Nevada Still Waiting for Tourism Director

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has indicated that he will appoint a new state tourism director from among three finalists for a position, despite the fact that the state is cutting back its tourism budget and that Gibbons is calling for combining the operations of the Nevada Commission on Tourism with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

The finalists recommended to the governor for the position by the tourism commission—there were more than 70 applicants for the post, a number that was whittled down to six finalists who were interview last month—include: Pasquale Barone, who has been managing director of global sales for Eos Airlines in Purchase, N.Y.; Donn Lewis, once served for 12 years as state tourism director for Maine; and Tom Jensen, a realtor affiliated with Windermere Real Estate on South Whidbey Island in Washington State.

Late last year, Gibbons tried to name Kirk Montero, station manager for US Airways at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, to the post, but the commission said Montero applied after a deadline had expired. It has been six months since the last director, Tim Maland, resigned from the position.