LAS VEGAS -- Nevada has a new governor. Republican Brian Sandoval won the election Tuesday night against Democrat Rory Reid.
The governor-elect left an appointment on a federal judicial bench to run for governor. In his victory speech, he looked to the Silver State's future as his opponent asked all Nevadans to support the new leader.
"I'm optimistic and I talked about during the course of the campaign, about the future of our great state. Together we can fight for our fair share of the future and we will win," he said.
One of Sandoval's top priorities will be education, and he isn't alone. Tuesday night, there were also two new Clark County School District board trustees elected.
This certainly isn't the best of times for the district, with a budget shortfall and recent cuts. However, many believe things are in place to turn things around, but it won't be easy.
"The biggest thing that has to change in this community is that people have to stop complaining about education and start being a part of the solution," said Board Trustee Lorraine Alderman
Alderman says the future of education does look bright, it's just a matter of working together to get things accomplished.
"We have to take what we are doing well and continue to get the funding to do that and waste, yeah we need to cut," she said.
Cuts are something Trustee Carolyn Edwards believes could be on the way. She was re-elected to serve a second term as a board trustee.
"Given the budget situation, we don't know that for sure yet. But we need to prepare for that.," she said.
Between a new superintendent and a new make-up of the board, Edwards says she's anxious to find out what the new governor's plans are for education.
"I'll look forward to hearing from him and hearing what he has to say. We will look forward to about how important education is to him," she said.
As for turning around the graduation and drop-out rates, both Edwards and Alderman admit it won't be an easy task. Still, they are hopeful for the future. However, they also say both parents and students need to get more involved.
"Where we struggle is with a student who is not motivated or a students who's not invested in education," said Edwards.
"It's amazing how everyone tends to love their own school, but don't like the system," said Alderman.
The teacher's union was supporting Rory Reid in this election. After Sandoval's win, they congratulated him and say they look forward to working with him in protecting public education.
Brian Sandoval
