Rory Reid talks with students

October 19, 2009 by Pashtana Usufzy 

Rebels show support for county commissioner’s plans, race for governor

Rory Reid is at a crossroads.

The Clark County Commissioner visited the Boyd School of Law Oct. 15 to engage in a business roundtable with students and UNLV faculty and discuss his plan for Nevada, “The Virtual Crossroads.”

The roundtable focused on the connection between business and students. Reid, who attended the discussion the day after announcing his intention to run for governor, interacted with students and business leaders, questioning why there seems to be a disconnect between the two.

“I want to fire the starting gun on the short-term of how to create jobs,” Reid told students, faculty members and business leaders gathered around the panelists’ table.

Representatives invited students to sit at the table and join the conversation.

“There’s no reason why students should not be at the table,” one organizer said, inviting students to participate in the discussion and express their concerns.

Steve Parke, UNLV Bar Association president and one of the founders of Students United for Governor Reid, said he believes the discussion was useful in terms of showcasing Reid’s perspective.

“I thought he did a fantastic job,” Parke said. “He’s the only candidate who has laid out, now in a 30-page book, what he wants to do.”

“The Virtual Crossroads,” Reid’s 30-page plan for Nevada, includes what he called his hopes for all levels of education in the state.

He said the book describes how it is possible to “solve all of Nevada’s problems” by examining what he views as flaws in the education system, including the disconnect between the business community and students and the lack of preparation students have for entering college.

“The political convention is that you say nothing because you can’t argue with nothing,” Reid said prior to sitting down for the conference.

Flanked by media representatives and advisers, Reid spoke with members of the panel and the audience, emphasizing his family’s connection to all levels of education in the state.

The commissioner’s wife is a professor at the College of Southern Nevada. He also mentioned that he has one daughter in college in New York City and another who is in high school.

“I already liked him,” said Teri Vela, a Boyd student, who explained that hearing Reid’s story did not make too much of an impact on her.

“Anyone but [Governor] Gibbons,” she added, emphasizing that she strongly opposes Gibbons’ campaign for re-election.

Governor Gibbons was unavailable for comment.

The sentiment seemed to encompass the room, as several students stated that they blamed the current governor for the funding cuts to education in Nevada.

Parke said he preferred Reid to Gibbons, who “slashed the crap” out of the education funding for UNLV.

“Most people say they vote for ideas, but most of the time it comes down to personality,” Parke said, emphasizing his hope that students judge Reid based on his plans.