Regents approve Masto’s $215,000 salary as executive vice chancellor

The Nevada Board of Regents approved a $215,000 annual salary Tuesday for new executive vice chancellor Catherine Cortez Masto, a more than 50 percent increase over what she made as state attorney general in 2013.

Salary was the only decision the board has made in regard to Masto’s appointment. The regents did not vote to hire her — she was picked by Chancellor Dan Klaich. The vote on the salary was unanimous, with two regents absent and Regent Mark Doubrava abstaining because he’d known Masto since high school.

The appointment drew the ire of the Clark County Republican Party, which released a statement decrying the Democrat’s appointment.

“Bypassing the normal hiring procedures is outrageous,” said Nick Phillips, Clark County Republican Party political director. “Nevadans are in a tough financial situation and filling positions that have been vacant in a non-competitive way is just intolerable.”

Regent James Dean Leavitt said he didn’t think it was fair to criticize the chancellor for the appointment.

Leavitt, who is an attorney, said knowing the legal market, he thought the salary was fair and lower than what Masto could have made elsewhere. As attorney general in 2013, Masto earned $140,688, according to Transparent Nevada, an online database of public employee salaries.

“To have no political baggage is extremely rare,” said Leavitt, while acknowledging that her new salary is much higher than what she earned as attorney general.

Regent Allison Stephens also said she was surprised that the salary request was so low for Masto.

Stephens said she also supported the appointment and was especially excited that Masto took the position as Masto encouraged Stephens to run for regent.

“I applaud the fact that the chancellor went through this diligent process and was able to remain steadfast as far as the criteria,” Stephens said.

Klaich said in a memo to the regents that a search for the position was conducted from Nov. 6, 2013 to Jan. 30, 2014. The position was advertised in newspapers, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, Higher Ed Jobs, Career Builder and the Nevada System of Higher Education’s website, according to the memo.

The process for filling the position, outlined in a memo from Klaich to the regents, stated a law degree and current Nevada Bar membership were requirements for the new executive vice chancellor.

Klaich has told the regents that to his knowledge he was the first person to hold the vice chancellor position, serving under former Chancellor Jim Rogers. Klaich said in his memo the salary recommendation for Masto is the same salary Klaich negotiated with Rogers.

As chancellor, Rogers pledged to work for free and donated his minimum salary required by law — $23,000 — back to the system.

Klaich became chancellor when Rogers left the post.

In his memo, Klaich explained that filling the position now is a result of the regents’ recommendation that he acquire a right-hand person. Klaich said he attempted to respond to this recommendation by promoting Renee Yackira from vice chancellor to Vice Chancellor of Administration and Operations in August 2012, but Yackira retired due to illness.

Masto, who graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno and Gonzaga University law school, has said she is excited for the opportunity.

“NSHE provides me with a thrilling opportunity to continue to work on behalf of Nevadans and advance the Board of Regents’ vision for educational improvement in order to ensure a brighter future for our state,” she said.

Masto was term limited as attorney general. She’ll be replaced in that job by Republican Adam Laxalt, who defeated Democrat and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller in the Nov. 4 general election.

Several people, including representatives from the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, lauded Masto’s skills at the meeting.

Masto will assume her new role in January and told regent Tuesday: “I will be your partner. I will be collaborative. I will be there to support all of you.”

Contact Bethany Barnes at bbarnes@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861. Find her on Twitter: @betsbarnes.