CALLING CONGRESSMAN GIBBONS
Rep. Jim Gibbons was the only gubernatorial candidate absent from a debate on education

State Sen. Bob Beers (R-Las Vegas), candidate for governor, clearly led the field when it came to providing innovative solutions for Nevada's education crisis at the Nevada State Education Association's Gubernatorial Debate last month. The debate was held at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas and about 200 people, mostly educators, were in the audience.

Beers provided the audience with concrete solutions to the state's education problems. First, he said, "We need to increase vocational education. We need stronger programs to teach job skills for our major industries: construction, heavy equipment operation, business, and culinary."

Beers also proposed swapping the start times of elementary schools and high schools. Finally, the cornerstone of Beers' education plan was the breakup of the Clark County School District's monopoly on public education in Southern Nevada. "If we break up the monopoly, parents will have choices in schools - but more importantly, teachers will have richer opportunities to escape bad principals."

Congressman Jim Gibbons, despite more than a month's notice and his promise to make education a priority, did not attend. Gibbons was the only gubernatorial candidate to decline the chance to speak about an issue important to Nevada's families.

Beers drew the night's loudest laughter when he commented, after finishing his opening remarks, "I'd like to yield the rest of my time to Congressman Gibbons - oh wait; he's not here." LW