Diane Cornwall

Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-Sparks) makes it two weeks in a row on the Winners list, with former staffer Diane Cornwall making the Losers. Find out who else made this week's list... | CLICK HERE

LAS VEGAS - In the midst of a special session to fix Nevada's budget crisis, Gov. Jim Gibbons has announced a number of "staff changes" in his office.  Among the changes are the departure of chief of staff Michael Dayton and the reassignment of chief operating officer Diane Cornwall to direct the Department of Business and Industry.

General Counsel Josh Hicks will replace Dayton as chief of staff and current Business and Industry Director Mendy Elliott will replace Cornwall.

Despite the series of scandals that has beset Gibbons and his low public approval ratings, the governor argued that the changes in personnel were nothing abnormal.

When the news broke on the Governor’s family issues, the media frenzy and immediate suggestions of resignation were indicative of problems that run far deeper than the staff blunder that leaked a personal issue.  Like Carville’s infamous line from ’92, there is one issue here that turned all of that personal baggage so public so quickly:

It’s basic management, stupid.  read more »