Sandoval’s general counsel leaves administration for Resorts World

By Sandra Chereb Las Vegas Review-Journal Capital Bureau

10 years ago

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval‘s top staff, from left, Mike Willden and Michon Martin, listen to testimony in a joint money committee hearing at the Legislative Building in Carson City, Nev., on Monday, May 25, 2015. (Cathleen Allison/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CARSON CITY — Michon Martin, general counsel to Gov. Brian Sandoval, is leaving the administration to join Resorts World Las Vegas, the governor’s office announced Monday.

Sandoval appointed Martin as general counsel in April 2013. During the 2015 legislative session, she was a key, behind-the-scenes player advocating for passage of Sandoval’s record $1.4 billion tax package to fund his ambitious education agenda.

“Michon was integral to developing this administration’s pursuit of the new Nevada, and has been tenacious in her advocacy for a stronger, more prosperous state,” Sandoval said in a statement.

He added, “She has left a profound impact and will be sincerely missed by our entire staff.”

Martin, a native Nevadan and Carson City High School graduate, said she was honored to serve in the governor’s administration and to “play a role supporting the governor’s mission of laying a foundation of success for future generations.”

Before joining the governor’s office, Martin spent five years in the Nevada attorney general’s office, where she served as lead counsel in the national tobacco settlement and manager of the tobacco enforcement unit.

During her tenure in the AG’s office, she also represented the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Corrections.

Prior to her public service in Nevada, Martin served 10 years as assistant district attorney in San Francisco.

Martin earned her bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis, and her law degree at University of San Francisco School of Law.

She follows Sandoval’s former chief of staff, Gerald Gardner, to Resorts World Las Vegas. Gardner left the administration in 2014 and is now general counsel and senior vice president of government affairs.

Resorts World Las Vegas is a subsidiary of The Genting Group, a global destination resort company.

Genting bought the site for Resorts World Las Vegas from Boyd Gaming Corp. for $350 million. The company plans a $4 billion project on the site of the former Stardust Casino. Initial plans call for 3,000 hotel rooms, a casino and 4,000-seat theater along the Las Vegas Strip.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb