Lawmakers honor former Assemblyman Hettrick

The 2007 Legislature took time out Monday to honor former Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, who decided not to run for another term last year.

Hettrick served 14 years in the Assembly, 12 of them as leader of the Republicans.

In the 1985 session when the house was split 21-21, Hettrick was co-speaker with Democrat Joe Dini of Yerington.

Leaders of both parties praised Hettrick's honesty, fairness and leadership.

"Although Lynn and I disagreed on one or two occasions, he was never disagreeable," said Majority Leader John Oceguera, D-Henderson.

And Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, praised his tenacity, dedication and leadership. When he believed in something, she said, "he was never afraid to step across the line and say throw bricks at me but here's a possible solution."

She said he did "an incredible job" as a legislator.

John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, a lawmaker since 1979, described Hettrick as "one of the best legislators I ever had the opportunity to work with." He described the 1985 session when Hettrick and Dini split the speaker's role as "one of the smoothest, least-contentious sessions ever."

The praise for Hettrick continued at the north end of the building. Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who co-sponsored the resolution along with Assembly Minority Leader Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas, said: "No one has contributed more to this legislative process in recent times than Lynn Hettrick."

In addition to his service in the Assembly, Hettrick was honored as Leader of the Year by the National Republican Legislators Association in 2001 and served as national chairman of the Council of State Governments in 2005.

He was also instrumental in establishing the CSG's Western Legislative Academy, an educational forum for new state lawmakers.

Hettrick, who represented Douglas County, decided to retire from the Legislature last year to devote more time to business interests.

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