A public embarrassment

If Greg Nance had any respect for the citizens of Nevada, he would have never opted to run for a seat on the State Board of Education.

But in 2006 he did.

Prior to his election, Mr. Nance admitted he had never been to a State Board of Education meeting. During an endorsement interview with the Review-Journal, "he demonstrated no understanding of the board's responsibilities," we wrote almost two years ago.

In an Oct. 26, 2006, column, the Review-Journal's Erin Neff noted that when asked what the State Board of Education does, Mr. Nance replied, "Our job is to make sure what answers are out there and stuff of that sort."

Unfortunately, the only other person in the field for this position was a perennial gadfly-type who never surfaced to run a campaign. Mr. Nance was elected with 59 percent of the vote in District 5, although only a small percentage of voters even bothered to cast a ballot in the race.

Mr. Nance is not the first nitwit to win public office, especially to a relatively obscure post that receives minimal scrutiny. Some have even gone on to reasonable political careers, eventually educating themselves and grasping the seriousness of serving in an elected capacity.

Mr. Nance, however, has yet to exhibit such progress.

On Saturday, Mr. Nance dozed off during a Board of Education meeting, leading one member to demand that he take back his vote on the issue. At another point, board member Cindy Reid called for a halt in the meeting because Mr. Nance was dangling a piece of jewelry in the face of his new bride, ringing a bell on her bracelet as she giggled.

"I don't know what to say," said Ms. Reid. "I'm embarrassed the public has to watch this."

Even the deputy attorney general who advises the board scolded Mr. Nance. "I will tell you I love my wife," Bill Irvin told Mr. Nance, "but she's not sitting next to me."

Mr. Nance, 49, responded by telling Mr. Irvin to "bite me." He went on to blame his napping and bizarre behavior on "too much partying and rock 'n' roll" over his honeymoon following his wedding two weeks ago.

Thankfully, Mr. Nance came to his senses on Monday and announced his resignation. Let's hope this brief, undistinguished foray into public service represents the end of Mr. Nance's career in politics. The state will be better for it.