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May. 03, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SPECULATION ENDS: Governor files divorce papers

Couple 'incompatible in marriage,' court documents state

By ED VOGEL
REVIEW-JOURNAL
More Info


Gov. Jim Gibbons and his wife, Dawn, are introduced at the Nevada Inaugural Ball on Jan. 26, 2007, at The Venetian.
Associated Press File Photo



First lady Dawn Gibbons gives a tour of the governor's mansion in October in Carson City. She said in an interview Wednesday that the governor had cut off all communication with her.
Review-Journal File Photo

CARSON CITY -- Ending months of speculation about the state of his marriage, Gov. Jim Gibbons filed for divorce from his wife, Dawn, late Friday afternoon.

Gibbons' Reno lawyer Gary Silverman filed a four-page complaint for divorce document in district court in Carson City.

The couple has been married since June 21, 1986, and are the parents of a 20-year-old son, Jimmy, a cadet at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York. The governor also has two grown children from a previous marriage.

The divorce has been assigned to District Judge Bill Maddox, who said he might recuse himself from the case. Maddox said he is friends with both the governor and the first lady.

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    • In the divorce document, Silverman said the couple is "incompatible in marriage" and requests the marriage be dissolved and spousal support awarded pursuant to law. He asked that community property and debts also be handled according to law.

    Nevada is a community property state where couples share assets and debts gathered during their marriages.

    In a prepared statement, Silverman said the governor, his staff and his lawyers would not comment publicly on the divorce.

    Dawn Gibbons, a former four-term member of the state Assembly, did not return a call for comment. Sources said she was in California for the weekend with the couple's 20-year-old son, Jimmy.

    "The governor has on repeated occasions asked for privacy in this matter for his family," Silverman said.

    Silverman added he will request a court ruling on the living arrangements of the governor and first lady.

    In a Tuesday story, the Review-Journal reported that governors must "reside at the seat of government," which is in Carson City.

    Gov. Gibbons, however, has been spending nights recently at the couple's longtime home in southwest Reno, while Dawn Gibbons lives in the governor's mansion.

    Aides to the governor said Gibbons, 63, still conducts business meetings and receptions at the Governor's Mansion, but temporarily was living in their Reno home.

    The 1907 law that appropriated $40,000 to build the Governor's Mansion stipulates the building must be used "as the home of the state executive," who is Gibbons.

    In a Wednesday interview with Review-Journal columnist Jane Ann Morrison, Dawn Gibbons, 54, cried as she talked about their marriage.

    She said her husband's clothes and boots are still at the mansion. "I'm standing in the closet looking at them right now," she said.

    The lines of communication have been cut from his end, she added. "I can't get ahold of him.

    "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know why he's divorcing me. All I'm trying to do is keep it together," she said. "I never asked him to move out."

    In an interview last October, Dawn Gibbons, who made an abortive bid for Congress in 2006, spoke happily of their marriage.

    She also stood by Gibbons during his campaign for governor in October 2006 when he was accused by 32-year-old Las Vegas cocktail waitress Chrissy Mazzeo of pushing her against a parking garage wall and making unwanted sexual advances. Gibbons told police he only helped Mazzeo up after she had fallen.

    The incident occurred after Jim Gibbons, Mazzeo, political consultant Sig Rogich and others had been drinking at a Las Vegas restaurant. Gibbons told police he drank two glasses of wine, though a waitress said there had been heavy drinking by people at the table. No charges were brought against Gibbons in relation to the incident.

    A few days later, reports broke in the Wall Street Journal that a federal grand jury was investigating whether Jim Gibbons had taken bribes and gifts from Reno businessman Warren Trepp in exchange for his assistance in gaining federal contracts.

    Gibbons served 10 years in Congress before running for governor in 2006.

    Although no charges as yet have been filed over the Trepp case, the Gibbonses had to take out a line of credit on their paid-off Reno home to pay for some of the legal costs.

    Nonetheless, the first couple still could afford to buy 40 acres near Lamoille Canyon in Elko County in August for $575,000.

    Dawn Gibbons previously said her husband, whom she described as a "shy" man, wanted to retire there. She expressed reluctance herself to moving to such a rural area.

    The Gibbonses have worked closely together throughout their political careers.

    Gibbons was a little known Delta Airline pilot and Assembly member from Reno when Operation Desert Storm broke out in 1991.

    As a member of the Nevada Air National Guard, Gibbons was called to active duty and flew reconnaissance missions over Kuwait and Iraq.

    Dawn Gibbons temporarily replaced him in the Assembly while he performed service for his country.

    Then in 1994, Gibbons made a disastrous run for governor against Democratic incumbent Bob Miller.

    Despite a huge loss, both Jim and Dawn Gibbons still successfully circulated petitions that now require the Legislature to approve any tax or fee increases by at least a two-thirds vote.

    Gibbons in 1996 was elected as the 2nd Congressional District member in Congress. He served in the seat through 2006.

    But Dawn Gibbons did not accompany him to Washington, D.C., saying she preferred to remain in Reno where their son could attend school in familiar surroundings.

    Her refusal to go to Washington, however, lead to speculation that their marriage was on the rocks, which intensified after Gibbons announced he was running for governor.

    Instead of remaining in Nevada and serving as a full-time first lady, Dawn Gibbons announced a run for the seat in Congress that her husband was vacating.

    She lost in the primary election to now Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev.

    Review-Journal reporters Sean Whaley and Molly Ball contributed to this story.



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    Johnathan L. Abbinett wrote on May 03, 2008 11:48 PM: Hey, I don't want to pile on and say, "I TOLD YOU SO!" But, Gibbons has no honor! This guy is a veteran that voted AGAINST Vets - then, tried to spin it and lied about it! Is it no wonder that a traitor would betray his own vows and wife?

    Dawn's work supporting Autism and against Meth are the only good things that have happened since the low information voters elected this idiot - the only good news is that Dawn will finally be free of this cad! I say, Dawn announce that you will continue to uphold your duties and responsibilities (regardless of the Governor's actions or inactions) and that you plan of leaving the Mansion the day the divorce is official - with your head high and dignity in tact! In that way your staff can start making plans and you won't go down in history as a quitter!

    Then, do something that is alien to your soon-to-be ex-husband - keep your word!

    And Dawn stop worrying about what you did, or didn't do, people in the know it had nothing to do with you - he's a common, lying cheat going through a mid-life impotency crises - you'll be much better off without him!

    And for you NV Republicans out there - your party is already a pathetic joke that none of us find funny - thanks for screwing up Nevada for all of us!

    Now, get ready, because Nevada Republicans are about to get a good taste of what being banned in the political desert is all about - for 25 to 30 years!


    jackson wrote on May 03, 2008 11:39 PM: Who could have guessed that there were problems in that house?! I believed Chrissy...he is a scum.

    But, get Dawn out of the governor mansion, or start charging her rent. It is for ELECTED officials.

    Things must be pretty bad for them to break up this sham...I wonder what happened this time? What was the straw that broke the camel's back?


    Robert Channing wrote on May 03, 2008 11:30 PM: For those people who say that character doesn't matter when it comes to politicians, this is a perfect example why it does matter. GARBAGE IN = GARBAGE OUT. This is his second divorce. If he can't even run his own ship, how the hell can he run our state? Makes me wonder about those Morton parking lot allegations from a few years back.


    David Johann wrote on May 03, 2008 11:02 PM: Let's talk a little bit about the outback of Nevada. It's heavily redneck, and heavily Mormon. In fact, a lot of rednecks are Mormon's and vice-versa in rural Nevada, Utah, and parts of Idaho. Yippie yai yai yeah, git along little doggies.

    Gibbon's is a republican and a Jack-Mormon. Jack Mormons are the term they use for those who identify with the faith when it's convenient, as when they can use powerful Mormon connections to line their own pockets. The Las Vegas Monorail monstrosity was promoted and prosecuted by such Mormons, using local Mormon power.

    At times Gibbons may appear to be the antichrist, but as long as he's a republican and a Mormon and running against a democrat, that's plenty adequate for a bunch of rural Mormon hicks to vote for him.

    Yippie yai yai yeah, git along little doggies.


    SickofIt wrote on May 03, 2008 09:58 PM: Governor - GO fix the state's problems. The people you have left to illegally rot in prison have bigger problems than divorce. And the prisoners who are literally rotting are going to own this state. Meanwhile, lawsuits, lawsuits, lawsuits, and this divorce is nothing but a distraction. Who cares?


    urnuts wrote on May 03, 2008 09:33 PM: Hey Governor - now that you are single; check out craigslist. They have some cute babes or guys that might interest you; infact, I thought your ex-wife had a posting on it. The good thing is you won't have to pay thousands of dollars for a piece of kitty.


    A girl named don? wrote on May 03, 2008 07:44 PM: Why would any guy marry a woman named Don? That would be your first clue right there.


    help is on the way wrote on May 03, 2008 07:43 PM: The news reported that an 18-wheeler loaded with Thorazine was headed to east on the freeway from Sacramento. My guess is that's it's on the way to Carson City. She must be off her meds again.


    Cuh-Ray-Zee wrote on May 03, 2008 07:37 PM: In fairness to the Goobner, I've heard the chick is cuh-ray-zee with a capital "C." I wonder if they'll have to get a SWAT team to get her psycho a&& out of the mansion?


    Don't Blame the Gays wrote on May 03, 2008 07:34 PM: Yup, they can't blame the gays for this failed marriage. I think you have to write this one up to poor moral character and just failing to keep promises. "In sickness and in health, 'til death do us part..." Ya, ya, ya... Who doesn't understand and appreciate the sanctity of marriage??


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