Nye getting new county manager

Nye County will get a new manager to run its day-to-day government operations.

Tim Sutton, Nye County deputy district attorney, is to replace Pam Webster as county manager in January 2018, after his candidacy received resounding approval from Nye County commissioners on Wednesday.

Webster did not request the renewal of her contract after it was extended for two years in December 2015. Part of the direction she received from Nye County commissioners was to come up with a replacement.

“I think this is a great fit,” said Dan Schinhofen, Nye County Commission chairman.

Sutton has been a deputy district attorney in the civil division since 2011. He also worked as a judicial law clerk in Nye County Fifth Judicial District Court from 2008 through 2010. Prior to that, he worked in private practice from 2010 to 2011.

Sutton said he is excited to make the transition and continue to help Nye County grow.

“I’m very excited,” Sutton said about his appointment. “I’ve been in Nye County for about nine-and-a-half years now. I came here right out of law school, and knew right away that this is the place where I wanted to stay.”

In his new role, Sutton plans to work on water issues, alleviate nuisances and issues with animals and delinquent properties. He said he also wants to explore options for additional revenue.

“I definitely want to explore any additional opportunities for revenue that we can get as far as grants go and any funding that’s available through the state. Anyway, we can tweak it without imposing a big tax burden or anything on our citizens,” he said.

Sutton has been serving as a trustee for area 7 of the Nye County School District Board of Trustees for the past seven years. He is also involved in the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission, the Nye Communities Coalition Managing Board, Fifth Judicial District Community Improvement Council and Nye County Child Death Review Team.

Webster said Sutton’s knowledge of Nye County is “critical.”

“He has done so many things and he has had so much exposure. He is bringing a lot to the plate and he is home-grown, he understands Nye County issues,” Webster said.

Sutton holds a bachelor’s in social work and master’s in social work from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

He also holds a Juris Doctorate from J. Reuben Clark Law School in Provo, Utah. He received his public official certification from the University of Nevada, Reno in January 2017.

Transition plans

Webster said she announced her replacement plans early to help Sutton with the transition from the District’s Attorney Office. His training is set to begin in October.

“Tim will observe me for 30 days, and we will do a shared responsibility for the next 30 days, and then, I’ll sit back and watch Tim for the final 30 days, and offer suggestions and ideas,” Webster said.

The county didn’t do a formal recruitment to fill Webster’s seat.

“You can do it either way, this is not illegal or anything like that, and I think the nice thing is that Tim would be my recommendation either way, and so, I challenge anybody to find someone more qualified to do this than Tim,” Webster said.

Webster’s annual salary was listed at $126,344 as of 2016 on Transparent Nevada. Officials said the hearing where Sutton’s salary will be confirmed will likely take place in September, however, it could change.

Sutton’s first day as Nye County manager is planned for Jan. 2, 2018.

Webster to continue working for county

Although Webster will leave her position in December, she plans to do part-time consulting for Nye County in her post-retirement time.

“It’s time for me to move into retirement and I don’t want to stop working, but I don’t want to work full-time anymore,” Webster said. “I’m looking to do something on a consulting basis that will enable me to do a project and take some time off.”

Webster started as a Nye County comptroller in 2006 and was promoted to an assistant county manager a year later. She became a county manager in 2012.

“It’s been very, very educational,” she said about her tenure in Nye County. “I had learned about things that I knew nothing about like landfills, airports and politics, and I’ve enjoyed virtually all of it, it’s been a very interesting job.”

She described the county manager’s position as “fast-paced but interesting.”

“It’s a very diverse job, that’s challenging. Things happen 24/7, that’s challenging,” Webster said. “And it’s not uncommon to get texts at 3 a.m. about something that might be happening that you need to be aware of. But it’s very rewarding when you are able to get things done and accomplished.”

Webster said she will miss her job.

“I expect to wake up and say, ‘Gosh what do I do, I don’t have anywhere to go,”’ Webster said jokingly. “But I feel like it’s time.”

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77