Dennis Nolan (politician)
Encyclopedia
Dennis Nolan is a Republican
member of the Nevada Senate
, representing Clark County District 9 (map) since 2002. Previously he served in the Nevada Assembly
from 1994 through 2001. Nolan served as minority whip in the assembly, and in 2001 and 2003 was elected to be the assistant majority leader of the Nevada Senate. During his tenure in the senate, Nolan focused on issues such as healthcare, transportation, "reasonable property taxation," child and victim protection, workers compensation, public safety
, and homeland security
. In addition to to his leadership roles with the Nevada Legislature, Nolan held leadership positions in two national legislative organizations; NCSL (National Conference of State Legislators), and ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). ALEC awarded him with it's national legislator of the year award in 2008.
In 2010, Nolan lost his re-election bid, losing in the primaries to Elizabeth Halseth
. Las Vegas Review-Journal "Democrats Given High Marks" 6/13/2011 The campaign against Nolan focused on a May 2010 incident in which Nolan was caught on tape offering to make it "very financially beneficial" if Jaime Anderson Lawes "told the truth" regarding a 2008 rape case involving her ex-husband, Gordon Lawes, he 20 and her sister, who was 16 years old at the time. The age of sexual consent in Nevada is 16. Gordon Lawes who contended the sex was wrong however consensual, was eventually convicted and sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. Senator Nolan himself was subpoenaed by the public defender and testified as a character witness. , and it was revealed that both had played for the same hockey team. Nolan had defended his actions, saying that his political opponents focused on one message, while the other two messages "were of me imploring this woman" to voluntarily come forward and tell the truth. A legal opinion by the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau and review by the Nevada Ethics Commission determined Nolan violated no laws or ethics standards by his actions. Nolan knew both Jaime Anderson and her sister through Lawes and indicated that he was convinced the sex was consensual and both women were lying. Nolan added, "I realize my tactics in this case were somewhat unorthodox, but I never have really cared to be politically correct...what he did was wrong in every sense of the word but not illegal." The Nevada Supreme Court ultimately reversed Lawes conviction citing several procedural errors by the prosecution and court in obtaining the conviction. The Washington Examiner 2/5/2011 and The Las Vegas Sun 2/4/2011
Nolan has three children, and his hobbies include bagpipe playing, ice hockey, and scuba diving. He owns Nolan and Associates, a Nevada based consulting firm and is the executive director of the Las Vegas International Celtic Festival.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Nevada Senate
Nevada Senate
The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada. The Senate consists of 21 members from 19 districts, two of which are multimember. Each senator represented approximately 94,700 people as of the 2000 census, although 2006 Census Bureau...
, representing Clark County District 9 (map) since 2002. Previously he served in the Nevada Assembly
Nevada Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each Assembly district contained approximately 47,400 people as of the 2000 census, although...
from 1994 through 2001. Nolan served as minority whip in the assembly, and in 2001 and 2003 was elected to be the assistant majority leader of the Nevada Senate. During his tenure in the senate, Nolan focused on issues such as healthcare, transportation, "reasonable property taxation," child and victim protection, workers compensation, public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
, and homeland security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
. In addition to to his leadership roles with the Nevada Legislature, Nolan held leadership positions in two national legislative organizations; NCSL (National Conference of State Legislators), and ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). ALEC awarded him with it's national legislator of the year award in 2008.
In 2010, Nolan lost his re-election bid, losing in the primaries to Elizabeth Halseth
Elizabeth Halseth
Elizabeth Halseth is a Republican member of the Nevada Senate, representing Clark County District 9, she was elected to serve in 2010 and is the incumbent...
. Las Vegas Review-Journal "Democrats Given High Marks" 6/13/2011 The campaign against Nolan focused on a May 2010 incident in which Nolan was caught on tape offering to make it "very financially beneficial" if Jaime Anderson Lawes "told the truth" regarding a 2008 rape case involving her ex-husband, Gordon Lawes, he 20 and her sister, who was 16 years old at the time. The age of sexual consent in Nevada is 16. Gordon Lawes who contended the sex was wrong however consensual, was eventually convicted and sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. Senator Nolan himself was subpoenaed by the public defender and testified as a character witness. , and it was revealed that both had played for the same hockey team. Nolan had defended his actions, saying that his political opponents focused on one message, while the other two messages "were of me imploring this woman" to voluntarily come forward and tell the truth. A legal opinion by the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau and review by the Nevada Ethics Commission determined Nolan violated no laws or ethics standards by his actions. Nolan knew both Jaime Anderson and her sister through Lawes and indicated that he was convinced the sex was consensual and both women were lying. Nolan added, "I realize my tactics in this case were somewhat unorthodox, but I never have really cared to be politically correct...what he did was wrong in every sense of the word but not illegal." The Nevada Supreme Court ultimately reversed Lawes conviction citing several procedural errors by the prosecution and court in obtaining the conviction. The Washington Examiner 2/5/2011 and The Las Vegas Sun 2/4/2011
Nolan has three children, and his hobbies include bagpipe playing, ice hockey, and scuba diving. He owns Nolan and Associates, a Nevada based consulting firm and is the executive director of the Las Vegas International Celtic Festival.
External links
- Nevada State Legislature - Senator Dennis Nolan official government website
- Q & A with Dennis Nolan
- Dennis Nolan LinkedIn Profile
- Dennis Nolan and Associates Website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Dennis Nolan (NV) profile
- Follow the Money - Dennis Nolan
- Las Vegas International Celtic Festival
- Las Vegas International Tattoo 2011