Governor drops longtime political adviser

Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons has severed another link with Nevada's established political advisers, parting ways with Jim Denton.

Denton, one of four experienced political hands involved in Gibbons' successful 2006 campaign, said Wednesday he discussed ending his paid adviser role "some months back" and that role ended amicably in mid-January.

The former advisers have been replaced by newcomers who are largely unknown in Nevada's political circles. They include the governor's only paid campaign staffer, Robert Olmer, who acknowledged to the Las Vegas Sun that he lacks political experience.

A friend of Gibbons confidante Howard Weiss, Olmer runs Sierra Adventure Marketing and was a marketing director for a Tahoe ski resort. Olmer, paid more than $60,000 by Gibbons' campaign between June and the end of December, said he was brought on to raise money for Gibbons' 2010 re-election campaign but his job evolved and he is now an active administration adviser.

Weiss owns an RV and auto repair business in Reno. Southern Nevada businessman Monte Miller said he also advises and supports the governor.

Gibbons has come under increasing attacks over what critics say are inconsistent positions on issues and a failure to engage with the Legislature on the state budget shortfall.

In response, the Gibbons administration has taken a more aggressive approach, using strident language in podcasts, media releases and letters to legislators and President Obama.

Dan Burns, the governor's communications director since November, told the Sun, "It was my idea to be a lot more aggressive."

Gibbons "is being treated unfairly" by the media, he said, adding, "People in the Legislature call him names every day. After two months, it gets a little old."

Four years ago, Gibbons' campaign team included some of the state's top Republican consultants. Besides Denton, they included campaign manager Robert Uithoven, GOP kingmaker Sig Rogich and, later, lobbyist and consultant Greg Ferraro.

Rogich has not advised Gibbons in over a year. Uithoven and Ferraro confirmed this week that they no longer advise the governor.