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Las Vegas health care consultant to vie for Halseth's state Senate seat
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
Updated: Feb. 23, 2012 | 7:59 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- A health care consultant who has lived in Nevada for less than two years announced Wednesday that he will be a Republican candidate to fill the state Senate District 9 seat vacated last week with the resignation of Sen. Elizabeth Halseth, R-Las Vegas.
Vick Gill, 31, will seek the seat in southwest Las Vegas, where Democrats hold a 2,100-voter registration advantage. No Democrats have yet announced their candidacies. Candidates will be running to fill the last two years of Halseth's four-year term.
The race probably will be one of the most contested during the election campaign because both major parties are fighting for control of the upper house, where Democrats hold a 11-10 advantage.
Gill is making his first bid for office, said Sen. Michael Roberson, the leader of the Senate Republican Caucus. Roberson said Gill has excellent qualifications and would make a good senator. A few hours after Gill's announcement, the caucus announced it had endorsed his candidacy.
"One of my first priorities will be to put Nevadans back to work," Gill said in a campaign announcement. "As a small-business owner, I know how to create jobs and balance a budget."
Though he is not licensed to practice medicine in Nevada, Gill holds a medical degree from Xavier University School of Medicine. He is a member of an Indian-American family that owns four obstetrics and gynecology businesses in Northern California and also operates a 1,000-acre vineyard.
Rather than practice medicine, Gill said he concentrated on administrative duties with the family businesses, where he oversaw 65 employees. He said he moved to Las Vegas in March 2010.
Gill, who is single, said he works as a health care consultant in Las Vegas.
According to the Clark County Election Department, he registered to vote Feb. 8. State law requires legislative candidates to be residents of the state at least one year before an election. The primary election is scheduled for June 12.
If elected, Gill would become one of a handful of Asian-Americans who have served in the Legislature. Bob Wong, who served in the Assembly in the 1991 session, and Francis Allen, who served in the Assembly in the 2005 and 2007 sessions, are thought to be the only other Asian-Americans to serve in the Legislature.
The legislative research staff does not track legislators' ethnic backgrounds, unless they self-identify with a particular group.
"Nevadans are looking for people who have lived in the real world," Gill said in an interview. "I bring a common-sense approach. I think that will appeal to people."
Though Democrats hold a registration advantage, Gill said he would not have entered the race unless he thought he could win and expects to pick up most of the independent vote.
"I am very impressed with Vick and know his experience in the private sector creating jobs will be an asset to the state of Nevada," Roberson said.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
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IS THIS GUY FOR REAL?!
"Nevadans are looking for people who have lived in the real world," Gill said in an interview. "
What real world has this guy lived in? It looks to me like he comes from family money. He is 31 years old and didnt want to actually work as a doctor. What jobs has he created?
His name doesn't show up on TN so it's possible that he is a true private sector guy. That would likely make him the only major candidate who is constitutionally eligible to serve. That is, of course, unless he is a domestic partner of one of the numerous other Gills who work for the state.
The federal government has so heavily involved in the practice of medicine that it's difficult for a physician to avoid government (Medicare/caid) money. Psychiatrists in private practice are usually a safe bet.
The DEMs typically nominate someone who is either a lawyer or public union member. INELIGIBLE.
@Candystriper - Good point. And thanks for the answer to my question.
It is very important to have a OBGYN as a state Senator. The Presidential election is all about who controls the health insurance exchanges. I want someone who can advise Nevada Medicaid on what is necessary. If he can get the women of Nevada in the right clinical trials covered by insurance he can save lives.
Why would a physician, who is educated and in a mostly honorable profession get into state politics in Nevada, which is comprised, for the most part, of bottom-feeding otherwise unemployable individuals?
My first question is how long has this guy lived in Las Vegas, or even Nevada? Doing a little research yields very little. How does he truely know about our problems if he hasn't lived them. Republican or Democrat, my vote is going to someone who knows and understands our problems, not someone who has just moved here and only sees the recent improvements.
Oh lord another doctor running, you know he and heck will jump on the health care bandwagon!