NOTE:  This page is currently under construction.

The purpose of this page is to rate persons holding public office at any level, ranging from local utility companies to the highest office, whether elected, appointed or hired.

Public officials, in the realest sense, have the ability to affect our lives on a daily basis.  That they must be competent and well-intentioned is a given.  When they are not, it is a problem that must be resolved lest we be victimized by those in authority over our lives.

NEVADA ELECTED OFFICIALS, STATE, CITIES AND COUNTIES

ASSEMBLY

Assembly members' primary duties are passing state laws and reviewing the budgets and work performance of state agencies. They serve two-year terms and are paid $7,800 for work during sessions.  They receive daily living expense allowances while in Carson City and are reimbursed for travel and telephone costs.  They also receive about $85 in per diem allowance when they are in session.  The Legislature meets for 120 days during odd-numbered years.  Legislators also receive pay of $130 per day for meetings when the Legislature is not in session.

ASSESSOR

The Clark County assessor, elected to a four-year term, is responsible for overseeing assessment of land parcels and improvements, mobile homes and businesses within the county. The office also administers tax exemption and senior citizen rebate programs.  The position pays an annual base salary of $72,000.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the state and one of six constitutional officers.  The attorney general defends the state in lawsuits; represents the people of Nevada before trial and appellate courts; serves as legal counsel to state officers, most boards, commissions, and departments; and assists the 17 county district attorneys. The attorney general is also a member of several state boards, including the Board of Examiners and the Board of Pardons.  In addition, the office directs consumer protection and anti-fraud programs and leads the state's efforts to prevent tobacco sales to minors.  The holder of the position is paid $110,000 annually and serves a four-year term.

BOARD OF EDUCATION (STATE)

The 10-member State Board of Education is charged with establishing policies to govern Nevada's public schools, including setting graduation requirements and implementing education reform. Board members also make public education budget recommendations to the Legislature.  They are paid $80 per day while attending meetings, with pay limited to no more than 12 meetings a year.

CLARK COUNTY COMMISSION

Seven Clark County commissioners are elected to four-year terms as policy-makers for unincorporated areas of the county.  They approve the county's budget.  The County Commission serves as the board of directors for the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the boards for University Medical Center, Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing, the Clark County Sanitation District, the Big Bend Water District, the Kyle Canyon Water District and the Mount Charleston Fire Protection District.  Commissioners are paid $54,000 per year, plus longevity pay of 1 percent for each year after four years.

CLERK

The Clark County clerk serves as the clerk to the District Court as well as the ex-officio clerk to the County Commission.  The office has a four-year term and an annual base salary of $72,000.

CONTROLLER

The controller is one of the six constitutional officers of the state and is elected to a term of four years.  The controller, Nevada's chief fiscal officer, is paid $80,000 per year.  The office has the mission of administering the state accounting system to permit fair, accurate, consistent financial reporting that provides current and historical information.  The controller also serves on the state Board of Transportation and on the state Board of Finance.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

The Clark County district attorney is paid $108,000 a year and serves a four-year term.  The district attorney's office is responsible for filing indictments and prosecuting criminal cases in the county.  The office is also responsible for defending all lawsuits brought against the county and for submitting all legal papers and written opinions when required by the county.

DISTRICT COURT

District Court judges serve six-year terms and are paid a base salary of $130,000 per year.  They oversee criminal and civil cases under state law.  The judgeships are nonpartisan offices.

FAMILY COURT JUDGES

Family Court judges rule on domestic matters, including divorces and child custody cases.  The court opened in 1993 as a division of District Court.  Family Court judges serve six-year terms.  Those elected this year (2002) will receive an annual base salary of $130,000 because the 2001 Legislature approved raises for judges.  Nevada's constitution prohibits incumbent judges from receiving a pay raise until they are re-elected, so other judges will continue to be paid $100,000 per year.  The judgeships are nonpartisan offices. 

GOVERNOR

The governor's chief responsibilities are setting policy for the state and making budget recommendations to the Legislature.  The governor approves or vetoes bills passed by the Legislature and chairs the Board of Pardons and the Board of Examiners.  The governor also appoints members to more than 200 state boards and commissions, including the Gaming Control Board and the Public Utilities Commission.  The governor serves a four-year term and is paid $117,000 annually.

HENDERSON CONSTABLE

Constables serve orders from Justice Court judges, including arrest warrants, garnishments of wages and evictions.  The Henderson constable serves a four-year term with an annual base pay of $2,050 from Clark County.  The constable receives additional compensation from fees from papers served.

HOUSE DUTIES

Members of the House of Representatives pass laws, allocate spending and review the performance of federal government agencies.  They serve two-year terms and are paid $150,000 per year.

LAS VEGAS CONSTABLE

The Las Vegas Township constable serves a four-year term and is paid $69,000 per year.  The office is not funded by taxpayers, but by fees from serving various orders from Justice Court judges, including arrest warrants, garnishments of wages and evictions.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DUTIES

The lieutenant governor serves as governor if the governor is disabled or out of the state.  The lieutenant governor also assumes the office of governor if the governor resigns or dies.  The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the Senate, chair of the commission on Economic Development, chair of the commission on Tourism and as a member of the state Transportation Board.  The term of office is four years with an annual salary of $50,000.

NORTH LAS VEGAS CONSTABLE

Constables serve orders from Justice Court judges, including garnishments of wages and evictions.  The North Las Vegas Township constable serves a four-year term.  The constable is compensated from fees collected.  Fees are set by Nevada state statutes.  Incumbent Constable Herb Brown was paid $54,000 last year (2001), half of the total fees collected.  The other half was used to compensate the constable's deputy.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

The Clark County public administrator, elected to a four-year term, oversees estates of deceased people when no other person is willing or qualified under state law to secure the property.  In addition, the Clark County Commission may appoint the public administrator as public guardian to oversee the affairs of the living when necessary.  The public administrator is paid an annual base salary or $72,000.

RECORDER

The Clark County Recorder, elected to a four-year term, serves as the custodian of the public record.  The office records property deeds and transfers, maps, mining claims and marriage certificates.  The position is paid an annual base salary of $72,000.

REGENT (BOARD OF)

The 13-member Board of Regents is charged with establishing policies that govern the administration of the University and Community College System of Nevada. The statewide board appoints the system's chancellor and campus presidents and approves two-year budget requests for Nevada's public higher education system, which includes two universities, a state college, four community colleges and a research institute.  Regents are not compensated for their work but have $2,500-a-year expense accounts and are reimbursed for travel and meeting-related expenses during their six-year terms.

SCHOOL BOARD

The Clark County School Board establishes policies that govern the school district, oversees the budget and appoints the system's superintendent.  The board has seven members who serve overlapping four-year terms.  Trustees are paid $80 per meeting, with the exception of the board president and clerk, who are paid $85 per meeting.

SECRETARY OF STATE

The secretary of state, one of the six constitutional officers of the state, serves as Nevada's chief election officer.  The secretary's staff processes incorporation papers for businesses and maintains a depository of the records of all businesses incorporated in Nevada.  The secretary also operates a Securities Division that protects citizens against stock fraud.  The position has a four-year term and an annual salary of $80,000.

SENATOR (STATE)

State senators' primary duties are passing state laws and reviewing the budgets and work performance of state agencies.  They serve four-year terms and are paid $7,800 for work during sessions.  They receive daily living expense allowances while in Carson City and are reimbursed for travel and telephone costs.  They also receive about $85 a day in per diem allowance when they are in session.  The Legislature meets for 120 days during odd-numbered years.  Legislators also receive $130 per day for attending meetings when the Legislature is not in session.

SHERIFF

The Clark County sheriff is the chief executive officer of the state's largest police force, the Metropolitan Police Department. The sheriff commands and sets policies for the department's 2,700 commissioned officers and 1,000 civilian employees and is responsible for the operation of the Clark County Detention Center.  The department's jurisdiction comprises the city of Las Vegas and unincorporated areas of Clark County.  The sheriff serves a four-year term and is paid an annual base salary of $84,000.

SUPREME COURT DUTIES

The Nevada Supreme Court's primary job is hearing appeals of decisions made by District Court judges.  Justices determine the constitutionality of state laws and issue opinions to guide the public and other courts on the understanding of laws.  They also make rulings governing lawyers and the practice of law, and oversee procedures followed in the state's lower courts.  Supreme Court justices serve six-year terms.  Justices elected this November (2002) will receive an annual base salary of $140,000, after the 2001 Legislature approved a 30 percent salary increase.  The Nevada Constitution prohibits state judges from receiving a pay raise until they are re-elected, so other justices will continue to be paid $107,600 per year.

TREASURER (CLARK COUNTY)

The treasurer, elected to a four-year term, serves as tax collector, treasurer and investment officer for Clark County.  The treasurer receives, deposits, invests, accounts for and allocates revenue from real-property taxes, special assessments and fees collected by county departments.  The position is paid a base salary of $72,000 per year.

TREASURER (STATE)

The state treasurer is one of six constitutional officers of the state.  The treasurer is responsible for the management of billions of dollars in financial transactions conducted on behalf of the state and local governments, including most investment, cash and debt management activities.  The treasurer also serves as the administrator of several state programs, including the Millenium Scholarship Program, created in 1999 to provide Nevada high school graduates with greater opportunities to attend state colleges and universities, and the state's prepaid college tuition program.  The office is also responsible for the administration of Nevada's Unclaimed Property Program.  The state treasurer is paid $80,000 per year and serves a term of four years.