Gov. Brian Sandoval has been busy this summer

(AP) - Gov. Brian Sandoval has spent about half the summer out of Nevada, traveling on state business and for political and family matters.

From June 7, when the 2011 Legislature ended, through early August, the first-term Republican has been out of state a total of 30 days, the Las Vegas Sun reported Friday.

Sandoval spent five days in the Middle East visiting troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, and four in Utah discussing economic development and water issues with that state's governor.

He also took a three-day trip to address a Florida county Republican group and spent two days in Seattle meeting with executives from Amazon and Starbucks. The governor also traveled to Oregon, Sacramento, Calif., and Boise, Idaho, for trips to see his son play baseball and basketball.

Twelve days were devoted to family.

"I'm the governor, but I'm also a father and husband," Sandoval told the newspaper. "It's important I show support for (first lady) Kathleen and the kids."

Sandoval paid for the personal trips and did not claim per diem for meals or expenses, according to his office. The Defense Department paid for his trip overseas, and the Florida county GOP group paid his airfare and hotel for that trip.

His travel cost taxpayers a total of $1,500, including $322.83 total for three nights in Salt Lake City; $246 for three nights in the Seattle area, plus $352 for airfare; $173 for a hotel in Virginia before his Mideast trip; and $406.40 from Washington, D.C., back to Reno.＋