Steve Sisolak
Stephen F. Sisolak is an American businessman and politician serving as the 30th and current Governor of Nevada since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously chaired the Clark County Commission from 2013 to 2019.
After becoming involved in several civic causes and government projects, Sisolak won election to the Nevada Board of Regents and served from 1999 to 2008. In 2008, he won election to the Clark County Commission and was reelected in 2012 and 2016. In 2018, Sisolak won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Nevada, defeating Clark County Commission colleague Chris Giunchigliani in the primary election. On November 6, 2018, Sisolak defeated Republican nominee, Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt in the general election, becoming the first Democrat serving in the Nevada governorship since Bob Miller left office in 1999.
Early life
Sisolak was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Mary, who worked at a convenience store and Edward F. Sisolak, a project engineer for General Motors. He is of Czech descent.Sisolak earned a B.S. in business from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1974, and an M.B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1978. Both of his daughters attended UNLV.
Career
Sisolak is a successful entrepreneur, and was a partner in the American Distributing Company, a venture that sells coffee cups, pens, and other promotional items to businesses, as well as holding a partnership in a second company, Associated Industries.He began his involvement in elected office by winning a seat on the Nevada Board of Regents in the 1998, where he served for 10 years. He was then elected to the Clark County Commission, with his term beginning in 2009. He was elected by his peers as Chair of the Clark County Commission in January 2013.
Nevada Board of Regents
During his time on the Board of Regents, Sisolak discovered that thousands of Nevada students had been wrongly charged out-of-state tuition and won refunds for these students.In 2002, Sisolak sided with students and voted against a 16% tuition increase. Sisolak voted against student fee hikes in 2003 and 2008.
Sisolak fought to bring back a popular apprenticeship program at the College of Southern Nevada that has been abruptly canceled during the recession.
Clark County Commission
After joining the commission in 2009, Sisolak was "vehemently opposed to raising property taxes" and property tax rates remained flat during his entire tenure on the commission. Sisolak voted against increasing the county gas tax in 2013. He served as the commission's vice chairman before becoming chairman in 2013.Sisolak won praise from the conservative Nevada Policy Research Institute for fighting against waste, fraud, and abuse. A spokesperson for the institute said, "His efforts to hold government accountable, especially the firefighters, and look closely at how tax money is being spent should be applauded." Sisolak successfully pushed the Water District to terminate a contract with Wolfgang Puck that was costing taxpayers $600,000 per year. During the recession, Sisolak was a vocal critic of overtime and sick leave abuse, and his efforts resulted in over $7 million in reduced overtime costs and $30 million in reduced disability costs.
Sisolak successfully fought to cut the pay that Clark County Commissioners receive.
Sisolak voted to refund $4.1 million to 1,600 Laughlin property owners who had been overcharged assessment fees.
Sisolak supported the "More Cops" initiative, which added 720 new officers to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Republican Sheriff Joe Lombardo said that these additional police officers helped reduce violent crime 7% in 2018.
Under Sisolak's chairmanship, Clark County opened The Harbor, an innovative juvenile justice resources center that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has prevented 3,000 youths from entering the criminal justice system.
Sisolak supported bringing the Golden Knights and Raiders to Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sisolak was the "driving force" behind getting the Raiders to come to Las Vegas.
In addition to the county commission, Sisolak's other government involvement includes vice president and board of directors member for the Las Vegas Valley Water District and board of directors member for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. He has also served as a member of the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, and vice chair of the board of commissioners for the University Medical Center Of Southern Nevada.
Sisolak is involved with many civic, charitable and business organizations, including the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, the American Red Cross-Clark County Chapter, the UNLV Alumni Association, Seniors United, American Red Cross Leadership Council, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas Better Business Bureau, the Boys & Girls Club, Hispanics in Politics, St. Joseph Husband of Mary Catholic Church, and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.
Governor of Nevada
Tenure
On January 7, 2019, Sisolak was sworn in as the 30th Governor of Nevada.On May 30, 2019, Sisolak vetoed a bill that proposed the adoption of National Popular Vote Interstate Compact in the presidential elections.
Political campaigns
1998
Sisolak first won election as a member of the Nevada Board of Regents in November 1998.2008
Sisolak won a close race to replace out-going Republican Commissioner Bruce Woodbury in November 2008.2012
Sisolak won re-election as County Commissioner in November 2012, receiving the endorsement of the Las Vegas Review Journal and Las Vegas Sun.2014
Sisolak had considered running for Governor of Nevada in 2014, but declined in February 2014.2016
Sisolak won re-election as County Commissioner in November 2016.2018
Sisolak won the November 6, 2018, general election for Governor of Nevada, winning 49.4% of the vote to Republican Adam Laxalt's 45.3%. Sisolak became the first Democratic governor elected since 1994.Sisolak was long considered a potential candidate for Governor of Nevada in the 2018 election. Sisolak officially announced his candidacy on June 22, 2017. He defeated Clark County Commission colleague Chris Giunchigliani on June 12, 2018 to become the Democratic nominee for that office. On Tuesday, November 6 he was elected Governor of Nevada.
Sisolak's campaign priorities were education, healthcare, and the economy. He released a healthcare policy platform that included proposals to reduce pharmaceutical drug prices, fix Nevada's doctor shortage, and protect Nevadans with pre-existing conditions. Sisolak said he wanted to continue Governor Sandoval's Medicaid expansion and new funding for education. Sisolak supported Question 1, also known as Marsy's Law, the crime victims rights bill. Sisolak opposed Question 3, the Energy Choice Initiative.
He was endorsed by former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Representative Dina Titus, the Sierra Club, the Human Rights Campaign, Let America Vote, and the Law Enforcement Coalition of Nevada.