The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to confirm Blaine Osborne as the county’s nominee to fill a vacancy in Nevada Assembly District 39, following a nomination submitted by the Assembly Republican minority leader.

Statutory process and background: Cynthia Gregory, deputy district attorney, summarized the vacancy process. Former Assemblymember Ken Gray resigned to accept an executive branch position, creating a vacancy. Under Nevada statute cited in the presentation (minority-leader submissions under NRS provisions referenced in the record), the Assembly minority leader submitted Blaine Osborne as the nominee to both counties that make up Assembly District 39 (Douglas and Lyon). Lyon County had separately selected the same nominee earlier in the day, Gregory said.

Nominee remarks: Osborne, who previously worked in the Legislature as a staffer since 2009 and has served as an aide during regular and special sessions, told commissioners he is able to “hit the ground running” if appointed and noted he has experience with legislative processes, issues and stakeholders.

Board action and vote: Commissioner Gardner moved that the board confirm Blaine Osborne as Douglas County’s nominee pursuant to the minority-leader submission; Commissioner Tolbert seconded. The vote was unanimous. County staff said the selection will advance to a joint meeting with Lyon County and the final appointment process under state law. Commissioners asked for Osborne to keep Douglas County priorities in mind, including ongoing funding or policy matters that affect county programs.

Next steps: The county manager and Lyon County manager will schedule a joint board meeting (the transcript references a joint meeting likely November 6) to consider the appointment to the Assembly seat; if a joint board selects the same nominee, the Governor will make the formal appointment under state law.

Ending: The board’s action fulfilled the county role in the statutorily prescribed nomination process and set the stage for the joint county meeting to forward a single name for appointment by the Governor.