Life and how to live it

Unbidden, I offer a few words of advice for Speaker-elect Ira Hansen.

Being Speaker of the Nevada Assembly involves a ton of unglamorous work behind the scenes, all year long. It’s exciting to be catapulted to the top spot, but prepare yourself for long days and nights of frustration. It probably already feels like the most thankless job you’ve ever had.

People will expect a lot of you, none more than your caucus. As their leader, you must listen to everyone, while developing trusted associates to help you navigate the turbulent caucus waters. It’s fun to be a street fighter when you’re in the minority, but as a legislative leader you have to take things like the looming budget deficit more seriously and measure your public statements more carefully.

Your caucus members will take their cue from you in terms of respecting one another’s opinions and working together. It’s going to be a special challenge with your feisty caucus but try not to get bogged down in the innumerable caucus spats, especially the petty ones. As the Speaker, it’s your job to find the path forward, even when some caucus members refuse to see it.

Take a moment now to think about what kind of Speaker you want to be. Do you really want to use this opportunity to continue with your fiery contrarian persona? Please don’t demean the office by bludgeoning your perceived enemies or threatening that pesky state Wildlife Department for insisting you follow the trapping laws like everyone else.

You may be tempted to get back at some Assembly Democrats who treated you poorly over the years, by using committee and office assignments to further humiliate them after their historic loss. Avoid choosing the worst seats on the Assembly floor for your special foes and don’t pretend their desk lights are broken when they want to make a floor statement. Spend your energy instead on the more pressing problems piling up on your desk.

You might look to the past to find leadership examples set by some of Nevada’s best Speakers. Lynn Hettrick and Joe Dini, when they were co-speakers in 1995, would be a good place to start. Common decency will go a long ways towards harmony in an effective chamber.

Please respect the institution and insist that others respect it as well. That may mean you have to convince some in your caucus of the basic rules: no cussing on the floor, no screaming matches, no ad hominem attacks. You are now the party in power and your members need to act like the grown-ups.

Don’t abuse the legislative staff. They will do their best to get you the information you need, but they can’t conjure up an extra hundred million dollars here and there because the budget is short. Don’t blame them for the fiscal mess you’re in. Don’t blame them for anything.

Realize that those lobbyists who are suddenly your strongest supporters do not have your best interests at heart. They never did. Their newfound respect and admiration for you will evaporate as quickly as your 25-17 advantage.

Understand that the capital press corps knows more than you do about everything associated with the Legislature. They observe all that happens in public and always find out about the private drama. They’re going to do their jobs with your cooperation or without it, and they can make anyone look like a fool. If you’re honest and direct with them, they will treat you fairly.

Have a sense of humor when you make a mistake and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember, thousands of public employees and the people of our state are depending on you.

Enjoy your new place in Nevada’s history.

Be ever mindful of it.