Nevada Attorney General George Chanos
is under fire for making just seven trips to his Carson City office
since starting the job Nov. 1.
With cell phones, e-mail and fax machines, Chanos said he can
accomplish his official duties in his hometown of Las Vegas.
When pressed for a record of his visits to Carson City, Chanos
said: "I'm not keeping score, and I don't think anyone else should
either. This is a petty and immature issue."
But his office provided details of his Carson City trips to the
Reno Gazette-Journal the next day. The state pays his travel costs.
Former Gov. Bob Miller criticized Chanos' lack of time in the
capital city. The Las Vegas native spent most of the time in Carson
City during his tenure as lieutenant governor and governor.
"That's the state capital. That's where state government is,"
said Miller, a Democrat. "There's a reasonable expectation that
elected officers be there."
Chanos, a Republican, was named by Gov. Kenny Guinn to finish
the term of Brian Sandoval, who was appointed to the federal bench.
Since Nov. 1, Chanos has averaged about one trip every other
week to his Carson City office. He has spent less than 60 hours
there, and his longest visit was an overnighter in December.
With more than 70 percent of the state's population in Clark
County, the attorney general's office has 65 lawyers in Carson City
and 65 lawyers in Las Vegas.
Chanos said family considerations also are keeping him in Las
Vegas most of the time.
He said his 8-year-old daughter goes to the same school her
mother attended. And both he and his wife have elderly parents in
Las Vegas who need care.
"Those considerations eclipse any others," he said. "If
choosing between my 8-year-old daughter saying she would like to
see more of me and certain political types in northern Nevada who
would like to see more of me, I'm going to listen to my daughter."
State law requires the attorney general's office to be in the
capital. But no law requires the official to live in the capital.
If elected to a full term in November, Chanos plans to stay in
Carson City full-time when the 2007 Legislature is in session.
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Nevada Attorney General George Chanos
is under fire for making just seven trips to his Carson City office
since starting the job Nov. 1.
With cell phones, e-mail and fax machines, Chanos said he can
accomplish his official duties in his hometown of Las Vegas.
When pressed for a record of his visits to Carson City, Chanos
said: "I'm not keeping score, and I don't think anyone else should
either. This is a petty and immature issue."
But his office provided details of his Carson City trips to the
Reno Gazette-Journal the next day. The state pays his travel costs.
Former Gov. Bob Miller criticized Chanos' lack of time in the
capital city. The Las Vegas native spent most of the time in Carson
City during his tenure as lieutenant governor and governor.
"That's the state capital. That's where state government is,"
said Miller, a Democrat. "There's a reasonable expectation that
elected officers be there."
Chanos, a Republican, was named by Gov. Kenny Guinn to finish
the term of Brian Sandoval, who was appointed to the federal bench.
Since Nov. 1, Chanos has averaged about one trip every other
week to his Carson City office. He has spent less than 60 hours
there, and his longest visit was an overnighter in December.
With more than 70 percent of the state's population in Clark
County, the attorney general's office has 65 lawyers in Carson City
and 65 lawyers in Las Vegas.
Chanos said family considerations also are keeping him in Las
Vegas most of the time.
He said his 8-year-old daughter goes to the same school her
mother attended. And both he and his wife have elderly parents in
Las Vegas who need care.
"Those considerations eclipse any others," he said. "If
choosing between my 8-year-old daughter saying she would like to
see more of me and certain political types in northern Nevada who
would like to see more of me, I'm going to listen to my daughter."
State law requires the attorney general's office to be in the
capital. But no law requires the official to live in the capital.
If elected to a full term in November, Chanos plans to stay in
Carson City full-time when the 2007 Legislature is in session.
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