Just two weeks ago, Nevada Resort Association President Bill Bible was up in Carson City, defending the state’s gambling industry against desperate lawmakers looking everywhere they could for money to balance what turned out to be an $805 million budget gap. In the end, he and the industry’s lobbyists were mostly successful; only a small gambling license fee was added to the casino tax burden.
Today, it was announced that Bible will be leaving the association he’s headed during a contentious decade that saw Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, resulting in the recession of 2002; the pitched tax battles of 2003; the fracturing of the gambling industry after that disastrous session; and the global recession that is still depressing tourist revenues to this day. His knowledge of the state’s finances, casino industry finances, and the politics of both are virtually unmatched in Nevada. It’s hard to see how the NRA could go forward without him.
Here’s the statement put out by the NRA early this morning about Bible’s departure:
BIBLE LEAVING NRA TO JOIN MGM BOARD
Guided NRA through “decade of dramatic change”
LAS VEGAS–Nevada Resort Association (NRA) Chairman Keith Smith announced today that William “Bill” Bible will be leaving as NRA President effective immediately but will be assisting in the transition to name his replacement.
Prior to joining the NRA in 1999, Bible served as the chairman of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board for 10 years and was appointed by President Clinton to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. His broad tenure as a state official includes his experience as director of Nevada’s Administration Department under Gov. Richard Bryan (1983-1988); Nevada Assembly Fiscal Analyst and Director of the Division of Fiscal Analysis of the Legislative Counsel Bureau (1977-1983); Nevada Deputy Budget Administrator (1973-1977) and Nevada Chief Assistant Budget Administrator (1971-1973) under Gov. Mike O’Callaghan.
“As President of the NRA, I truly enjoyed being a part of an industry that saw a decade of dramatic change,” Bible said. “Getting to know and working with dedicated Nevadans who day in and day out strive to make Nevada the best place to work and live is something I value most of all.”
Smith added, “Bill’s service to the industry over the years has been remarkable. His sharp insight and leadership that guided the NRA through both robust and challenging times is respected and appreciated. We will miss him at the NRA but wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.”
Bible graduated from Stanford University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and a minor Political Science, followed by a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1971 from the University of Nevada, Reno. His Masters program emphasized capital budgeting, resource allocation, portfolio management and general financial management.
Loading ...