It’s being reported – not sure who had the news first – that former governor Kenny Guinn fell of his roof and died earlier today.
Guinn, a Republican who was well liked in the state, was first elected in 1998, then ran for re-election and won in 2002. He was 73.
Guinn leaves behind his wife, Dema, and two sons.
I’ll update this post with a round-up of statements about the tragedy later today.
CARSON CITY – Steve Martin, who served nearly six months as Nevada State Controller as an appointee following the death of Kathy Augustine in 2006, announced today he is running for the job of state Treasurer as a Republican in this year’s election.
A certified public accountant from Las Vegas, Martin served from July 2006 to January 2007 in the controller’s position. He ran for a full term in 2006 but lost to Democrat Kim Wallin, who is currently serving as state controller.
Martin was appointed by then-Gov. Kenny Guinn to serve out the remaining term of Controller Kathy Augustine, who died in July 2006. Her husband was later convicted of her murder.
Martin is challenging state Treasurer Kate Marshall, a Democrat who is in her first term in the position.
“In difficult economic times, Nevadans need a state Treasurer with the experience and qualifications to make difficult decisions that protect Nevada taxpayers,” Martin said. “My experience as a certified public accountant, small business owner and former state Controller has well prepared me to run the office, interact with the Legislature and protect the investments and interests of the people of Nevada.”
As Controller, Martin said he led the charge to make the financial records of the state more secure. In his private CPA practice, Martin said he helped weed out fraud by participating in investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other government entities.
In 2008, as President of Nevadans for Fair Taxes, he proposed change to the Nevada Constitution to make it more difficult to increase taxes. The measure did not make it to the ballot because of a successful court challenge by opponents.
In 2009 he was appointed to the State Board of Finance by Gov. Jim Gibbons, where he continues to serve.
“Steve Martin is an honest, trustworthy, hard-working public servant who will serve the people of Nevada well,” Guinn said. “Steve did an exceptional job as our state Controller I have no doubt he’ll do an outstanding job as our next state Treasurer.”
Barry Herr, president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants, said Martin is well respected in the CPA community.
“Steve is an individual of high integrity and is extremely committed to sound fiscal principles, which is exactly what we need from our state Treasurer,” he said.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who attained the rank of major, Martin currently owns a successful CPA business that specializes in financial and fraud audits for businesses, as well as tax and business consulting.
Previously, he was president and chief financial officer for a Houston, Texas international import company, and is a former adjunct professor of accounting at the College of Southern Nevada teaching finance and accounting.
Martin completed a bachelors degree from George Washington University while in the Marine Corps, and later earned a masters degree in accounting from Nova Southeastern University.
