Legislative Watch

Tom Grady

District: No. 38
Political Party: Republican
Current Job/Position: Retired Banker
Born: 1939
Hometown: Tonopah, Nevada
Family: Wife, Patricia, Children, Tina Cordes, Tim Grady, Tami Harmon, seven grandchildren.
Education: University of Nevada, Reno; Washington State Bankers School, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Interviewed By: Lea Moser
Interview Date: 4/27/2008

Tom Grady represents the assembly district number 38, which includes Lyon and Storey counties, and portions of Carson City and Churchill County. He has served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years. He serves on three different committees, the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining, Taxation, and the Ways and Means committee.

Q & A

Q - How did you get to where you are?
“I was the mayor in Yerington for 12-plus years and went to work for the Nevada League of Cities where I was involved in legislation and lobbying, and then I was asked to run for the Assembly.”

Q - What other jobs did you have leading up to this one?
“I was a banker for many years. I was the agricultural banker representing agriculture.”

Grady worked for Pioneers Citizens Bank for 20 years. He was the vice president and manager. Grady worked a lot on loans for farmers and ranchers, where it was the only rural branch that it had. The branch brought Grady closer to his rural constituents, and as well, his grandparents owned a ranch that familiarized him his constituents.

Q - Did you always want to be doing what you're doing now?
“No, in fact when I retired from the league of cities, I had no idea. People approached me and asked if I would do it, and I did. I am very pleased that I did.”

Q - What are your goals for your regular career or personally?
“Well, my regular career is just about over. I hope the next legislative session will be a productive one, and get away from the partisan politics”.

Grady states that the Republicans are in the minority, so it is more difficult to get the bills through. He hope that the next session will bring forward good bills and work the bills before they come up for a vote to find out who is voting for and who isn’t, and try to persuade people.

Q - What are your hobbies or interests?
“I enjoy traveling. My seven grandchildren keep us (wife) very busy. They are starting into sports like little league and whatnot.”

Q - What unusual event have you been involved in, or unusual or memorable people have you met?
“During my time here in Yerington, I have been involved in starting Walker River Basin Community Foundation, it gives grants to organizations in the Mason and Smith valleys areas. I am very proud of being involved in starting a senior citizen operating program. I am a senior citizen, and I see what we are going through.”

Q - How did you become successful at what you do?
“Handwork, truthfulness and dedication. During the Assembly, just to work very hard to take care of your constituents, return all phone calls and letters.”

Q - What are your favorite causes?
“Things that involve legislation for rural Nevada. Right now we have a very limited number of rural Nevadans representing the state. I try to work with my cowboy caucus to look out for things we need in rural Nevada.”

Q - What are your legislative goals next session?
“Try to talk with county commissioners, city council, school districts, and constituents. Right now I am just putting together a packet of bills that will be addressing these peoples concerns.”

Q - What issues facing Nevada do you think are most important?

“Funding, naturally, is the number one item. It affects schools, social issues, highway funding, it affects everything that we do.”

“I guess personally I would have to look at the 2009 session, it will be hard with no money and term limits.”

Grady stated that the legislature is going to have to work smarter, with less, and prioritize. In order to balance the budget, education needs to redirect and prioritize some of their funding. Grady stated that education would unfortunately be affected.

Each county is going to have to decide what works best in their county. Grady also stated that the governor needs to take a firm stand on no more taxes, and although Nevada has a budget deficit, the budget is barely below the budget in 2003, after the largest tax increase in Nevada history.

Q - How do you view the slim Republican majority in the Senate?
“We are hoping that the Republicans keep the majority. If one house has complete control, it’s not good for Nevada. It works well when we have leadership that can compromise the issues.”

Q - How do you view the large Democratic majority in the Assembly?
“Being in the minority, I don’t like it. We have to work to find good candidates that are looking out for Nevada’s interests and hopefully narrow the gap down to a more meaningful figure, or at least taking the majority to have a stronger voice.”

Q - On what issue will you not budge?
“I don’t know anyone who would say they wouldn’t budge on an issue. Politics is the art of compromise, and maybe you don’t like the bill the ways it’s presented, but it’s our responsibility to make it a bill good for all of Nevada.”

Did you Know?

- Tom Grady was the Mayor of Yerington, as well as a member of Yerington’s City Council.
- Tom Grady voted yes on the methamphetamine control bill, which would have criminalized and restricted the selling of meth chemicals, explosions from meth labs, and the seizure and examination of suspicious chemicals concerning methanphetamine.
- Tom Grady is a Life Member of the Yerington Lions Club.

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