The gatekeeper at the Legislature no stranger to political scene

If you have business with the Assembly's leadership this session, Yvonne Murphy is probably the first person you'll meet.

"I'm the gatekeeper," she said Friday from behind the reception desk.

And if you pay attention, you'll notice that she seems to be on unusually familiar terms with many of the so-called power brokers.

That's because she's moved in those circles since arriving in Nevada in 1981, when a Reno doctor convinced her to leave her hometown Detroit and join him in Nevada.

"I went from a blue-collar life to a millionaire's life in one jump," she says.

But Murphy wasn't just enjoying the good life. Every step of the way, she says, has been an education in both business and politics -- from working as a health-care consultant to administrative positions with Pete Ernaut and Billy Vassiliadis at R&R Partners. Not only are they her mentors, she says they are among her closest friends.

"I came here with the expectation of a greater life, and Nevada has delivered on that promise," she said.

This fall, on her own again after a divorce, she said she needed to make a clean break and, at the same time, get back into politics. She said Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, offered her the job in the Assembly leadership office, and she jumped at the chance to get involved in what will be her sixth legislative session.

"I love the process, and it's an honor to serve up here," said Murphy, 46.

She says she has little patience with people who don't get involved.

"If you're not going to get involved then you have no right to complain," she said. "If you're not going to contribute to Nevada, then leave."

"This is my way to make a difference. It may not be a grand contribution, but it's my contribution."

That contribution, she said, will be what she does best: "I know the people. I have relationships with them. I know their needs, where they're coming from -- and I get things done."

Her initial lessons were from her grandmother, whom she credits for her principles and values. But she said the practical education began with her "doctor friend" in Reno, where she learned medical management and worked a consultant until 1994.

"I was 24 years old and jetting around in a Lear jet teaching physicians how to get richer," Murphy said.

After that relationship ended, she went to work for Ernaut at Forsythe Francis Ernaut.

"I said 'I'll work free for 90 days, and if you don't absolutely love me, I'll leave,'" she said.

She stayed with Ernaut eight years and through five different jobs and partnerships -- including a year as his executive assistant when he was Gov. Kenny Guinn's chief of staff. She said she still counts Ernaut and his wife, Wendy, as two of her closest friends.

"Pete taught me about politics," she said.

The next step was two years as an executive liaison for Vassiliadis at R&R Partners.

"Billy was like going to graduate school," she said. "Billy is amazing."

Working for Speaker Perkins this session, she said, is the next step, and she hopes to learn how to put all those other lessons together.