Bob Beers (politician, born 1959)
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (August 2014) |
Bob Beers | |
|---|---|
| Ward 2 Councilman, Las Vegas City Council | |
| Assumed office April 4, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Wolfson |
| Member of the Nevada Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office 2004–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Ray Rawson |
| Succeeded by | Allison Copening |
| Member of the Nevada Assembly from the 4th district | |
| In office 1998–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Deanna Braunlin |
| Succeeded by | Frances Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 14, 1959 Livermore, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sarah |
| Alma mater | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| Occupation | Certified Public Accountant |
Robert T. "Bob" Beers is an American politician and Certified Public Accountant, and is currently a member of the Las Vegas City Council, representing Ward 2. He was a member of the the Nevada Assembly from 1998 to 2004, and the Nevada Senate from 2005 to 2008. In January 2014, Beers announced that he would run against Harry Reid in the United States Senate election in Nevada, 2016. [1]
Professional history
A certified public accountant (CPA) since 1989, Beers founded Las Vegas computer accounting consultants Wilson, Beers & Alu in 1989, and sold it to a large local CPA firm in 2002. After losing re-election to his state's legislature in 2008, he started Seale and Beers, CPAs[2] which he managed until 2012. He served several business enterprises as a contract-based Chief Financial Officer. He is now full-time as a Las Vegas City Councilman.
Before becoming a Certified Public Accountant, Beers worked for radio broadcasting companies in Reno, Nevada and Las Vegas as News Director. At KMJJ in 1982, he won "Best Miniseries" and "Best Newscast" awards from the Associated Press in the AP's Medium Market California-Nevada-Hawaii division.[3]
Political history
In 1998, Beers was elected to the Nevada Assembly, the lower house of Nevada's Legislature. As Assemblyman representing District 4, Beers served in three regular and three special sessions. He was assigned to the Ways & Means, Commerce & Labor, and Elections, Procedures & Ethics committees of the Assembly.
In 2003, Beers led a group of legislators in opposition to Governor Kenny Guinn's tax increases, citing concerns that they might damage Nevada's economy. After several special sessions, Beers' voting bloc failed and the tax increases were passed.[4] The following year, Beers was elected to the Nevada Senate, defeating 20-year incumbent Republican Ray Rawson who had supported the increases.[5][6]
Beers served in the Nevada Senate for the 2005 and 2007 Legislative sessions. He was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, where he worked on the complex state budget. He also served as a member of the Committees on Natural Resources and Legislative Operations.
In 2006, Beers and his supporters gathered over 150,000 signatures to put a Taxpayer Bill of Rights amendment (called TASC for Tax And Spend Control) on the November 2006 general election ballot, which proposed that increases in spending greater than the sum of inflation and population growth require an affirmative vote of citizens.[7] He ran for Governor that year, but finished second in a primary field of five to Congressman Jim Gibbons, who would go on to win the general election.[citation needed]
In 2008, Beers was defeated for re-election to the Nevada Senate by Democrat Allison Copening.[8] Beers sued for defamation, and the Nevada Democratic Party settled out-of-court in 2010.[9]
In March 2012, Beers was elected to the non-partisan Las Vegas City Council in a nine-way special election to fill the vacant seat of Councilman Steve Wolfson, who had been appointed Clark County District Attorney. He was elected to a full four-year term the next year, winning 76.3% of the vote.
Personal history
Beers moved to Las Vegas at age 11, graduating from Ed W. Clark High School (with high honors)[citation needed] in 1977, and from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with distinction)[citation needed] with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1987.
His community activities include: volunteer treasurer for Southern Nevada Clean Communities and the Nevada Republican Party; president of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Business Expo; and President-elect for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Business Council. As a volunteer, he has created or maintained websites for over a dozen community organizations. He is a member of the Las Vegas Northwest Rotary Club, Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants, U.S. Chess Federation, and the American Mining History Association.
References
- ^ John L. Smith. "Beers Gets Early Start Against Reid". Las Vegas Review Journal. Jan 31, 2014. Date Retrieved: Feb 9, 2014
- ^ Seale and Beers, CPAs "Seale and Beers, CPAs, website". Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ Desert Companion "What About Bob?" Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Nevada Business "Editorial on Budget Battle"retrieved 15 August 2014
- ^ Nevada Secretary of State "Official 2004 election results"Retrieved 15 August 2014
- ^ Ralston, Jon "Ralston: reporting on Beers-Rawson debate" Las Vegas Sun. 15 July 2004. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ Las Vegas Sun"TASC Court Battle Looking More Likely"Retrieved August 16, 2014
- ^ Schumacher, Geoff "GEOFF SCHUMACHER: Beers is an unfair victim of Democratic dirty tricks". Las Vegas Review Journal. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ^ Spillman, Benjamin "Democrats Settle Lawsuit, ex-senator says". Las Vegas Review Journal. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
External links
- Nevada State Legislature - Senator Bob Beers official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Bob Beers (NV) profile
- Beers for Nevada official campaign website
- City of Las Vegas City Council website