October 2006

Dr. Walt Rulffes, new superintendent of the Clark County School District COMMENTARY LYLE E. BRENNAN Want Your Voice to Be Heard? Publisher Get Rid of Activist Judges The Nevada Supreme Court has been in the news again recently, with its decisions regarding two ballot initiatives that were supposed to go before the voters on the November ballot. The justices ruled that sections of Question 2, The Peoples’ Initiative to Stop Taking of Our Land (PISTOL) had to be removed. It’s now doubtful whether the shortened version of Question 2 will make it to the ballot. They then threw out Question 3, Tax and Spending Control for Nevada (TASC), in its entirety, depriving voters of their chance to vote on reining in government spending. Maybe it’s a coincidence that both these measures would have given more power to private citizens and less power to government officials. However, I’m not much of a believer in coincidences. n the other hand, the ijuana. So, maybe it wasn’t much of Democrat presidents) serve for life. justices didn’t throw a coincidence that the only ballot However, Nevada Supreme Court O out Questions 1, 6 or 7. questions attacked were the ones op- justices must stand for re-election, Question 1 would re- posed by liberals and unions. which does give Nevada voters an quire the Legislature to approve The situation isn’t unique to Neva- opportunity to effect change. spending for public schools before da. Activist liberal judges have been Three Supreme Court seats are on any other part of the state budget. imposing their beliefs on citizens the November ballot: Seat C is cur- Ask any liberal politician: it’s all throughout the U.S. The Ninth Cir- rently occupied by Retiring Chief about “the children.” Question 6, a cuit Court of Appeals, which unfor- Justice Robert Rose. District Judge measure sponsored by the AFL-CIO, tunately rules over our region, has a Michael Cherry is running unop- aims not only to increase the mini- reputation for issuing outrageous posed to fill that vacancy. mum wage, but also to ensure that it judgments. A good example is the Justice Michael Douglas was ap- increases every year. Economists court’s decision agreeing with an pointed in April 2004 after the death have noted that this would hurt the atheist parent who felt the daily of Justice Myron Leavitt to fill his very people it’s intended to help, as recitation of the Pledge of Alle- unexpired term. He is now up for it would mean fewer jobs for entry- giance in his daughter’s school vio- election in Seat F, facing Cynthia level workers. In addition, it would lated her First Amendment rights be- “Dianne” Steel, who is currently hurt the small business people who cause the Pledge contains the words serving as a district judge. Justice hire them. The justices haven’t “under God.” Douglas can’t be blamed for the touched Question 7, which would We can’t do much about the Ninth 2003 Supreme Court ruling allowing change state law and legalize the Circuit because its appointed judges the Legislature to pass a tax hike possession of 1 ounce or less of mar- (16 out of the 24 were appointed by Continued on Page 8 4 October 2006 October 2006 • Volume 21 • No. 10 A division of BUSINESS LINK, LLC PUBLISHER Lyle E. Brennan • [email protected] PUBLISHER / CEO Connie Brennan • [email protected] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kathleen Foley • [email protected] ART DIRECTOR Joe Thomasula CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Mark Keays • [email protected] These four senior executives were chosen by RESEARCH / RANKING NEVADA their peers as this year’s Most Respected [email protected] CEOs. Find out what makes them tick and ADMINISTRATIVE RESEARCH get their viewpoints on management in our McKensie Keever • [email protected] cover story. ONLINE MARKETING DIRECTOR Harry Benson • [email protected] INTERNET / WEB SITE DIRECTOR J.R. Fent CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jennifer Rachel Baumer • Tom Dye • Liz Gamble Cindie Geddes • Stephanie Herrera • Terry Johnson Shanna J. Kehoe • Jonathan LaRossa Annelle Lerner • Steven J. Oshins • Amber Schutz R. Keith Schwer • Mike Sullivan • Jeff Tino ADVERTISING / SALES Connie Brennan • [email protected] Sheri Lautherboren • [email protected] Harvey Whittemore is developing a town- Dawn Jenkins • [email protected] Lucy Cox • [email protected] sized master plan called Coyote Springs, one of Tarah Richardson • [email protected] the many bedroom communities blossoming SALES ASSISTANT all over Nevada. Hollie Howard • [email protected] CORPORATE OFFICE 375 N. Stephanie St., Suite 2311 • Henderson, NV 89014 (702) 735-7003 • FAX (702) 733-5953 [email protected] NORTHERN NEVADA ADVISORY BOARD Chuck Alvey • EDAWN Krys T. 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DISCLAIMER: Editorial views expressed in this magazine, as well as those appearing in area focus and industry focus supplements are not necessarily those of the publisher or its boards. 6 October 2006 CONTENTS FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 12 Nevada’s Most Respected CEOs 4 Commentary LYLE BRENNAN This Year’s Fantastic Four Oil Independence DORESA BANNING The Key to U.S. Survival 21 Industry Focus: Bankers 10 Business Up Front Facing Challenges in a Dynamic Market Best of Both Worlds Cutting Health Insurance Costs 79 Nevada’s Energy Future Productivity and Planning Earth, Wind, Water and Sun DIANE GLAZMAN 30 Tech Page MIKE MARRIOTT Interfacing Multiple IT Systems 79 A Must for Smart Business Practices 93 Nevada Briefs • Henderson Executive Airport Expanded • Venture Capital Conference to Convene • Sierra Pacific Launches GRID • Cox Announces New Headquarters • Mineral County Receives Federal Funding 94 Face to Face Erick C. Sanchez, General Design & Construction Co. Don DelGiorno, KB Home Nevada Inc. 95 Speaking for Nevada Five Nevada mayors predict future headlines 96 Inside Politics MIKE SULLIVAN Nevada Governor’s Race A Look at the Players 97 Vital Signs B UILDING NEVADA Las Vegas Recovery Center Help for Those with Addictions 85 Wide Awake 100 People First Nevada’s Bedroom Communities MARK KEAYS JESSICA SANTINA Dealing with Difficult People - 92 Harsch Investment Properties Including Your Boss Bullish on Southern Nevada Market 102 Expert Advice KATHLEEN FOLEY DOUGLAS BECKLEY Customer Centering 92 Commercial Real Estate The Key to Success Market Report 104 Money Management Second Quarter 2006 – Office Market NEVADA SOCIETY OF CPAS 91 Building Nevada News in Brief Creating an Ethical Culture A Must for Every Business • Montecito Breaks Ground for Retail Project 105 Compassionate Capitalism • Third Tower Planned for World Market Center KATHLEEN FOLEY • Largest Multi-Family Deal Announced HELP of Southern Nevada • Contractors Board Offers Information Assisting Nevadans in Need • New Mixed-Use Plan in Centennial Hills 106 Business Indicators R. KEITH SCHWER October 2006 7 Continued From Page 4 without a two-thirds majority vote. Luckily for him, he was still serving in District Court when that disaster occurred. However, just this month he wrote the majority opinion that gutted the PISTOL initiative. Justice Nancy Becker, the incum- bent in Seat G, is the first of the justices involved in the 2003 legislative fiasco to run for re-election. Al- though she made it through the pri- mary, she faces a tough race in the general election because voters re- member her part in the Supreme Court’s decision to set aside the Constitution so the state government could spend money over the objec- tions of its elected representatives. I’m sure she doesn’t see herself as an “activist judge.” In answering questions posed by the Reno Gazette Journal, she said, “We need experi- enced, honest jurists who are not afraid to make tough calls.” Yes, we do, but maybe some calls are “tough” because they involve bend- ing the rules to promote a particular ideology. Bob Beers, one of the principal supporters of the TASC measure, in- sists his group will bring it up again at the next opportunity. I hope they do, and maybe they will learn a les- son from this experience and make sure they don’t get tripped up by the courts and their liberal supporters next time.

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