Chrissy Mazzeo

It's been nearly four years since the Governor's Conference on Tourism made an appearance in Las Vegas.Not coincidentally, that's roughly the same time frame as the span of the Great Recession and former Gov. Jim Gibbons' term of office.The conference, launched by Richard Bryan, the state's 25th governor, was a strategy to educate and share industry information while coordinating the state's tourism marketing efforts. It gave rural Nevada tourism leaders the opportunity to mix with their...Read Full Story

CARSON CITY - Following a grueling legislative session, Gov. Brian Sandoval has spent almost half the summer out of state.For 30 days in June, July and early August, the governor was outside the state - on family trips, to deliver political speeches and on state business, according to records obtained by the Las Vegas Sun through a public records request.He spent five days traveling to visit troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait and four in Utah discussing economic development and water...Read Full Story

By the summer of 2008, Gov. Jim GibbonsÕ whereabouts were often unknown ? even to his senior staff. Only he and his longtime scheduler had access to the governorÕs calendar. As a result, senior staff were often forced to Òwing it,Ó as one said. Some weekend days in spring and summer, he was not to be disturbed ? he was mowing the significant lawn at his Reno home. When Gibbons was absent or unavailable and something needed to get out, staff would use what is known as an Òautopen,Ó a device...Read Full Story

The three Republican candidates for governor threatened to rouse the Hispanic electorate last week during a televised debate, when Brian Sandoval and Mike Montandon endorsed an Arizona law that critics say could lead to widespread racial profiling of Hispanics. A third candidate, Gov. Jim Gibbons, endorsed racial profiling. The Arizona law, which was signed last week by Gov. Jan Brewer, compels local and state law enforcement to question the identity and immigration status of people if...Read Full Story

In 2008, the state Republican Party was a painful joke.The GOP had a governor (Jim Gibbons) who was a national laughingstock, and a senator (John Ensign) who was, ahem, otherwise occupied. The party had no money and no credibility.Result: Barack Obama won Nevada by 12 points as Democrats down the ticket swept to victories, powered by a formidable Democratic machine that also helped drag Harry Reid to victory in 2010 (yes, Sharron Angle helped).As 2012 looms, with Nevada again potentially...Read Full Story