Gibbons, Krolicki confirm they are running for second terms

Gov. Jim Gibbons and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki both said Tuesday they are running for a second term next year.

They were attending the Military Community Covenant Signing ceremony on the Capitol grounds honoring Nevada's troops.

Asked his reaction to reports Brian Sandoval would challenge him in the primary, Gibbons said he is in the race even if Sandoval files a challenge.

"He would make a formidable candidate no matter which race he runs in," said Gibbons. "It doesn't matter which race. I'm still running."

Sandoval last Friday resigned his lifetime appointment as a federal district judge amid numerous reports the Republican Party had convinced him to challenge Gibbons. There have also been reports for some time that Sandoval wasn't happy being a judge.

Before his nomination to the federal bench, he was a Nevada assemblyman, attorney general and chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. He is regarded as one of the premier up-and-coming candidates in the Nevada GOP.

Gibbons said fundraising has been "going fine."

"It's a little more difficult with the economy but people are still stepping forward," he said, adding that he hopes to have $3 million by the end of this year.

There have been several reports that party insiders and businessmen who, in the past, were Gibbons backers have tried to talk him out of running for a second term. His approval level in recent polls has been as low as 10 percent.

But he has steadfastly maintained he will seek a second term next year.

Sandoval is prohibited from commenting on the subject until after he is off the bench.

Krolicki said he will seek a second four-year term in that office despite the cloud created by felony charges filed by the attorney general's office. The indictment accuses him of spending in excess of $6 million in state money on advertisements and other things without the legal authorization to do so. He was state treasurer at the time.

"The past eight months have certainly been a challenging, unpleasant time for my family and myself," he said. "But I think people understand this has no depth to it. We will be completely exonerated and hopefully soon."

"There's a lot of work we started in economic development and tourism," said Krolicki who, as lieutenant governor, oversees those two commissions. "This is a time to make jobs and bring in the tourists."