Board of Examiners OKs $20,000 for portrait

The Board of Examiners on Wednesday approved $20,000 to commission Gov. Jim Gibbons' official portrait.

The governor's portrait, mandated by statute for each outgoing governor, was put on the special board agenda after Gibbons' defeat in the June 8 primary election. As one administration official put it, there was no way they were going to predict Gibbons' defeat and propose funding for the portrait before the primary.

"Maybe I should abstain from this," Gibbons joked as he presented the item.

"That depends on how good a picture you want," quipped Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. "We could allocate $5,000."

Gibbons decided, in that case, he could support the item, which passed unanimously.

Department of Cultural Affairs Director Michael Fisher said he is moving as quickly as possible to find an artist for the oil painting which, when completed, will hang in the entry hall of the Capitol next to portraits of other recent governors.

The state paid $20,000 for the portrait of Kenny Guinn four years ago. The recommendation will be voted on Thursday by the Interim Finance Committee.

The board consisting of the governor, attorney general and secretary of state also approved a recommendation to put $112,998 into the office that manages incoming stimulus funding for the state.

That item, too, must receive IFC approval on Thursday.