Heller names new chief deputy

Kim Huys has been named chief deputy secretary of state. As chief deputy, Huys is Secretary of State Dean Heller's top staffer, overseeing management of all the divisions within the Secretary of State's office, including elections.

Heller described her as highly qualified for the position. She has been chief fiscal officer for his office since leaving the Nevada Controller's Office, where she served as chief deputy for Controller Kathy Augustine.

Gov. Kenny Guinn appointed Huys acting controller while the Legislature considered whether to remove Augustine from office following her impeachment. She served in that position more than a month before Augustine returned to her office.

"She was good enough that Governor Guinn named her acting controller. I'm very pleased to have her as chief deputy in this office," Heller said.

Huys replaces Renee Parker, who resigned the post to become legal counsel to Guinn.

Huys has more than 26 years' public service, almost all of it in governmental finance, as well as experience in the private sector. In the controller's office she served nearly two years as chief deputy, helping implement Nevada's new Integrated Financial System.

"I really love my work because I like to fix things, see them get better," she said at that time.

It was her experience with that financial system which brought her to Nevada. She worked for American Management Systems which was hired to set up IFS, which now handles accounting, payroll, purchasing and personnel records for state government.

The position pays $106,080 a year.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.