Assembly Democrats outline leadership - committee assignments

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, served notice Monday he plans to make use of Joe Dini's experience this session, creating the title of "speaker emeritus" for the man who has run Nevada's lower house eight times.

Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, was named Nevada's first black speaker pro tem. He will head the Assembly when Perkins is absent.

Dini, of Yerington, is the only man to be speaker more than twice. He held the post in 1977-78 and for every session since 1987.

Perkins, a Henderson police captain, replaced him this year. He has named Barbara Buckley of Las Vegas as majority leader, David Parks, Las Vegas, as her assistant and Bernie Anderson, Sparks, as majority whip.

"This will be an extraordinary legislative session with redistricting as well as a number of very important issues that must be addressed in 120 days," said Perkins.

To get everything done, he said, "every legislator must be willing to put aside any partisan or regional differences to work together for the common good."

Democrats hold a 27-15 majority in the Assembly.

The biggest change in committee leadership is that Dini will take charge of the Commerce Committee, replacing Buckley who will be vice-chair.

And Ellen Koivisto of Las Vegas will take over Health and Human Services from Reno's Vivian Freeman.

Beyond that, most major committee assignments will be the same as they were in 1999 with Morse Arberry of Las Vegas chairing Ways and Means and Anderson heading Judiciary.

Doug Bache, Las Vegas, will return as head of Government Affairs and Williams will head the Education Committee.

Elections, Ethics and Procedures will again be chaired by Chris Giunchiglinani, Las Vegas, and Taxation by David Goldwater, Las Vegas.

Marcia deBraga, Fallon, will head Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining, Vonne Chowning of Las Vegas the Transportation Committee and Bob Price of Las Vegas the Constitutional Amendments Committee.

Dini will keep his seat on Ways and Means and Elections, Ethics and Procedures.

Carson City's Bonnie Parnell will be vice chairwoman of the Education Committee and sit on the Government Affairs and the Health and Human Services committees.