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Gov. Guinn's Choice for Gaming Chief Down to Three Names

LAS VEGAS-- Dec. 23, 2000--Members of the state Gaming Control Board will have to wait another two weeks before they know whether they are on Gov. Kenny Guinn's Christmas list.

Guinn is taking his decision on the new chairman of the three-member board down to the wire.

He says he won't even consider naming a new gaming czar until the retiring Steve DuCharme's term expires on Jan. 1.

Until then all three members, Dennis Neilander, Bobby Siller, and newly appointed Scott Scherer, are in contention for the job, the governor says.

Guinn plans to interview all three men after the first of the year and make a decision by Jan. 5, just five days before the Jan. 10 meeting of the new Control Board.

Insiders report that Neilander, who joined the board in September 1998, still is considered the front-runner. He's been on the board several months longer than Siller, who entered state government after a distinguished career in the FBI, including three years as chief of the Las Vegas field office.

Neilander, a protege of Bill Bible, who retired in 1998 after 10 years at the helm of the Control Board, is regarded as the gaming industry's first choice. He has the most experience as a regulator, serving as Bible's chief of corporate securities before becoming a board member. And Neilander knows the Legislature, having worked as a Senate Judiciary Committee staffer.

"We feel very comfortable with him," one casino insider says. "He brings experience, calmness and stability to the board.

"The other two may be well-suited for the chairmanship as time goes by, but Neilander is the logical choice now."

Scherer, who is coming off a tough stint as Guinn's chief of staff, appears to be right behind Neilander in the hunt.

Bible, now president of the influential Nevada Resort Association, the casino industry's political arm, also is said to like Scherer, a former state lawmaker who once served as Bible's chief deputy attorney general at the board.

Those who know Scherer say he'll be more comfortable in his new surroundings at the Control Board and has potential to become a solid chairman some day.

So does Siller, who brings impeccable integrity to the board. But Siller, insiders say, needs more time to get accustomed to working within state government.

All this means that it's likely to be Neilander's time to shine.

We should remember however, that the casino industry, which contributed heavily to Guinn's 1998 campaign, isn't making this appointment.

Guinn is.

"I've had a lot of input from people who are in the industry and those who aren't in the industry," Guinn says. "This position is important to not only gaming, but the entire state."

Whichever way the Guv goes, you can be sure he's giving this decision a lot of thought. He's taking it down to the wire. *

The casino industry, meanwhile, is bringing back its seasoned lobbying team to the 2001 Legislature.

Harvey Whittemore and Billy Vassiliadis expect to play key roles once more for the NRA.

But this session, the industry will have Bill Bible, its most experienced legislative ace of all, at its disposal.

Bible, who has worked 15 sessions since 1971 as a state official, will head up the industry's lobbying effort in Carson City next year.

Among his legislative stints, Bible lists five sessions as chairman of the Control Board and three as the state's budget director. He also served two sessions as a fiscal analyst for the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

What's the No. 1 item on Bible's agenda in Carson City?

Taxes. Taxes Taxes.

Expect the industry to look at broadening the state's tax base to take the financial burden off of itself.

What a surprise.

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