Nevada lawmaker fears ‘Gov. Laxalt’ would undo accomplishments of Sandoval administration

State Sen. Yvanna Cancela said she that she fears if Attorney General Adam Laxalt is elected governor, he will undo accomplishments by current Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Cancela, a former political director for the Culinary Workers Union, said Laxalt could be “dangerous” for Sandoval’s legacy of a ‘New Nevada.’

Both Sandoval and Laxalt are Republicans. Laxalt is considered the front-runner to win the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2018. Sandoval is term-limited as governor after 2018.

“I’m very concerned about the potential of having Adam Laxalt sit in the governor’s mansion,” Cancela said during a recent interview on Nevada Newsmakers. “I think he could undo a lot of the progress we’ve made under Gov. Sandoval.

“He (Laxalt) could be really dangerous as to what Gov. Sandoval has deemed as ‘The New Nevada,’ ” Cancela said. “So I am hopeful that as a (Democratic) party, we will put forward the best (gubernatorial) nominee and do everything we can to prevent a governor Laxalt.”

Cancela did not provide specifics and pushed back on a suggestion she was describing an Obama-to-Trump transition of power, only on a state level.

“I don’t know if I would go that far,” she said. “But I think it is very interesting to watch Gov. Sandoval and it was frankly, inspiring to watch Gov. Sandoval shepherd the 2015 Legislature to make sure we passed the largest tax package in the state’s history to make sure that education was fully funded.

“I don’t know if a governor Laxalt would have that same vision and tenacity to lead in those situations,” Cancela said. “Nevada has come to rely on a specific type of leadership and I am not sure that Adam Laxalt would provide the same kind of vision and determination we need in the governor’s mansion.”

Cancela would not pick a side in the upcoming Democratic gubernatorial matchup between two Clark County commissioners — Steve Sisolak and Chris Giunchigliani, saying, “both have tremendous vision for the state.”

Ray Hagar is a journalist for “Nevada Newsmakers.” More information on the public affairs broadcast program, podcast and website is available nevadanewsmakers.com