Sandoval gives Democratic lawmaker ticket to Obama event

CARSON CITY – Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas, so impressed Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval during a one-on-one meeting that Sandoval offered Munford one of five tickets to a town hall meeting Thursday with President Barack Obama.

Sandoval senior policy adviser Dale Erquiaga said the governor offered one of his five tickets to Munford after learning the longtime Las Vegas teacher and accomplished former athlete was also the first black person to attend and graduate from the University of Montana in Billings.

In addition to Munford, Erquiaga said Sandoval offered tickets to staff member Stacey Crowley, developer Michael Dermody, Bishop Manogue High School basketball coach Bill Ballinger and Javier Trujillo, a former Henderson City Council candidate, Clark County School District trustee candidate and music education advocate.

Sandoval and his family are scheduled to greet Obama arrival at the airport in Reno but the governor does not plan to attend the town hall.