Sandoval takes 2nd highest post in national governors group

LAS VEGAS — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has officially been chosen as the vice chairman of the National Governors Association.

Fellow governors voted him into the post on Saturday, during the group’s convention in Des Moines, Iowa. The former vice chair, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, is now the chairman.

Sandoval attended part of the convention, but returned to Nevada early to respond to rural Panaca after a deadly explosion there on Wednesday.

Sandoval said he was humbled to be chosen for the leadership post, and praised the group for work that’s shaped Nevada’s own policies on prescription drug abuse and cyber security.