Regent Anthony looks to the future

February 2, 2009 by Gregan Wingert 

Stavros comments on ambitions, NSHE budget

UNLV alumnus and Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Stavros Anthony addressed budget cuts and his bid for a City Council seat during a student press conference Jan. 29.

After former Councilman Larry Brown left the Ward 4 seat for a spot in the County Commission, Anthony saw the opportunity to continue his public service and “[to] make this a great city, a great place to live,” he said.

Originally from Detroit, Anthony has lived in Las Vegas and worked for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for the past 28 years and is a captain overseeing the Personnel Bureau.

“Education and law enforcement are the two areas I’ve really been involved in,” Anthony said.

Anthony was elected to the Board of Regents in 2002 as the representative for District 12. He has served as Board chair consecutively for two terms and currently chairs the Student and Academic Affairs committee.

In light of the state’s budget crisis, Anthony admits higher education will be taking a hit.

“We have to do that,” Anthony said, acknowledging the probability of cuts to the NSHE.

To Anthony, some programs, like UNLV’s police, are more necessary than others.

“If we don’t have safe schools then the rest of it doesn’t matter,” Anthony said, “That’s key for me.”

There are places that Anthony admits can be cut back.

He said he would be in favor of administrators taking a pay cut.

“I make $80 a [Board of Regents] meeting, I guess I could send the $80 back,” Anthony said.

Regents knew one year ago that cuts would be dealt to NSHE and determined that the 10 to 15 percent range would be acceptable, but they continued to oppose proposals for bigger buget downsizes.

“We’re not prepared to do that, we can’t do that,” Anthony said, adding, “Faculty is sitting on pins and needles. We’re all sitting on pins and needles.”

Anthony also discussed some popular proposals for fillingthe hole in the state budget. He said he would favor of taxes on brothels, but as for legalizing prostitution in Las Vegas, he said, “absolutely not.”

“It’s not going to solve anything,” Anthony said. “I just think it’s a terrible message.”

Anthony believes conversations about taxing casinos should be had, but realizes taxes would eventually hurt the industry.

“These are bad times right now,” he said, “but we’re going to get through them.”

“I don’t know if I’d want to be the governor right now,” Anthony admitted. “He’s hit higher education more than he should have.”

Anthony still respects Gov. Jim Gibbons for keeping his promise of not raising taxes.

“Your integrity is number one,” he commented.

If elected, Anthony plans to retire from his post as police captain, but will continue to focus on crime prevention in the new position.

His greatest hope is that he can serve the community with integrity.

Primary elections will be held April 7 and the general the election is June 2.