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

Gibbons stands behind pick for efficiency panel

By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

Bruce James
Republican denies he engaged in any inappropriate behavior with teenager

CARSON CITY -- A spokesman for Gov. Jim Gibbons said Saturday that Gibbons continues to support his choice to head up a panel to look at ways to improve efficiency in state government.

Bruce James, the former U.S. public printer, has denied that he engaged in any inappropriate behavior that would warrant his stepping down as the unpaid chairman of the SAGE commission, said Ben Kieckhefer, the governor's press secretary.

Fellow Republican John Mason, the former chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, accused James of an incident involving Mason's teenage daughter that occurred five years ago in Washington, D.C., according to a report by KLAS-TV, Channel 8. No details of the allegation were given.

"We plan to press ahead with the commission and with Bruce James as our chairman," Kieckhefer said. "Bruce James vehemently denies he did anything wrong."

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    • Kieckhefer said James, a Lake Tahoe resident chosen by Gibbons in April to head the Spending and Government Efficiency Commission, was given the opportunity to step down from the volunteer post but chose not to do so.

    Neither James nor Mason could be reached for comment.

    James will head an as yet unnamed panel of business people charged with eliminating government waste. James and the other members of the panel will work for free and pay their own expenses.

    Kieckhefer said he became aware of Mason's concerns Thursday. There was no criminal investigation and no charges were ever filed, he said.

    Gibbons, a member of Congress at the time the incident is alleged to have occurred, was made aware of the concern, but it wasn't an issue when James was tapped for the SAGE panel, he said.

    There is a history of bad feelings between James and Mason. James was reported to have been given the task by Gov. Kenny Guinn of informing Mason that he was being replaced as head of Nevada's Republican Party in 2000.

    Mason has faced his own credibility issues. He once claimed to have played guitar for the 1960s rock group the Surfaris, but he is not listed as one of the group's members. The issue surfaced when Mason, an attorney, announced a bid for the state Supreme Court in 1994.



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    SteveA. wrote on May 11, 2008 08:47 AM: How many of those meetings are going to take place at Mr. James multi-million dollar home on Lake Tahoe? Screw the working class and pass me another drink. What about property taxes Mr. James. I love Nevada, the rich hide behind there guard gated fences and send their kids to private school and own the political system and tell everyone else how appreciative they should be to have jobs.


    Mad American wrote on May 11, 2008 08:13 AM: I've known Bruce and Nora James for a dozen years. You'll never find a more phony and ambitious couple. Bruce made his millions in printing. His trophy wife looks down her nose at everyone and feels life is about being pampered. They play the 'sweet as honey' image in public but are nasty folks. James ran against John Ensign but dropped out when it was clear he couldn't win and the party would be angry with him. By doing that, he became the 'favored son' for supposedly 'sacrificing' his own ambitions for the good of the party. He was rewarded with an appointment as U.S. Printer, for which he was well qualified and probably did a good job. But now, he's wormed his way into the governor's graces and is posturing himself to 'buy' the title of governor when Jim's term is up. What fools we would be if we allowed that to happen. And now ... the 'inappropriate' scandal. Where's there's smoke - there's fire and I for one, could believe it from this nasty character.


    Recall Gibbons wrote on May 11, 2008 08:07 AM: Gibbons has no leadership qualities, ethics or morals. Why would any of his appointments.


    Dave L wrote on May 11, 2008 07:47 AM: I believe that the public has a right to know about these allegations and make their feeling known as to whether Bruce should be allowed to continue in any service to the State and the citizens. There seems to be an unseemly allegation put forth by Mason. Our public officials, and he is now such, must be beyond reproach....don't tell Gibbons has screwed up yet one more time?!


    2zero wrote on May 11, 2008 06:43 AM: Bruce has crabs...the rest is speculation!


    Jamie wrote on May 11, 2008 06:34 AM: We need to recall this governor and we need to do it now.