Medical board member wants to stay

CARSON CITY -- Jean Stoess said Monday she won't resign from the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners unless that is what Gov. Jim Gibbons wants her to do.

Stoess, a former Washoe County commissioner, left a message with the governor's office earlier Monday that she was resigning because she leaked a confidential memo to the Las Vegas Sun.

She said board members decided at a summer retreat to have Louis Ling, the board's executive director, handle press requests.

"I obeyed it for a long time," Stoess added. "I blew it last week."

Stoess said she was told by Gibbons' staff members that she remains a board member until she submits a letter announcing her resignation.

Stoess said she regrets giving the verbal resignation and wants to remain on the board.

Gibbons spokesman Daniel Burns said the governor never asked her to resign in the first place. He said Gibbons is leaving it up to her whether she resigns.

"The ball is in her court," Burns said.

Ling would not comment on the dispute between him and Stoess.

But Stoess said she gave a reporter a memo in which Gibbons indicated to the Board of Medical Examiners that he no longer wanted members to adopt any regulations regarding medical assistants.

In public announcements, the governor has said repeatedly he wants the board to ask a judge to reconsider a decision last week throwing out an emergency regulation to allow medical assistants to give flu shots.

Burns said Monday that remains the governor's position, publicly and personally.

Stoess has served five years as the member representing the public on the board. She originally was appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn and then reappointed by Gibbons. She has three years remaining in her term.

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.