Henderson’s Controversial City Attorney Appointment

Despite denials from Henderson officials, many charge that the requirements for the city attorney job were specifically tailored to fit Reid's qualifications. The initial August job posting stated that all applicants must possess at least ten years of experience as a practicing attorney, five of “which must have been with a public agency.”

Josh Reid, however, has never served as an attorney for a public agency and at the time of his application, did not yet have ten years of experience as a practicing attorney.


Due to his inexperience, it seems odd that he would be chosen over more qualified applicants but it could have something to do with the fact that shortly before the application deadline Senator Reid called Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen and other officials to endorse his son as a prime candidate for the city attorney position. Many claim that the minimum requirements for the position were subsequently altered in an effort to bend toward the senator's requests. After all, Senator Reid does have the ability to assist or to injure the city in regards to federal needs.

Henderson officials, however, insist that they lowered the job requirements to eight years as a practicing lawyer or a combination of education, training, and work experience, in an effort to draw in more applicants. The required “experience as an attorney for a public agency” was also demoted and listed only as a “highly desirable qualification.” Fred Horvath, the city's human resources director, said initially there were only about 30 applicants, and “70 percent didn't meet the minimum qualifications.” After the job qualification revisions, the number of applicants increased to 46.

According to Mayor Andy Hafen, the initial requirements were far too stiff and were altered only to allow for a larger candidate pool. Hafen insists that although Senator Reid contacted him on behalf of Josh Reid, there was no political pressure involved. “Every candidate had someone lobby on their behalf,” said Hafen, whose daughter, as it happens, worked for Senator Reid for eight years.

But this explanation does not sit well with everyone. The city attorney job, which pays up to $199,471 annually, did in fact draw in some highly qualified candidates. Josh Reid was the only one of the six semifinalists who failed to meet the initial requirements. Each of the other semifinalists possessed at least five years of experience within a public agency and between 17 and 25 years of experience as an attorney. Yet Reid, the candidate with the least experience, was ultimately chosen.

In the final round, he beat out Christine Guerci-Nyhus, who has a total of 21 years of experience, seven of which were served in the attorney general's office. Many believed that she was the obvious choice, as she has served as the interim city attorney since August, when former city attorney Liz Quillin resigned following a DUI arrest.

Guerci-Nyhus has served on the Nevada State Task Force on Minimum Services, Brokerages, the Law Committee of the Association of Real Estate Regulators, and the Attorney General's Blue Ribbon Panel on Boards and Commissions.

Despite Guerci-Nyhus' qualifications, council members favored Reid largely due to the fact that he is an outsider. “He brings an outside perspective that I think we need right now,” said Hafen. In an apparent attempt to address Reid's lack of experience, council members have said that a one-year probation period will be tacked on to the position.

However, residents of Henderson are not nearly as excited about the appointment as officials seem to be. Henderson resident Robert Sulliman called the appointment “disgusting,” while resident Jon Foster questioned whether Reid was selected only because of his familial connection to Senator Harry Reid.