SEEING THROUGH THE RHETORIC
Chris Yergensen's education and professional background make him a standout candidate in District 22
BY DAVID HIMMEL
A 39-year-old father of four, Chris Yergensen has lived in Henderson for 10 years. He knows the issues. He has four reasons to be concerned about the prosperity of the Clark County School District. An attorney, Yergensen in 1996 took a job with Jones Vargas, one of the largest law firms in Las Vegas. And he has represented numerous multi-billion dollar gaming companies.
As a resident of District 22, perhaps the largest Assembly district in Nevada, Yergensen is the safest bet to represent this area in Carson City. He knows he'll have the typical issues to deal with, such as taxes, the budget, how to deal with the surplus and, of course, education. The problem is that when he's elected, he will be one of a few Republicans entering an Assembly mostly filled with Democrats. And party lines are far from fine.
"Most Republicans need to realize that our say in the Assembly will be very small," Yergensen said with a harsh realism. "But someone needs to be the voice. Someone needs to be knowledgeable and firm enough to get Republican ideas on paper and bring up the issues vocally."
By earning a B.A. in Business Marketing from the University of Utah and having a Masters Degree in Corporate Law, Yergensen is sure he can look at the issues and see through the often-confusing text and rhetoric that hinders proper lawmaking. He is also positive that his education and background will help him understand and simplify the issues so the people know what their government is doing.
"The state should be run like a business," Yergensen said. "In a business, you have to meet budgets and make payroll. It's easy to say we're fat here, or lean here."
Yergensen knows the largest item on the state budget is education. "Do you think we could approach the educational issue from a different perspective? Let's turn the educational pyramid upside-down. Instead of starting at the top with all the unions, administrators and lobbyists on both sides, what if we started with the base - the students. I want to hear from all students: inner city, suburban, rural, charter-schooled, private-schooled and home-schooled."
"I'm in the development business." Yergensen commented. "We start with a vision. We ask architects to design a building that matches our vision. Then the marketing and finance groups see if the cost of building our vision can be supported. We make adjustments until we have a structure that will best serve the needs of the people who will use it. To my knowledge, we have never looked at what the ideal educational structure could be in Nevada. Let's create the school system for which Nevadans can be proud."
Not wanting to see government grow, Yergensen applauds the private interest groups for building the gorgeous parks in Henderson and taking on the numerous other services they do.
"Less government is best. I would prefer to see our private citizens stand up and do more," he said.
One of those private citizens is Chris Yergensen. And the best way for him to do more is to go to the state capitol and be the voice of District 22. He knows he can be the voice of reason and progress. Thanks why Yergensen is looking forward to becoming part of the state's decision-making process. LW
