What a difference 2 years makes in Nevada
On Monday, 63 people will gather in Carson City to take their oaths of office and get down to the business of running the 2015 Legislature.
They’ll meet in the same place the Legislature has always met, take the same oath lawmakers have always taken and perform the same rituals that are always performed. But in some important ways, Nevada will be a very different place in 2015 than it was just two years ago.
As we continue our count down to the kickoff of the 2015 session, here’s a list of things that have changed since the last crop of lawmakers took their oaths of office.
Two years ago, for example, gasoline was $3.78 per gallon. Today, it’s $2.03.
Two years ago, gold was selling for $1,674.10 per ounce, and silver for $31.93 per ounce. Today, gold fetches $1,284.40, and silver $18,04.
Nevada had a 10.5 percent unemployment rate going into the 2013 session; today, that rate has dropped to 6.8 percent.
And two years ago, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (as measured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at Mauna Loa, Hawaii) was 396.67 parts per million; today, it’s up to 399.49 parts per million.
When the 2013 Legislature was gaveled into session, then-Secretary of State Ross Miller was the presiding officer. On Monday, that duty will fall to Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, who two years ago was a state senator.
Down the hall, former state Sen. Mark Hutchison, R-Las Vegas, will have traded his seat for the podium at the front of the chamber; he’ll preside as lieutenant governor and president of the Senate. (He’ll replace two-term former Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who was forced out by term limits.)
Two years ago, Democrats outnumbered Republicans in the Assembly 27 to 15. On Monday, there will be 25 Republicans and 17 Democrats.
In the state Senate, the loss of state Sen. Justin Jones, D-Las Vegas, will leave the chamber with 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Two years ago, the numbers were reversed, with 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
Some familiar faces will be missing:
• Assemblyman Paul Aizley, D-Las Vegas, lost his bid for re-election to Assemblywoman Vicki Dooling.
• Assemblyman David Bobzien, D-Reno resigned to take a seat on the Reno City Council; he was replaced by appointed Assemblywoman Amber Joiner.
• Assemblywoman Lesley Cohen, D-Henderson, lost her bid for re-election to Assemblyman Stephen Silberkraus.
• Assemblyman Skip Daly, D-Sparks, lost his bid for re-election to Assemblywoman Jill Dickman.
• Assemblywoman Marilyn Dondero Loop, D-Las Vegas, decided not to run for re-election, and sought a state Senate seat instead. She lost her race to state Sen. Patricia Farley, and will be replaced by Republican Assemblyman Erv Nelson.
• Assemblyman Wes Duncan, R-Las Vegas, won re-election, but resigned shortly thereafter to take a job as chief assistant attorney general under Attorney General Adam Laxalt. He will be replaced by appointed Assemblyman Glenn Trowbridge.
• Assemblyman Andy Eisen lost his bid for re-election to Assemblyman Derek Armstrong.
• Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, D-Las Vegas, left her seat to run for lieutenant governor, but lost that race to Hutchison. She’ll be replaced by Assemblyman Edgar Flores, who is not related to Lucy Flores.
• Assemblyman Jason Frierson, D-Las Vegas, lost his bid for re-election to Assemblyman John Moore.
• Assemblyman Tom Grady, R-Yerington, was forced out by term limits, and will be replaced by Assemblywoman Dr. Robin Titus. But Grady will return to the halls of the Legislature as a lobbyist for the city of Fallon.
• Assemblyman Cresent Hardy, R-Mesquite, decided not to run for re-election to the Assembly, but ran for the 4th Congressional District instead, where he defeated Rep. Steven Horsford. He’ll be replaced by Assemblyman Chris Edwards.
• Assemblyman James Healey, D-Las Vegas, was defeated for re-election by Assemblyman Brent Jones.
• Assemblyman Joe Hogan, D-Las Vegas, opted not to seek re-election. He suffered a massive stroke in August while house hunting in Washington, D.C. and died in October. He’ll be replaced by Assemblywoman Shelly Shelton.
• Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, was forced out by term limits, and ran unsuccessfully for judge. He’ll be replaced by Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman.
• Assemblyman Pete Livermore, R-Carson City, decided not to run for re-election. He died of a heart attack in October. Assemblyman Philip “P.K.” O’Neill was elected to replace him.
• Assemblyman Andrew Martin, D-Las Vegas, gave up his seat to run unsuccessfully for state controller against Ron Knecht. He’ll be replaced by Assemblyman David Gardner.
• Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas, was forced from office by term limits. She died of cancer in October 2013. She’ll be replaced by Assemblyman Nelson Araujo.
