Gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid discussed his plans for Nevada higher education and the economy at an open forum on the University of Nevada, Reno campus Tuesday, in an effort to ensure his campaign was in line with student needs, he said.
The forum, which attracted about 60 students to the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, consisted of a speech by Reid, questions from the audience and time for students to speak with Reid individually about their concerns within higher education and the state. As more issues come up and the election gets closer, Reid said he anticipates visiting UNR again.
“What the governor did to higher education was irresponsible,” Reid said. “I wanted to visit the scene of the crime and talk to the most affected. The governor’s slogan was always education first. Little did we know, education would be the first to go.”
Through his plan, Reid said he hopes to restore the value of education in Nevada, making it something to be proud of rather than frowned upon. Reid said his platform would aim to answer one question, also key to his campaign: why should students continue to live in Nevada after graduation?
A 30-page plan, released by Reid the day he announced his candidacy, outlines a variety of ways he hopes to diversify the economy, bring more jobs to Nevada and cost-efficiently improve Nevada higher education.
Among Reid’s plans to diversify the economy, he proposed transforming the University Medical Center, in Las Vegas, into an academic hospital for the state. Reid said this transformation will provide a much stronger learning environment for medical students and also benefit the community.
Reid stated than Nevada needs to begin focusing on renewable and solar energy, processes that are also essential to better allocating money.
“We have 300 days of sun a year here in Nevada,” Reid said. “And on top of that, 87 percent of our land is owned by the government and is underdeveloped.”
As part of an effort to make 25 percent of consumed energy green energy by 2025, Reid said it is time to start using Nevada’s resources. By mining coal in Nevada, something that is currently not done, the state will no longer have to pay for importing the coal necessary for electricity. According to Reid’s plan, handed out at the speech, Nevada currently purchases one third of its power sources from out of state. By eliminating imports and high-cost energy projects, Reid said that money can be allocated elsewhere.
Reid also said he is soon releasing a plan that focuses on K-12 education.
Many students who attended said they wanted their voices to be heard and to hear Reid’s opinion on a number of issues that concern them.
“I came to hear his plan for the economy and education, however not just education,” Garrett Barmore, a 21-year-old international affairs major, said. “I am interested in the humanities and it’s daunting to see the field take a 30 percent cut.”
Matthew Zamora, an 18-year-old Truckee Meadows Community College student, said that although he leans toward supporting Reid’s opponent, Brian Sandoval, he was interested in Reid’s economic recovery plan.
“I think this is important here on campus because it’s informing the next generation of things they will have to increasingly deal with,” Zambora said.