Assembly Minority Leader Says She Will Not Run for Re-election
Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, said her surprise decision announced today to leave public office has nothing to do with rumors that she could be appointed to serve out the remainder of Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio’s term should the lawmaker decide to step down.
“I’ve never talked to him about that,” she said. “It had nothing to do with my decision. I thought it was a good time for me to step aside.”
Asked if she would consider such an appointment should Raggio resign with more than two years left on his term, Gansert said: “That is not on my radar. I have not had that discussion. I have no answer for you. I have not considered it.”
“You know, Senator Raggio has been my senator nearly all my life,” Gansert added. “I’m nearly 47 and he’s been my senator for 37 years.”
Gansert said she made her decision to not seek re-election “a while ago” but kept it quiet because of the impending special session. The Assembly GOP caucus needed to focus on the huge budget gap and not have any distractions, she said.
The session ended Monday with bipartisan agreement on a budget balancing plan.
Gansert said she believes Assembly Republicans played a pivotal role in the special session even though they were outnumbered by their Democrat counterparts by a margin of 28-14. Fee increases were kept to a minimum in balancing the budget.
“We influenced the outcome,” she said.
Asked if she might return to political life someday, Gansert said she would consider that at some point in the future.
“I may,” she said. “I’m taking it one step at a time.”
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