Clark County commissioners appoint 2 to fill Nevada Senate vacancies

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Steve Marcus

A view of the Nevada State Legislature building in Carson City on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.

Published Tue, Dec 4, 2018 (6:10 p.m.)

Updated Tue, Dec 4, 2018 (7:37 p.m.)

Nevada’s Legislature is almost set for the 2019 session, with three more seats still to be filled after Clark County chose replacements for two outgoing Democrats.  

Commissioners chose former Assemblyman Chris Brooks and Dallas Harris, an attorney with the Public Utilities Commission, to replace Sens. Tick Segerblom, elected to the county commission this year, and Aaron Ford, who won the Attorney General’s Office.

The commission also nominated Republican Gregory Hafen II, general manager of Pahrump Utility Company Inc., to join candidates chosen by Lincoln and Nye counties to fill the Assembly seat of the late brothel owner Dennis Hof.

Counties are expected to meet Friday to make a final decision on the Hof seat. Most of the Assembly district is in Nye County, which will carry the most weight in deciding the appointment.

Commissioners said they tend to follow the recommendation of the caucus representing the seat, ensuring the appointee can get to Carson City and immediately start working with fellow lawmakers.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said that the caucuses may need to open up their process in selecting their preferred candidate. She said there were many qualified individuals who applied for the vacant seats.

Clark County will now need to appoint a replacement for Brooks, who said five generations of his family have lived in Senate District 3. Brooks has been a vocal advocate for renewable energy policies in the Legislature, including restoring a utility credit program for solar customers’ excess power.

The county also needs to fill Assembly District 11, formerly represented by Democrat Olivia Diaz. She recently resigned her seat and announced her candidacy for Las Vegas City Council.

Lawmakers are expected to convene in Carson City in February.

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