If the Nevada Legislature truly wants a more collegial session this time around, they got a fine example to follow Tuesday evening at a reception hosted by Carson City and Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.
Most lawmakers and constitutional officers attended the event at the Carson Nugget, which on the surface may have seemed like the usual session-opening mixer for the capital city. Hungry legislators feasted on a banquet of hors d' oeuvres, sipped drinks (they paid for themselves) and rubbed elbows.
The difference, though, came when Carson Mayor Marv Teixeira, and commissioners Kelly Kite of Douglas, Bob Milz of Lyon and Bob Kershaw of Storey got on stage with Speaker Richard Perkins and proclaimed a spirit of cooperation. Not many in the room heard what they said, but that's all right. The point was made.
It was also made during the evening by the 20 other sponsors (including the Nevada Appeal), who see far more in common with each other in Northern Nevada than in conflict.
With projects such as Carson-Tahoe Hospital, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad and Carson River watershed displayed for the curious, it was a great opportunity to remind the legislators - most of whom are from Las Vegas - of goals at the top of the public agenda for the region.
It also doesn't hurt to show a bit of old-fashioned hometown politicking on behalf of local legislators such as Mark Amodei, Bonnie Parnell, Tom Grady and Lynn Hettrick as they represent the interests of their constituents in those counties. In Nevada, it's still who you know.
We were also glad to see retired legislators like Joe Dini and Jake Jacobsen at the gathering, a couple of old hands at getting things accomplished.
Here's hoping Tuesday's reception was a symbol of a can-do attitude that will carry through the legislative session and future cooperation among the counties.