KAPPA NEWS: LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
limits brought in some new legislators, I was able to convince more to join me in these efforts. Q; What was the significance of the low turnout in 2014 that you didn’t receive the support of your constituents? The entire country experienced a low voter turnout in 2014 and over 25 states had legislative houses flip in party lead- ership because of it. Nevada fell victim to the same apathy that the rest of the country did. Based on turnout, I should have lost by hundreds of votes but lost by only 40 votes. Over 40 constituents actually contacted me after the elec- tion to apologize for not voting. They thought I had it in the bag and they were not inspired by our gubernatorial can- didate so they stayed home. The result was disastrous and my message became “Never Again.” I committed to connecting with voters in a very personalized and meaningful way. I expanded my targets to more than my 14% registration advantage and had to recognize that as the country gets turned off by partisan politics and the national political atmosphere, they could always rely on me returning a call or an email. I spent significantly more resources to personalize my message and approach and it paid off. The process of legislating is generally not a pretty thing to see and Nevada is no exception. Nevada is a citizen’s legislature so while it attracts candidates from all walks of life, it also involves a significant sacrifice. With increasing responsibilities and access due to the proliferation of social media, legislators have more and more work, with less and less resources. Nevada is amongst the worst compensated for legislators, Q: What is the Nevada legislature like? Q: How were you able to gain it back?
with a 120 day session and a $8,700 salary for the first two months and no salary for the second two months. It is truly a sacrifice and it really requires a commitment to serving the state. While Nevada has partisan fights like every other state, I do believe that Nevada has a very independent spirit. This results in a greater opportunity to connect with voters across party lines. Q : What is it like for you as the Speaker of the Assembly?/ Describe how you deal with the weight of the responsibil- ity? What emphasis do you place on process/getting your agenda through in the form of legislation? With the influence of Trump becoming president, I was committed to bringing decorum and integrity back to the legis- lative process. Nevada has a rich history of true statesmen, but the 2015 legis- lative session represented a deviation from that decorum and integrity. This dynamic provided my greatest motiva- tion to return after having lost in 2014. As the first African American Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly, it has been an incredibly humbling experience and I thank God every day for the opportunity to serve. The challenge of managing a house of 42 leaders can be overwhelm- ing, but even Jesus said asked that God take this cup from him, but recognized that it was God’s will that mattered and not his own. I carry that spirit in my heart everyday as Speaker. Q: Your counterpart across the capital is African American, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and a member of the Las Vegas Alumni Chapter. What is it like to work with him? My counterpart is not only my Kappa brother, but he is my law school class- mate, my Senator, my fellow church member and my friend before either of us were in elected office. We knew there would be challenges in represent-
ing our perspective houses, but we committed early on to not letting ex- ternal forces come between us. Steady communication and collaboration has been key and we agree to disagree when we have to go different direc- tions. Throughout it all, we committed to not letting the process allow us to undermine each other. It’s our mutual concern for the reputation and future of the other that has helped stick to work- ing together more than not. I’ve always loved To Kill A Mockingbird and reflect back on my thoughts of the characters in the book often. Q: What made you interested in Kappa Alpha Psi ® ? I went to college completely disinter- ested in joining any fraternity. However, members of Kappa Alpha Psi took me under their wings as mentors when I was a freshman and I recognized that we had more in common than just being African American. They were the role models I rarely found and it was a natu- ral decision to express interest in joining Kappa Alpha Psi. Q: Do you have any advice for under- graduates who may want to follow a similar path as yours? I would simply encourage undergradu- ates to be true to themselves. I think of my early times in college and the influ- ences that might have directed me to do something, or be someone, that was out of my character. Standing up for who you are and being steady will take you wherever you want to go. Q. Do you have a favorite book?
The true measure of character is what you do when nobody's watching. – John Wooden
Q: What is your motto?
“The true measure of your character is what you do when nobody’s watching.”
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