Gov. Jim Gibbons has appointed former Sparks Mayor Bruce Breslow executive director of the Nuclear Projects Agency.
Gibbons announced the decision late Monday, replacing Bob Loux who was terminated after it was discovered he broke state law by giving himself and others in the agency unauthorized pay raises.
Unlike last week when Gibbons ignored state law in attempting to name a new tourism director, this time he chose Breslow from a list of three candidates submitted to him by the Nuclear Projects Commission. The head of the Commission on Nuclear Projects, former U.S. Senator and Governor Richard Bryan, said that list was submitted to Gibbons' office earlier this month. He said the other two names on it were Tim Hay, former Nevada Consumer Advocate, and Reno lawyer Keith Tierney.
"In this case, they followed the process," he said.
As with the tourism director, state law requires the nuclear projects director be named from a list of three nominees submitted by the commission in charge of the agency and the director serves at the pleasure of the supervising commission rather than directly by the governor.
Gibbons cited Breslow's long history of public service including a term on the Sparks Planning Commission, two terms as mayor in that city, as a member of the Nevada Transportation Services Authority, the state Employee-management Committee and as Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.
Breslow promised to use his experience to "continue the fight against Yucca Mountain in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Nevada."
The state is attempting to recover more than $100,000 paid to agency employees over and above what the Legislature approved for them.
- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.