Three Northern Nevadans are vying for a seat overseeing the state’s public colleges on the Nevada Board of Regents. They look to fill the seat in District 11, an area that includes Washoe and Humboldt and Pershing counties.
The Reno Gazette Journal will update this story throughout the day as election results become available. Check back for updates.
What to know
This contest comes as longtime Regent Jason Geddes terms out.
With three running, it is likely two will move on to the general election unless one of the three receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary.
The 13-person elected board over the state’s public colleges including the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College
More:Nevada Board of Regents District 11: Candidates on chancellor payout, loan forgiveness, more
College professor Jeffrey Downs, college professor and former Truckee Meadows Community College President John Gwaltney and Steve Laden, who retired from the financial services industry, are running for District 11.
Whoever is elected will be tasked with naming a permanent replacement for Chancellor Melody Rose. It will be the third chancellor search for the Board of Regents since 2020.
Just days before the primary, the regents named Dale Erquiaga to the post as acting chancellor through the end of 2023.
Erquiaga is the former state superintendent overseeing K-12 education for two years i 2013. He was named the executive director at the Guinn Center, a research think tank, last year.
Rose, who had the highest post in higher education in Nevada, resigned without much explanation from the board that had hired the former chancellor of the Oregon University System and the former president of Marylhurst University in June 2020. She left with a $610,000 payout in April after less than two years on the job.
Here’s more about the candidates:
Jeffrey Downs
Age: 51
Education: Bachelors from California State University, San Bernardino; Masters from California State University Fullerton, PhD candidate from Liberty University.
Personal life: Moved to Nevada in 2000. Married with three children.
Career and experiences: Community College Professor, Interim Vice President of Student Success and Support Services at Western Nevada College, visiting lecturer at UNR, Nevada Faculty Alliance chapter president.
Website: downs4district11.com
John Gwaltney
Age: 80
Education: Bachelor’s from Oakland City University, master’s from Ball State University; PhD from Southern Illinois University
Career and experiences: Currently teaching one class at TMCC, former full-time community college professor; spent 18 years as a president of three community colleges, including TMCC; served eight years on the Nevada State Board of Education; served on the Reno/Sparks Chamber of Commerce
Personal life: Moved to Nevada in 1986 to become president of TMCC, married
Website: Drgwaltney.com
Steve Laden
Age: 61
Education: Bachelors from University of California Santa Barbara.
Career and experiences: Currently retired, but spent 32 years in the financial services industry, including as Senior Vice President and Investment Officer for Wells Fargo. Past board member and president of the Education Alliance of Washoe County, member of the State of Nevada Council to Establish Academic Standards,
Personal life: Moved to Nevada 37 years ago. Married, with one son, granddaughter
Website: SteveLadenforRegent.com
Siobhan McAndrew tells stories about the people of Northern Nevada and covers education in Washoe County. Read her journalism right here. Consider supporting her work by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal.
Source: rgj.com
