News
ENLARGE
Some advice: Don't challenge Brian Krolicki in Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit or any game involving math.
The Stanford graduate, who is an expert in finance and speaks five languages, has called Lake Tahoe home for more than 20 years, is lieutenant governor of Nevada, the state's second-in-rank behind the governor.
The position places the Republican as president of the state Senate, which he presided over for the first time Monday.
In his speech, Krolicki thanked voters and voiced excitement for his new role.
"This Senate, along with the distinguished members of the Assembly down the hallway, have been entrusted to seek reasonable and effective solutions during a time of substantial challenge," he said. "I'm sure that we will pursue our obligations in a manner worthy of the great tradition of this body and be ever mindful of the profound charge we have been given."
'A very solid reputation'
After two terms as state treasurer, Krolicki was elected as lieutenant governor in November with 52 percent of the vote, well ahead of Democrat challenger Robert Unger. In Douglas County, where he lives with his wife, Kelly, and three daughters, he received 68 percent of the vote.
One can list several reasons for his popularity. Zac Moyle, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party, believes Krolicki's appeal crosses party lines.
"He's one of those guys where he really comes across as a down-to-earth individual," Moyle said.
University of Nevada, Reno, professor Eric Herzik cited Krolicki's work as state treasurer as giving him solid political footing.
"He has actually a very solid reputation as being a very professional manager as a politician because of where he started as treasurer," said Herzik, political science chair at the university. "I think most people gave him high marks for running that office."
The Stanford graduate, who is an expert in finance and speaks five languages, has called Lake Tahoe home for more than 20 years, is lieutenant governor of Nevada, the state's second-in-rank behind the governor.
The position places the Republican as president of the state Senate, which he presided over for the first time Monday.
In his speech, Krolicki thanked voters and voiced excitement for his new role.
"This Senate, along with the distinguished members of the Assembly down the hallway, have been entrusted to seek reasonable and effective solutions during a time of substantial challenge," he said. "I'm sure that we will pursue our obligations in a manner worthy of the great tradition of this body and be ever mindful of the profound charge we have been given."
'A very solid reputation'
After two terms as state treasurer, Krolicki was elected as lieutenant governor in November with 52 percent of the vote, well ahead of Democrat challenger Robert Unger. In Douglas County, where he lives with his wife, Kelly, and three daughters, he received 68 percent of the vote.
One can list several reasons for his popularity. Zac Moyle, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party, believes Krolicki's appeal crosses party lines.
"He's one of those guys where he really comes across as a down-to-earth individual," Moyle said.
University of Nevada, Reno, professor Eric Herzik cited Krolicki's work as state treasurer as giving him solid political footing.
"He has actually a very solid reputation as being a very professional manager as a politician because of where he started as treasurer," said Herzik, political science chair at the university. "I think most people gave him high marks for running that office."
Krolicki was recognized his work by being tapped as president of the National Association of State Treasurers by peers. He was also named the Most Outstanding State Treasurer in America.
He was also one of the principal architects of the Millennium Scholarship, which provides money for students who graduate from Nevada high schools to attend Nevada colleges.
Kelly Krolicki said her husband's appreciation of education was founded in growing up without much money, as his father worked as a grocery bag salesman and his mother stayed at home.
Rising through the ranks
When enrolled at Stanford, Krolicki initially studied astrophysics but found the work and competition daunting, his wife said.
So he decided to major in political science with a focus on Soviet studies, Kelly said. As a result, he studied in Austria and Israel and then worked in the Middle East, New York and London in finance.
He then worked in Washington D.C. for a senator as a chief communications officer and was a campaign manager for former Nevada state treasurer Bob Seale.
It was Krolicki who walked about two miles after surviving a plane crash in September 1990 and called for help. Seale was piloting the plane that crashed and killed Seale's wife, Judy.
With Seale injured, Krolicki was the interim state treasurer.
"Brian says that it was just timing," Kelly said. "Everything happened because of timing."
Higher office?
He was also one of the principal architects of the Millennium Scholarship, which provides money for students who graduate from Nevada high schools to attend Nevada colleges.
Kelly Krolicki said her husband's appreciation of education was founded in growing up without much money, as his father worked as a grocery bag salesman and his mother stayed at home.
Rising through the ranks
When enrolled at Stanford, Krolicki initially studied astrophysics but found the work and competition daunting, his wife said.
So he decided to major in political science with a focus on Soviet studies, Kelly said. As a result, he studied in Austria and Israel and then worked in the Middle East, New York and London in finance.
He then worked in Washington D.C. for a senator as a chief communications officer and was a campaign manager for former Nevada state treasurer Bob Seale.
It was Krolicki who walked about two miles after surviving a plane crash in September 1990 and called for help. Seale was piloting the plane that crashed and killed Seale's wife, Judy.
With Seale injured, Krolicki was the interim state treasurer.
"Brian says that it was just timing," Kelly said. "Everything happened because of timing."
Higher office?
"I think it's safe to say he's very politically ambitious," said Kirsten Searer, communications director for the Nevada State Democratic Party. "It's pretty obvious he has eyes on higher office."
Searer said the state democratic party's main complaint against Krolicki was the appearance of bias when he awarded investment opportunities to campaign contributors while he was state treasurer.
Krolicki, in an October story in the Las Vegas Sun, denied wrongdoing.
"We've done it exceedingly right, and we have gotten results that are outperforming the market in every category," he said at the time.
As did her husband, Kelly deflected a question about aspirations for a higher office.
"We just take one election at a time because you never know what's going to happen," she said.
Herzik, the college professor, believes Krolicki could make a successful run for governor.
"He ran the treasurer's office well. He modernized it well," said Herzik.
"It's somewhat refreshing that he is maintaining his home in Douglas County," Herzik added. "That's a holdover from kind of the more informal days of Nevada politics."
"I'm somebody who drives over Spooner Summit every night," said Krolicki.
Well, practically. When needed in the southern portion of the state, Krolicki uses a condo in Henderson. When he graduated, he gravitated to Lake Tahoe, Kelly said. The two met on a blind date that went nowhere, Kelly said, but the two reconnected and flourished on a second blind date seven years later when they forgot they previously met.
The Krolickis maintain their residence at Tahoe since Kelly's family lives in the area.
Searer said the state democratic party's main complaint against Krolicki was the appearance of bias when he awarded investment opportunities to campaign contributors while he was state treasurer.
Krolicki, in an October story in the Las Vegas Sun, denied wrongdoing.
"We've done it exceedingly right, and we have gotten results that are outperforming the market in every category," he said at the time.
As did her husband, Kelly deflected a question about aspirations for a higher office.
"We just take one election at a time because you never know what's going to happen," she said.
Herzik, the college professor, believes Krolicki could make a successful run for governor.
"He ran the treasurer's office well. He modernized it well," said Herzik.
"It's somewhat refreshing that he is maintaining his home in Douglas County," Herzik added. "That's a holdover from kind of the more informal days of Nevada politics."
"I'm somebody who drives over Spooner Summit every night," said Krolicki.
Well, practically. When needed in the southern portion of the state, Krolicki uses a condo in Henderson. When he graduated, he gravitated to Lake Tahoe, Kelly said. The two met on a blind date that went nowhere, Kelly said, but the two reconnected and flourished on a second blind date seven years later when they forgot they previously met.
The Krolickis maintain their residence at Tahoe since Kelly's family lives in the area.
"It seems to work," Kelly said. "We like Lake Tahoe obviously for a lot of reasons, but it seems to work for us."
Curriculum Vitae:
Brian Krolicki
Age: 46
Job title: Lieutenant governor of Nevada
Responsibilities: Chairman of the Commission on Economic Development, chairman of the Commission on Tourism and member of the State Board of Transportation.
Age: 46
Residence: Lake Tahoe
Education: Stanford
Etc.: Needs only about four hours of sleep, has a penchant for good coffee and fine wine, and speaks five languages.
Curriculum Vitae:
Brian Krolicki
Age: 46
Job title: Lieutenant governor of Nevada
Responsibilities: Chairman of the Commission on Economic Development, chairman of the Commission on Tourism and member of the State Board of Transportation.
Age: 46
Residence: Lake Tahoe
Education: Stanford
Etc.: Needs only about four hours of sleep, has a penchant for good coffee and fine wine, and speaks five languages.
