County manager stepping down to lead Resort Association
Virginia Valentine, our well-respected, hardworking county manager has sold out. I am shocked and saddened — no sarcasm here, I really thought Ms. Valentine was an honest, hardworking public servant, one of few in our county.
My real disappointment is with the loss of a competent and honest public employee. We certainly need more of those in Clark County. From my observations, she helped reduce the power of the many crooks entrenched in county government. Her departure surprised me, as I didn’t think she was as susceptible to the cushy offerings of the casino industry as are many. I thought her integrity level was higher. I was wrong. She went the way of her predecessor, who took a plush, do-nothing job at Harrah’s (director of philanthropy), as did our former mayor (director of government relations). For what past favors were these bloated jobs created?
Some “career changes” from government to the casino industry are obvious and accepted in Nevada. Gaming Control Board members and “retired” police officials routinely receive their payoffs from the casino industry in the form of cushy jobs.
I understand that Ms. Valentines’ pay will probably double or triple. But it’s unfortunate that ethics and commitment to responsibilities go into the dumpster when offered a better deal by dubious suitors, just as Sarah Palin morphed from an obscure governor of an obscure state into a millionaire by happenstance, starting by quitting her government job mid-term. The fact that Ms. Palin is incompetent and Ms. Valentine is competent is beside the point; the similarities exist, on a smaller scale for our departing County Manager.
I am sure Ms. Valentine will do a good job and will be a benefit to her new casino bosses. But I am disappointed in her apparent lack of character. For the county and state as a whole, I think Ms. Valentine is more valuable and effective as a fighter against crookedness in county government than she will be as an advocate for an industry that already controls all levels of government in Nevada, and gets whatever it wants. There’s not much she can add to what the casino industry already gets.
Shame on Virginia Valentine.
