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May. 11, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gibbons is 'hurting,' but still a first lady

By MOLLY BALL
REVIEW-JOURNAL
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First lady Dawn Gibbons drives a nail at a Habitat for Humanity homebuilding event on Saturday in North Las Vegas. "People know I'm hurting, but a lot of other people are hurting worse," she said. Gov. Jim Gibbons has filed for divorce and is seeking to oust Dawn Gibbons from the Governor's Mansion.
Photo by Ronda Churchill

For now, Dawn Gibbons is still first lady of Nevada.

So there she was bright and early Saturday morning, welcoming a group of red-shirted Habitat for Humanity volunteers to a job site in the inner city and picking up a hammer herself to drive some nails into a house frame.

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    • "I just think this is such a good way to celebrate Mother's Day," she said, her straw-blond hair blowing around her face in the wind. "Families have so many problems. The economy's bad. This is a way women can come together -- and men -- to give children a safe place to live in a good neighborhood and live the American dream. You know, government isn't always the answer for people. The private sector and Christian organizations like this have to be there."

    The first family has its own problems lately, namely a standoff between Dawn Gibbons and her husband, Gov. Jim Gibbons.

    The governor has filed for divorce and is seeking a court order to evict the first lady from the Governor's Mansion in Carson City. He's been spending nights at the couple's house in Reno instead, and nasty rumors swirl around the proceedings that currently are in the early stages and mostly secret.

    Dawn Gibbons, 54, who was the owner of a Reno wedding chapel when she met her husband, has been cast mostly as the victim in this unfolding saga.

    She says it's all her husband's doing and he hasn't given her an explanation. Her lawyer says she deserves to keep her position, even though he's the one Nevadans elected to live in the state mansion, because of all her work getting him elected over the years.

    The governor has declined to comment on the situation, and his lawyers have sought to keep the proceedings out of public view.

    Meanwhile, Dawn Gibbons, a former politician herself, simply keeps acting as first lady.

    Saturday morning in Las Vegas, in addition to the homebuilding event, part of the international shelter group's National Women Build Week, she attended a ribbon-cutting for a Hispanic business expo.

    The first lady said she's not tempted to hide from the public in her current circumstances. "I get more joy being around good people like this, doing positive things," she said.

    Last year, she helped start a Web site and program, nevadavolunteers.org, to promote volunteerism in the state that is ranked last in the nation by that metric.

    Dawn Gibbons also talked about the Crystal Darkness methamphetamine awareness program that she helped start statewide last year, which has since become a national phenomenon.

    "The great thing about being in this role is I've met a lot of good people, and also a lot of people who need help," she said. "I get a lot of satisfaction out of it."

    Although she knows the focus is on her and her troubled marriage, Gibbons begs a reporter to write about the homebuilding event, which she says deserves attention.

    The program manager, Roger Cooper, said Gibbons is a stalwart friend of the organization. She was there for the same event a year ago, and used to sit on the board of the group's Reno chapter.

    The six houses being framed on the lot in North Las Vegas, near the corner of Carey Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard, will go to deserving working families -- families selected because they are stable and responsible, not poor, but not quite making it, unable to afford a mortgage.

    "The majority are single mothers, but we like to see families together," Cooper said. "Moms and dads and children."

    Asked what is next for the first couple, Dawn Gibbons became emotional and said, "That kind of depends on my husband. It's in his hands."

    For her part, she said, she'll continue to do good works. (A schedule provided by her office shows a full slate of charitable activities in the weeks ahead.)

    "People know I'm hurting, but a lot of other people are hurting worse," she said. "We help each other. People, for the most part, are good. They feel compassion."

    Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball @reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.

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    nebada wrote on May 12, 2008 07:56 PM: Stay in the mansion Dawn! Everyone in northern Nevada know that the real reason for the divorce is the governor is having an affair with a married woman. If the man can't be trusted in his personal life then he won't be honest in his political life either.
    Dawn hasn't done anything wrong. He is the one who is self-centered and arrogant. I'm sorry, but politicians SHOULD be role models. Expose him Dawn - his affair is being talked about all over Reno, eventually the press will expose it, they won't be able to resist for long.


    Boink wrote on May 11, 2008 10:52 PM: "Realist" is correct: People didn't vote for Dawn Gibbons, they voted for Jim Gibbons.

    While I sympathize with Dawn Gibbons and her plight, she is actually HARMING her causes by continuing to act as "first lady"; those skeptical of her organizations have additional ammunition to argue against supporting a seemingly delusional woman.

    She should empower herself, her image, and her causes by taking the brave step of embracing her new reality.

    She will look stronger and more mature. Besides, she was not always going to be the "First Lady of Nevada" forever.


    Johnathan L. Abbinett wrote on May 11, 2008 09:54 PM: Dear "Reality" there is no question, sadly, that Jim Gibbons was elected as Governor, but in doing so we also got Dawn Gibbons as our First Lady - when the divorce is final, then and only then, would it be appropriate for Dawn to leave her post as First Lady - is that too simple for you to get?

    Jim Gibbons left the mansion on his own volition and he'll probably move back in after the divorce is final - until then, the only person to blame for this debacle is Jim Gibbons!

    I am proud our First Lady is being a real lady and doing her duty and fulfilling her responsibilities - you can't say that about her idiot husband!

    Just when one thinks nothing could get worse in Nevada - now this? I'm too the point where I've re-set my expectations of Nevada politicians to ZERO, NADA, ZILCH - in that way if anything positive happens it's a plus!

    Sadly, the Northern Nuts and Rurals will probably re-elect this empty suit to another term - GOD HELP US ALL!


    ohmy wrote on May 11, 2008 07:44 PM: To Maybe, all you need to do is an archive search of Ms. Masseo, add 15 or so years to her and change the eyes a bit and you have KK or Kathy.


    Realist wrote on May 11, 2008 05:57 PM: Dawn was not elected First Lady, Jim was elected Governor. This should decide who stays in the Governor's Mansion.


    Realist wrote on May 11, 2008 05:55 PM: Dawn was not elected First Lady, Jim was elected Governor. This should decide who stats in the Governor's Mansion.


    Maybe wrote on May 11, 2008 01:26 PM: Maybe the RJ can get the public some pictures of Kathy.

    Or, take a poll to see how many people would be willing to give up a few days to collect signatures to recall the village idiot we call Governor Jim Gibbons.


    Johnathan L. Abbinett wrote on May 11, 2008 01:08 PM: Mark my words, when this sad chapter of Nevada's worse Governor is history - the only good thing about it that history will record is that the First Lady Dawn Gibbons DID do some good work for some important causes!

    Dawn Gibbons IS our First Lady until he day the divorce becomes finalized - and I, for one, think she is doing the right thing by staying in the mansion and doing her duty - and she should continue to do so!

    The day the divorce is finalized, Dawn should hold her head high and walk out of the mansion with her dignity in tact - and it will be a sad day for Nevada - SHAME ON JIM GIBBONS!


    55444444 wrote on May 11, 2008 12:40 PM: kkkkkkkkjjytpppimmmmmmmmmmmmmmbbbbbbbbbbb


    Buddy's Mom wrote on May 11, 2008 12:06 PM: Molly, Thank you writing something positive on how First Lady Dawn is coping in such a devastating time in her life.

    She truly is a Lady and deserves to be treated as such by all of Nevada and especially by her Husband.

    Dawn, keep your head held high, you are doing so much good for so many.


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