Steven Horsford

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Steven Horsford
Member of the Nevada Senate
from the Clark County's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Joe Neal
Personal details
Born April 29, 1973 (1973-04-29) (age 38)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Dr. Sonya Horsford
Profession Chief Executive Officer
Website Steven Horsford

Steven Horsford is a Democratic member and Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate, representing Clark County's 4th Senate District since 2005 (map). He is Nevada's first African-American state senate Majority Leader.

Contents

[edit] Early life, education, and business career

Horsford was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studied political science and communications but has not yet completed his degree requirements to graduate.[1][2]

CTA

Horsford is the Chief Executive Officer of the Culinary Training Academy (CTA).[3] As a joint management and labor partnership between participating gaming companies and the Culinary and Bartenders Unions, the CTA prepares more than 3,500 students annually for positions in the hospitality industry.[4]

Southern Nevada Investment Board

In June 2004, Horsford resigned from the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board following conflict-of-interest complaints associated with Nevada Partners, a nonprofit he directed.[5] Horsford abstained from voting on grants that might go to Nevada Partners. The agency had awarded at least $3.4 million to the organization from 2003 to 2005.[6] In September 2006, a government audit confirmed “serious wrongdoing” and “deplorable practices” by Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board members.[7] The audit commissioned by Las Vegas and the Clark County Commission noted that Horsford’s company had received over $10.4 million from the board and shown a “complete disregard for government accounting standards and . . . ignorance or disdain for the taxpayer.” [7]

[edit] Nevada Senate

[edit] Elections

In 2004, incumbent Democrat State Senator Joe Neal, of Clark County's 4th Senate District, decided to retire in order to run for a seat on the Clark County Commission. Horsford ran and defeated Republican Mabel Florence Lucier 72%-28%.[8][9] He was only the fourth African American to serve as a State Senator since the Nevada Legislature first convened in 1864.[10] In 2008, he won re-election to a second term with 74% of the vote.[11] In 2012, he will retire to run for congress.

[edit] Tenure

He has served in six special sessions and four regular sessions of the Nevada Legislature. In November 2008, Horsford was elected Nevada Senate Majority Leader.[12]

In August 2011, Horsford appointed Senator Mo Denis to lead the caucus election efforts during for the 2012 election cycle, garnering criticism from some in his party due to Denis's sub-par fundraising.[13][14][15]

In November 2009, Horsford illegally parked his SUV with his senate license plate visible in a handicapped parking space at a park for six hours.[16][17] Horsford refused to comment on the incident. Subsequently, Horsford pledged to work harder on disabled rights issues.[18]

On August 19, 2010 Horsford was accused of participating in a “pay to play” fundraising scandal where he offered to sell private access in exchange for money.[19] One columnist called the pay to play scheme a “new low in Nevada.”[20] Horsford eventually returned the money.[21]

On April 7, 2011 it was reported that web poker giant PokerStars treated Horsford on a lobbyist paid "junket" to the Bahamas immediately prior to introducing legislation that would benefit the online gaming industry.[22] [23] Horsford said of the trip, "It was productive. They made a good presentation."[22] Horsford received $37,500 in campaign contributions from PokerStars.[24]

[edit] Committee assignments

In the most recent session, he served as chair of the Senate Finance Committee and also served on the Senate Committee on Revenue and the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.[12]

[edit] Other political activities

[edit] 2008 presidential election

Horsford and was intimately involved in securing Nevada’s role in hosting the second in the nation Presidential Caucus in 2008. He was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s candidacy.[25] During the early caucus season, he chaired a steering committee of community leaders that headed the campaign in the state. During the general election, Horsford co-chaired the campaign, helping lead President Obama to victory in Nevada.[26]

[edit] National committees

Horsford is the national vice chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and is the Democratic National Committeeman for the State of Nevada.[27] He is a member of the Democratic National Committee's Change Commission, and a member of the DNC's Rules & Bylaws Committee.[28]

[edit] 2012 congressional election

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 2012#District 4

In October 2011, he announced he would run for congress, but didn't know at the time which district he would run in because the Nevada state legislature didn't finish the redistricting maps.[29] He decided to run in the newly created Nevada's 4th congressional district, which President Barack Obama won with 56% of the vote.[30] The 4th district includes the northern portion of Clark County and some entire rural counties including Lincoln, White Pine, Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, and some parts of Douglas.[31]

[edit] Personal life

He is married to Dr. Sonya Horsford, a professor of educational leadership at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. They have three children, Benjamin, Bryson and Ella.[28]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Political Science Department | University of Nevada, Reno". Unr.edu. http://www.unr.edu/cla/polisci/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  2. ^ Damon, Anjeanette (March 6, 2011). "For the record, Horsford has not graduated from UNR". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/06/record-horsford-has-not-graduated-unr/. Retrieved March 6, 2011. 
  3. ^ "News". Theculinaryacademy.org. 2001-09-11. http://www.theculinaryacademy.org/index.php?id=35. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  4. ^ "Culinary Academy of Las Vegas - New Name, New Look, New Brand". Theculinaryacademy.org. http://www.theculinaryacademy.org/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  5. ^ Pratt, Timothy (2004-06-23). "Nonprofit group faces allegations over funds - Wednesday, June 23, 2004 | 10:56 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun". M.lvsun.com. http://m.lvsun.com/news/2004/jun/23/nonprofit-group-faces-allegations-over-funds/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  6. ^ By pinpoint (2009-06-12). "Possible conflicts of interest are workforce board’s norm - Friday, June 12, 2009 | 2 a.m.". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/12/possible-conflicts-interest-are-boards-norm/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  7. ^ a b "News - MONEY TRAIL: Auditors criticize nonprofits". reviewjournal.com. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Sep-02-Sat-2006/news/9393384.html/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  8. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=158064
  9. ^ "Steven Horsford for US Congress". Stevenhorsford.com. http://www.stevenhorsford.com/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  10. ^ http://thenevadaview.com/2781/steven-horsford-to-run-for-u-s-congress/
  11. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=488808
  12. ^ a b "Nevada Legislature". Leg.state.nv.us. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  13. ^ "Steve Sebelius: Horsford Making a Congressional Move?". 8newsnow.com. 2011-08-31. http://www.8newsnow.com/story/15372333/steve-sebelius-horsford-making-a-congressional-move?clienttype=printable/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  14. ^ McGrath, David. "Democrats wonder whether a nice guy can lead - Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 | 2 a.m.". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/dec/22/democrats-wonder-whether-nice-guy-can-lead/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  15. ^ McGrath, David. "Donors signaling they want GOP to take over the state Senate - Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 | 2 a.m.". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jan/20/donors-signaling-they-want-republicans-take-over-s/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  16. ^ [1][dead link]
  17. ^ By francjmeyer. "Sen. Steven Horsford parked in handicap spot for hours - Elsewhere". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/elsewhere/2009/nov/24/sen-steven-horsford-parked-handicap-spot-hours/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  18. ^ "Senator Horsford speaks out about illegally parking in a handicapped spot". 13 Action News. kntv.com. http://health.ktnv.com/story/11684549/senator-horsford-speaks-out-about-illegally-parking-in-a-handicapped-spot?clienttype=printable. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  19. ^ Ralston, Jon (6 January 2011). "Horsford: ‘Extreme right-wing interests (trying) to dismantle our state’". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/ralstons-flash/2011/jan/06/horsford-extreme-right-wing-interests-trying-disma/. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  20. ^ Morrison, Jane Ann (21 August 2010). "Horsford's 'pay-to-play' offer is a new low in Nevada". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/horsford-s--pay-to-play--offer-is-a-new-low-in-nevada-101216039.html. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  21. ^ Vogel, Ed (19 August 2010). "Horsford rescinds letter soliciting contributions in exchange for access". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/horsford-rescinds-letter-soliciting-contributions-in-exchange-for-access-101041964.html. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  22. ^ a b Ralson, Jon (7 April 2011). "PokerStars took lawmakers to Bahamas, England before Internet gaming bill introduced". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/ralstons-flash/2011/apr/07/pokerstars-took-lawmakers-bahamas-england-internet/. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  23. ^ Stutz, Howard (16 April 2011). "Lawmaker targets PokerStars for role in Nevada politics". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/lawmaker-criticizes-pokerstars-for-political-role-in-nevada-119982789.html. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  24. ^ Ralson, Jon (18 April 2011). "All but 15 lawmakers got PokerStars cash, report says; money being returned". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/ralstons-flash/2011/apr/18/all-15-lawmakers-got-pokerstars-cash-report-says-m/. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  25. ^ By texex (2008-06-08). "Early supporters of Obama stand to gain - Sunday, June 8, 2008 | 2 a.m.". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/08/early-supporters-obama-stand-gain/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  26. ^ [2][dead link]
  27. ^ Fiddler, Carolyn. "Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee". Dlcc.org. http://www.dlcc.org/. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  28. ^ a b "Steven Horsford for US Congress". Stevenhorsford.com. http://www.stevenhorsford.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=32. Retrieved 2012-02-10. 
  29. ^ Myers, Laura (13 October 2011). "Horsford pursues seat in Congress, vows to help Nevada families". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/horsford-pursues-seat-in-congress-vows-to-help-nevada-families-131837758.html. Retrieved 3 March 2012. 
  30. ^ http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_45/Democrats-Look-to-Pick-Up-Two-Seats-in-Nevada-209633-1.html?zkMobileView=true
  31. ^ http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Districts/Reapp/2011/Final/Congress/CON2011_District4.pdf

[edit] External links
   
*No Majority Leader in this state; closest equivalent listed
Members of the Nevada State Senate
   
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