Sandoval names Gerald Gardner as chief of staff
Gov. Brian Sandoval on Friday announced a new chief of staff, Gerald Gardner, an assistant district attorney in Carson City who was one of Sandoval's regional chiefs when he was the Nevada attorney general.
The announcement came a day after Heidi Gansert said she was leaving the chief of staff's job after two years. Her departure comes a month after Sandoval's top adviser, Dale Erquiaga, left in July. Both Gansert and Erquiaga suggested family commitments prompted them to leave halfway through Sandoval's four-year term.
Gardner will start the job on Sept. 5 as the governor prepares his proposed biennial budget and legislative agenda ahead of the opening of the next Nevada Legislature, which begins meeting early next year.
"I have known Gerald since he served as my Las Vegas regional chief when I was attorney general," Sandoval said in a statement. "His experience in Southern Nevada combined with his keen intellect and insight will be invaluable as we move into the 2013 Nevada Legislative session. I am pleased that Gerald has agreed to join my administration and serve in this capacity. I look forward to working together again."
After graduating from law school, Gardner joined the Clark County district attorney's office in Las Vegas, where he served for nine years in the criminal, appellate and civil divisions.
He became chief of the criminal justice division for the Nevada attorney general's office in 2002 and was promoted by Sandoval in 2004 to the Las Vegas regional chief's position.
Gardner, 47, serves as the assistant district attorney of Carson City, advising the district attorney in all policy, administrative and operational matters. He also serves as chief trial attorney and chief of the criminal prosecution division.
"I am extremely honored to have been chosen by Governor Sandoval to serve as his chief of staff," Gardner said in a statement. "It will be my privilege to serve the governor and the people of Nevada in achieving the important objectives of this administration -- promoting Nevada's economy and improving education for our state's children."
Gardner lives in Carson City. He is married and has three children.
Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.
