Appointees asked to find ways to save state money

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons on Monday announced the full membership of a panel of private citizens given the job of finding ways to save money and make state government more efficient.

New members of the SAGE, or Spending and Government Efficiency Commission, include Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, and David Goldwater, a former Assemblyman who is president of Goldwater Capital Nevada, LLC.

The panel, expanded to 14 members from 12, will have its first meeting June 26 in the capital.

"This incredible group of Nevadans is a small sampling of the tremendous business spirit that's alive and well in our state," Gibbons said in a statement. "I am incredibly proud of the breadth and depth of experience this commission possesses and I'm confident they will do the work necessary to truly drive change in our state government."

Gibbons signed the executive order creating the commission last month. He also introduced Bruce James, president of Nevada New-Tech, Inc. and the former U.S. Public Printer, as chairman of the panel.

James' tenure as chairman was thrown into doubt briefly when former GOP Chairman John Mason accused James of inappropriate conduct with one of his daughters in Washington, D.C., in 2002, shortly after James was confirmed for the printing post.

James denied the allegations and refused to step down. Gibbons accepted James' statement and did not ask him to resign. Mason has not publicly pursued his demand that James be replaced as chairman.

Other appointments announced Monday include:

•Don Ahern, president and CEO of Ahern Rentals;

•Barbara Smith Campbell, Founder and CEO of Consensus LLC, former vice president of finance for MGM Grand Resorts Development and former chairwoman of the Nevada Tax Commission;

•R.B. "Bob" Feldman, president and CEO of Nevada General Insurance and Auto Insurance America;

•Robert Forbuss, president of Strategic Alliance, past president and owner of Mercy Ambulance, now AMR in Las Vegas, and past chairman of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce;

•Randy Garcia, founder and CEO of The Investment Counsel Company;

•Steve Greathouse, former senior vice president of operations for Mandalay Resort Group, former CEO of Alliance Gaming and former president of Harrah's-Casino Hotel Division;

•Steve Hill, Senior vice president of California Portland Cement, founder and president of Silver State Materials, now a subsidiary of California Portland Cement;

•Jan Jones, senior vice president of Harrah's Entertainment for internal and external communications and government relations, former two-term mayor of Las Vegas, and former chairwoman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority;

•Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest and Braniff airlines, former group vice president for United Airlines, author, speaker and business adviser;

•Jerome Snyder, industrial park developer, creator Bingo Palace, and owner of Sun West Bank and Integrated Financial Associates; and

•Jim Thornton, founder and president of Nevada Paving, later sold to Granite Construction Company, former Reno city councilman.