…And already at work:
Five of Nevada’s six statewide constitutional officers were sworn in at the Supreme Court chambers Monday morning, but for Gov. Jim Gibbons, the event was superfluous.
Gibbons had been sworn in just seconds after midnight at his home in Reno, citing security concerns and a desire to ensure a seamless transition.
[I call BS on that. Just be honest, Gov. You wanted to nullify Kenny Guinn's appointment of Keith Munro to the state gaming board -- which I do agree with, BTW. Do what you must do, but PLEASE be honest with your constituents -- especially those who voted for you. And for God's sake, be a better man and bury your hatchet with Guinn. You're the governor now. ACT LIKE ONE.
OK, moving on...]
Immediately after being sworn in, Gibbons made two significant appointments to his cabinet, naming Larry Martines, who has had a long career in police and security work — including work for the CIA — as the state homeland security director; and law enforcement veteran Phil Galeoto as state Department of Public Safety director. [...]
When Gibbons took the oath of office the second time, with the other constitutional officers in the Supreme Court chambers, his hand was shaking. He said the shaking was not nervousness or excitement but rather an inherited trait that has grown worse with age. He did not elaborate.
Also sworn in by Chief Justice Bill Maupin were Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Secretary of State Ross Miller, Treasurer Kate Marshall, Controller Kim Wallin and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. All the constitutional officers are Democrats except for Gibbons and Krolicki.
Dozens of family and friends crowded into the Supreme Court chambers to observe the ceremony, which only took a few minutes.
After the midmorning event, Gibbons walked over to his new office in the capitol and signed his first proclamation as governor, marking today as a day of remembrance for the late President Gerald Ford.
Gibbons talked a bit about his budget, on which he said he and his transition team are working “night and day.” The nearly $7 billion state general fund spending plan must be sent to the printer on Friday. Gibbons must present the plan to state lawmakers Jan. 22, when he delivers his State of the State speech.
Gibbons said he won’t recommend expanding all-day kindergarten to all schools in Nevada, but would retain the existing program making it available to at-risk schools. “We have some great ideas about education that I think are going to actually supersede the benefits that would come from those that recommend all-day kindergarten,” he said.
[Former governor Kenny] Guinn had included all-day kindergarten in the proposed budget he and his staff drew up before leaving office.
Guinn also wanted to see his $50 million-a-year program to help schools improve learning and test scores continue, but Gibbons said he has not decided on that yet.
Gibbons said he supports spending some of this year’s surplus on one-time projects, including on widening Interstate 15 from the Spaghetti Bowl in downtown Las Vegas to Craig Road. Guinn had recommended $170 million in funding for the road project.
Gibbons said he also will enhance the state’s rainy day fund for fiscal emergencies.
I knew that Gibbons wouldn’t go with Guinn’s proposed budget, being that he shouldn’t have his predecessor telling him what to do. Quite frankly, it was petty arrogance on part of Guinn (who governed like a “liberal” Democrat) to submit such. Fortunately, Nevada has term limits for the governor’s office.
January 22 will be quite an interesting evening for the state.
It’s actually not uncommon for an outgoing administration to write up a proposed budget. It can be a form of knowledge transfer. OTOH, it can also serve as a form of CYA, good-cop-bad-cop, toldyaso, or any number of other pathological behaviors.
It’s probably most useful when the incoming administration is of a similar political persuasion.
In any case, writing up such a budget isn’t arrogant in-and-of-itself, though of course the contents may be.
I bet Gibbons’ staff writes one up when he exits office too.
Yes, proposed budgets are not uncommon; however, certain items in Guinn’s proposed budget, such as full-day kindergarten, were deliberately put in to spite Gibbons and make Gibbons look like the bad guy when he announced that changes were made. Guinn has an axe to grind with Gibbons; he used the budget proposals as a retaliation tool.
Although both men are Republicans, Guinn’s a “liberal”; Gibbons is a conservative. Therefore, Guinn’s content within the proposed budget was questionable.