fully recover. [28] This move was a direct violation of Article 8, Section 9 of Nevada's constitution, which forbids giving subsidies to private companies. [29]

In June 2015, Sandoval signed several bills designed to overhaul Nevada's education system. The reforms substantially increased funding for public schools and grants, and created incentives to recruit more teachers and promote professional training. $10 million dollars were appropriated for preschool programs and an expansion of full-day kindergarten across Nevada.[30]

Sandoval is widely regarded as a moderate Republican, supporting abortion rights, Obamacare, immigration reform, and renewable energy.[31]

On March 21, 2016, Sandoval met with Mark Davis (Owner of the NFL's Oakland Raiders) about moving the Raiders to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Solar issues

Sandoval came under criticism in 2015 by the rooftop solar industry in Nevada after claims that the Governor failed to act on a state-wide net energy metering cap of 235MW. The cap stirred controversy due to its ability to negatively affect the future of the largely successful solar industry in Nevada, specifically related to the loss of thousands of in-state jobs.[32][33] A state-wide study conducted by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada previously deemed net metering a benefit to all ratepayers.[34]

At the end of July 2015, NV Energy proposed new rates for rooftop solar users. NV Energy specifically states in its proposal that the new rates could eliminate all savings for solar customers.[35]

On August 20, 2015, the controversial 235 MW net metering cap was hit.[36] Immediately before the cap was hit, Vivint Solar pulled out of the state only two weeks after entering. This resulted in lay-offs of many recently-hired Nevadans, signaling the future of the industry in Nevada without net metering.[37]

An October 2015 poll, sponsored by the solar industry, found that prior to learning about these controversies, public perception of Governor Sandoval's leadership was largely favorable, with 63% of likely voters agreeing that he has been a strong leader for Nevada. However, after learning that Governor Sandoval had failed to "take a leadership position and protect the 6,000 jobs that solar energy supports in Nevada" his favorable impressions became highly negative, with 54% of likely voters taking an unfavorable view.[38] A subsequent poll of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire found that 56% of all likely Republican primary voters in a key swing state would not vote for Governor Sandoval for Vice President in 2016 upon learning that he failed to protect solar energy in Nevada.[39]

In December 2015, a solar company operating in Nevada filed a lawsuit against Governor Brian Sandoval to compel the release of public records the Governor's office withheld. The withheld public records included text messages between the Governor and his staff with NV Energy's lobbyists. The company claims that the public has the right to know the impact those relationships have had on critical policy decisions, including the rooftop solar debate.[40]

On December 22, 2015, Governor Sandoval's Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, comprised of Chairman Paul Thomsen, Commissioner David Noble and Commissioner Alaina Burtenshaw, voted to eliminate the state's net metering policy for rooftop solar. The aftermath of the decision resulted in widespread layoffs in the state and an outpouring of consumer backlash due to the direct penalization of current and future solar customers.[41][42]

Honors and awards

Sandoval has received the following awards and certificates: the Hispanics in Politics' 1996 "Broche de Oro Award";[43] the Anti-Defamation League's 2003 "Torch of Liberty Award;" the Nevada State Bar's 2004 "Access to Justice Public Lawyer Award;" The Latino Coalition's 2004 "Most Influential Hispanic in the U.S. Award";[44] and the 2004 University of Nevada "Alumnus of the Year Award."[9]

Personal life

Sandoval and his wife Kathleen, program director for the Children's Cabinet in Reno, have three children.[9][10]

Electoral history

Nevada Attorney General election, 2002[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Sandoval 290,471 58.32%
Democratic John Hunt 167,513 33.63%
Nevada gubernatorial election, 2010[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Sandoval 382,350 53.36% +5.44%
Democratic Rory Reid 298,171 41.61% -2.31%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 12,231 1.71% -1.85%
Independent Eugene DiSimone 6,403 0.89%
Independent American Floyd Fitzgibbons 5,049 0.70% -2.73%
Libertarian Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr. 4,672 0.65%
Green David Scott Curtis 4,437 0.62% -0.54%
Independent Aaron Y. Honig 3,216 0.45%
Majority 84,179 11.75% +7.74%
Turnout 716,529
Republican hold Swing
Nevada gubernatorial election, 2014[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Sandoval (inc.) 386,340 70.58%
Democratic Bob Goodman 130,722 23.88%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 15,751 2.88%
Independent American David Lory VanDerBeek 14,536 2.66%
Majority 547,349 100%
Turnout
Republican hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Sandoval begins inauguration day at Mass". Las Vegas Sun. January 3, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Brian Sandoval Becomes Nevada's 29th Governor". Renotahoe.about.com. January 2, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  3. ↑ Chereb, Sandra (August 14, 2009). "US Judge Sandoval resigns; return to NV politics?". Associated Press. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  4. ↑ Drake, Bruce (October 25, 2010). "How Old Is Brian Sandoval?". Politicsdaily.com. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  5. ↑ Sean Whaley (August 2, 2011). "Blog Archive » Gov. Brian Sandoval In Middle East To Meet With Nevada Troops, See Mission First-Hand". Nevada News Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Flennoy, Mae (April 2006). "Brian Sandoval '89: Nevada's First Hispanic U.S. District Judge". This Month @ Moritz. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Sandoval gives up seat for gaming board". Las Vegas Sun. April 24, 1998. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Morrison, Jane Ann (July 15, 2002). "Race For Attorney General: Candidates state cases". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "State of the Court 2006" (PDF). United States District Court for the District of Nevada. 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Morrison, Jane Ann (October 12, 2001). "Brian Sandoval announces bid for attorney general". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on April 1, 2005. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 "Election Summary". Official 2002 General Election Results. Secretary of State of Nevada. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  12. ↑ Morrison, Jane Ann; Vogel, Ed (January 7, 2003). "Swearing In: Winners get to work". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  13. ↑ Myers, Dennis (December 2, 2004). "Citizen Reid". Reno News & Review. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Confirmation Hearings on Federal Appointments". Government Printing Office. September 29, 2005. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  15. 1 2 3 "Sandoval, Brian Edward". Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  16. ↑ "TIME CHANGE Judicial Nominations Hearing Time has been changed to 1:30 P.M.". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on August 14, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Executive Business Meeting". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. October 20, 2005. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  18. ↑ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Brian Edward Sandoval, of Nevada, To Be United States District Judge)". U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress – 1st Session. Secretary of the Senate. October 24, 2005. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Many expect Sandoval to challenge Gov. Gibbons". Associated Press. August 16, 2009. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Judge List". United States District Court for the District of Nevada. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  21. ↑ "U.S. District Court – District of Nevada – Home". United States District Court for the District of Nevada. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  22. ↑ "NV Governor Race – Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  23. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS 2014 Statewide Results". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ "2011 Nevada Legislature: Gov. Brian Sandoval reduces mansion budget | TahoeDailyTribune.com". Tahoebonanza.com. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  26. ↑ Silva, Cristina (January 24, 2011). "Nevada governor to give 1st State of State speech". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  27. ↑ Sandra Chereb (June 1, 2011). "Lawmakers Reach Deal on Nevada State Budget". Boston Globe. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  28. ↑ Chereb, Sandra. "Nevada Governor signs $1.3 billion tax break package for electric car maker Tesla". Reuters. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  29. ↑ .http://www.npri.org/issues/publication/npri-tesla-subsidies-would-be-unconstitutional
  30. ↑ REVIEW-JOURNAL, NEAL MORTON LAS VEGAS. "Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signs education bills". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  31. ↑ "Meet Brian Sandoval, Nevada’s Party Pooper". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  32. ↑ Roerink, Kyle. "Sandoval, NV Energy Mum Net Metering After Meetings".
  33. ↑ Whaley, Sean. "Nevada Could Lose 6000 Jobs Without Net Metering Cap Hike". Las Vegas Review Journal.
  34. ↑ "Net Metering Study" (PDF).
  35. ↑ Whaley, Sean. "NV Energy Proposal Spells Death for Industry".
  36. ↑ Roerink, Kyle. "NV Energy Rooftop Solar Cap Will Be Hit Saturday". The Las Vegas Sun.
  37. ↑ Tweed, Katharine. "Vivint Pulls Out of Nevada After Only Two Weeks In the State". Greentech Media.
  38. ↑ "DocumentHost" (PDF).
  39. ↑ "DocumentHost" (PDF).
  40. ↑ Whaley, Sean. "Solar Company Sues Sandoval's Office Over Refusal to Release Text Messages". The Las Vegas Review Journal.
  41. ↑ Whaley, Sean. "SolarCity Stopping Nevada Sales Installation After PUC Ruling". The Las Vegas Review Journal.
  42. ↑ Buhayar, Noah (January 28, 2016). "Who owns the sun?". Bloomberg Businessweek.
  43. ↑ "Hispanics in politics recognizes leaders". Las Vegas Sun. April 3, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  44. ↑ "The Latino Coalition Honors The Most Influential Hispanics During Hispanic Gala in New York". The Latino Coalition. August 24, 2004. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
  45. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS 2014 Statewide Results". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 24, 2014.

External links

Judicial
Nevada Assembly
Preceded by
Jim Gibbons		 Member of the Nevada Assembly
from the 25th district
1994–1998 		Succeeded by
Dawn Gibbons
Civic offices
Preceded by
Deborah Griffin		 Member of the Gaming Commission of Nevada
1998–2001 		Succeeded by
Peter Bernhard
Preceded by
Bill Curran		 Chairperson of the Gaming Commission of Nevada
1999–2001
Legal offices
Preceded by
Frankie Sue Del Papa		 Attorney General of Nevada
2003–2005 		Succeeded by
George Chanos
Preceded by
Howard McKibben		 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
2005–2009 		Succeeded by
Gloria Navarro
Party political offices
Preceded by
Jim Gibbons		 Republican nominee for Governor of Nevada
2010, 2014 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Gibbons		 Governor of Nevada
2011–present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Joe Biden
as Vice President		 Order of Precedence of the United States
Within Nevada 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Paul Ryan
as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Earl Ray Tomblin
as Governor of West Virginia		 Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside Nevada 		Succeeded by
Pete Ricketts
as Governor of Nebraska
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