Governor Jim Gibbons
 Jim Gibbons was
born and raised in Sparks, Nevada, and attended Nevada public schools and
universities. Jim earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno,
and a Master's degree in Mining/Geology from the University of Nevada’s Mackay
School of Mines. Jim went on to earn his J.D. from Southwestern University
School of Law and completed his post-graduate work at the University of Southern
California. He was named the Mackay School of Mines Alumnus of the Year in 1999,
and remains an active supporter of Nevada’s university and community college
system.
Jim Gibbons served three terms in the Nevada State Legislature and was named
“Outstanding Freshman Legislator” his first year in 1988. By 1993, Gibbons rose
through the ranks to become Republican Whip of the State Assembly.
In 1994, Gibbons co-authored the Gibbons Tax Restraint Initiative with his wife
Dawn. As private citizens, they collected 85,000 signatures from residents
across Nevada to place a ballot question before the voters to amend the State
Constitution. An overwhelming majority of Nevada voters (78% in 1994 and 71% in
1996) supported the amendment to the Nevada Constitution which requires a 2/3
super-majority to increase any state tax or implement new taxes.
Jim Gibbons was first elected to represent Nevada's 2nd District in the House of
Representatives in 1996. He was re-elected to a fifth term in November 2004. |
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Jim Gibbons was one of the most effective and productive members of the
House of Representatives in Nevada's history. He has a strong record of
passing pro-Nevada legislation in Congress. Gibbons’ office also provides
some of the best and most effective constituent service in the state.
Through his years representing Nevadans in Congress, Jim has served as
chairman of several key subcommittees dealing with our nation’s intelligence
capabilities, our homeland security, our military and our natural resources.
Jim Gibbons also served on several Congressional Caucuses. He was a founding
member and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Mining Caucus and Co-Chairman of
the House Gaming Caucus. He also served as an active member on:
Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, the Western Caucus, Rural Caucus, Air
Force Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus, Travel and
Tourism Caucus, Caucus on Community Health Centers, Cancer Caucus, the
Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, and the Automotive Performance
and Motorsports Caucus.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Jim Gibbons has also
taken a leading role in securing America’s homeland. Just one month after
the horrific attacks of 9-11, Jim authored and introduced bi-partisan
legislation which would become the basis for the Homeland Security Act which
created the Department of Homeland Security.
Jim is a former combat pilot and decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and
Persian Gulf Wars. He served in the United States Air Force from 1967 to
1971 and graduated from the USAF Air Command and Staff College as well as
the Air War College. Gibbons joined the Air Guard in 1975, attaining the
rank of Colonel, and served as the group's Vice Commander from 1990 through
1996. Jim transferred from the Nevada Air Guard to the Air Force Reserves,
where he served until 1998. |
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Throughout his military service, Gibbons received 19 service medals,
including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with
Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal and Air Force Commendation
Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster. He was also awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for his extraordinary achievement while participating as an
RF-4C Flight Leader in the Gulf War.
His experience in the military makes him a knowledgeable and effective
advocate for Nevada's premier military training bases, NAS Fallon in
Churchill County and Nellis AFB just outside Las Vegas in Clark County.
Jim also spent many years working in the private section as a commercial
airline pilot, as a hydrologist for the Federal Water Master, as a mining
and exploration geologist, and as a mining and water rights attorney in
Nevada.
Jim Gibbons has received many awards during his years of public life, and
counts among his supporters taxpayer advocacy groups, senior groups,
outdoor/recreation groups, and numerous business associations.
Gibbons also introduced the Education First Initiative, which was passed by
the voters in 2004 and again in 2006. This Amendment requires that education
be funded before any other budgets for the ensuing biennium. Education First
will protect our schools from the harm caused by last-minute funding and
will also protect the Gibbons Tax Restraint Initiative from another assault
to our state’s constitution like the one handed down by the Nevada Supreme
Court during the 2003 special legislative session.
Governor Jim Gibbons and his wife Dawn have three children, Christopher,
Jennifer and Jimmy, as well as three grandchildren. Their youngest son,
Jimmy, is attending the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York.
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