Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto named to higher ed post
Outgoing state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto was named second in command of the Nevada System of Higher Education on Tuesday.
Cortez Masto will assume the role of executive vice chancellor beginning in January when her attorney general term expires. Her salary will be $215,000 a year.
“Catherine Cortez Masto brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight that will enhance our efforts to advance higher education in Nevada,” said Chancellor Dan Klaich in a statement. “She will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team.”
Cortez Masto will act as the chief operating officer for the system’s Las Vegas office, located on Maryland Parkway across the street from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
But the Board of Regents never voted on the hire and it was unclear Tuesday if any other candidates were considered. Klaich said he recruited Cortez Masto for the position. Klaich said the Board of Regents will be asked to approve the attorney general’s salary.
The hire caused concern for at least one regent who could be reached Tuesday.
Outgoing regent and controller-elect Ron Knecht said he was unaware that Cortez Masto was appointed to the position until he saw it in an email Tuesday.
“I’d have to be convinced there is a need for this. I haven’t seen any malfunction in NSHE that would call for this position to be filled,” Knecht said.
Knecht, a Republican, said he had no aversion to the individual hired. Cortez Masto is a Democrat. He said his concerns were with the ever growing bureaucracy of higher education.
The last executive vice chancellor was Klaich, who served under Chancellor Jim Rogers. Klaich became chancellor when Rogers left the post.
Klaich, through a spokesman, said he had no immediate plans to retire.
The Board of Regents will have a chance to question the hire and Klaich at its next meeting, set for Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.
Meanwhile, Cortez Masto, who graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno and Gonzaga University law school, said she looked forward to 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.
Cortez Masto was term limited as attorney general. She’ll be replaced in that job by Republican Adam Laxalt, who beat Democrat and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller in the Nov. 4 general election.
Contact Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or702-224-5512. Find him on Twitter: @fjmccabe
