Kihuen back on, off college payroll

Jobs are still awfully scarce in Southern Nevada. So it's quite a luxury if an employer is willing to let someone come and go to pursue other ambitions, always able to provide income when it's convenient, even in a bad economy.

State Sen. Ruben Kihuen enjoys such a relationship with the College of Southern Nevada. And you cover his paychecks.

In 2011, I wrote about Kihuen's work as diversity programs manager at the college, a job created for him and never made open to other potential applicants. Kihuen's duties essentially paid him $62,000 per year to be a politician, making the rounds at community and political events and keeping his profile high as he laid the groundwork for a run at Congress. He resigned from the job when he formally announced his candidacy, which he eventually dropped.

Once all the rigors of helping fellow Democrats win election were over, however, Kihuen had a couple of months to kill before the start of the 2013 Legislature. So the college came calling with temporary work.

According to the college, Kihuen was paid $3,750 to "perform recruitment efforts in key high schools over the winter break during CSN's open enrollment period." The gig ran from Dec. 5 to Jan. 15, in part to help the college gain access to federal funding that comes with being labeled a "Hispanic Serving Institution." Again, the work was offered to no one else. Again, lots of paid schmoozing.

Kihuen didn't respond to an email request for comment. I asked the college whether it took any steps to measure Kihuen's performance. How many students did he sign up?

"Sen. Kihuen reported directly to CSN Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Santos Martinez, who oversees recruitment," college spokeswoman K.C. Brekken relayed in an email. "Any evaluation of his performance would be considered a confidential personnel matter. CSN does not track the students that recruiters connect to the college. Similar to marketing efforts, the contacts made by recruiters may not always lead to immediate enrollment and enrollment decisions may have multiple causes, including efforts from recruiters, K-12 counselors, word-of-mouth, price, etc."

Is the college concerned about the perception that Kihuen seems to come on and off the payroll when it works for his political career - at a time when the higher education system is pleading for more funding?

"For many reasons, it is not appropriate for the college to discuss hiring decisions in the media," Brekken's email said. "However, it is not uncommon for higher education institutions, including CSN, to bring back retired or former employees for temporary assignments in the classroom or in student affairs. They have valuable institutional knowledge and can hit the ground running. Sen. Kihuen is highly qualified with his recruitment experience at CSN. He is a community leader. He has an inspiring personal story about the difference education has made in his life. He is well-known among students, and he is considered by many to be a role model."

It certainly doesn't hurt CSN to have a lawmaker on the payroll. But is there a benefit to you, the taxpayer? Only if you want to pay more for higher education.

Ensign's big purchase

Former U.S. Sen. John Ensign appears to be preparing to open one of the largest animal hospitals and clinics in the valley.

According to Clark County records, on Nov. 16 Ensign took ownership of the building that, at one time several years ago, was the hot and hip restaurant called Hannah's. It's located at 1050 S. Rampart Blvd., in the Boca Park shopping center at Charleston Boulevard. The price tag: $1.95 million.

Ensign revealed his plans to Elena M. Pederson, a veterinarian with her own practice at Boca Park. She has operated the Advanced Animal Care Hospital, a few doors down from the Vons supermarket, for about 10 years.

Last week, Pederson told me she met Ensign several months ago through a colleague because she was looking for a partner and he was looking for a full-time return to the business. She said Ensign was clearly thinking bigger than her leased space, so she pointed out the old Hannah's site, which is visible from her front door. She said she would buy the building if she could afford it.

Ensign took her advice, and after he closed escrow on the site, he visited Pederson again. She said he announced his purchase of the building, and he asked her to join him and bring her customers with her. She said she would consider the move if he bought out her business, but he refused. It appears they'll soon be competitors.

"I was naive to lead him to that building," said Pederson, a Russian-French immigrant. "At first I was depressed. I would never open a practice so close to a colleague. But I will keep my business. I have good relationships with my clients. I wish him good luck."

In this economy, no venture is a slam dunk. The building Ensign purchased has been cursed - nothing that has opened there has been able to stay open for very long, likely because it's one of the few buildings at Boca Park with no quick, direct access from Rampart or Charleston. To get there, you have to weave around multiple parking lots.

Competition is good. And business is tough - sometimes ruthless. Ensign's investment will create jobs and some buzz once it opens. It may or may not affect Pederson and others.

Ensign is clearly moving forward with his life and his career in the aftermath of an extramarital affair and ethics scandal that led to his resignation from the Senate in 2011. My attempts to reach him for comment last week weren't successful.

Glenn Cook (gcook@reviewjournal.com) is a Review-Journal editorial writer. Follow him on Twitter: @Glenn_CookNV. Listen to him Mondays at 4 p.m. on "Live and Local with Kevin Wall" on KXNT News Radio, 100.5 FM, 840 AM.