BOARD OF REGENTS DISTRICT 2
The race for Board of Regents District 2 pits a well-connected incumbent against an upstart with no experience.
Bret Whipple, 45, was elected as a representative to the Nevada System of Higher Education's Board of Regents in 2002. He has served as the board's chairman and now leads its technology committee.
Robert Blakely, 56, has never run for political office. He decided to run for university regent three days before the filing deadline because no one had filed for it yet.
"I think I could make a contribution to the university system," he said.
Whipple, a criminal defense attorney, has a bachelor's degree in economics and accounting and earned his law degree in 1995 from the University of Arizona.
He said his top priority if re-elected to the nonpartisan office would be to continue his work as chairman of the regents' technology task force.
The most important work the task force is doing, he said, is putting together a $25 million Internet-based registration system that would link the university system's eight campuses.
Students could register for classes, get transcripts, learn their grades, switch classes and check out other options from anywhere in the world, Whipple said.
"This is going to be revolutionary," he said.
Whipple said he also sees as a top priority keeping communication lines open with legislators and the governor's office.
That's particularly true in these lean budget times, he said.
"I see myself as a consensus maker," Whipple said.
Although his day job and his family keep him busy, he said, he enjoys serving as a regent.
"I enjoy being involved in something bigger than myself," he said.
Blakely said his top priority if elected to replace Whipple would be to make sure the university system's primary purpose is funding undergraduate education while not ignoring the importance of research.
He said he has bachelor's degrees in mining engineering and environmental engineering from Montana Tech of the University of Montana.
Blakely said he is up to the challenge of dealing with tight budget issues. He has a working-class background and said he would fight for the little guy.
He is a salesman for a financial services company. Previously, he said, he worked on the Yucca Mountain project with the Department of Energy. He moved to Las Vegas in the 1980s and is originally from Colorado and Montana.
He also has experience working as a mining engineer.
Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.
BOARD OF REGENT DUTIES
The 13-member Board of Regents is charged with establishing policies that govern the administration of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The statewide board appoints the system's chancellor and campus presidents, and approves two-year budget requests for Nevada's public higher education system, which includes eight public colleges and universities. Regents, who serve six-year terms, are not compensated, but receive $80 in per diem expenses for each meeting and an annual expense account of $2,500. Board seats are nonpartisan.
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