Steven Horsford
Encyclopedia
Steven Horsford is a Democratic
member and Majority Leader
of the Nevada Senate
, representing Clark County District 4 since 2004 (map). He is Nevada
's first African-American state senate Majority Leader.
and has deep roots around Nevada. He attended Ed W. Clark High School
in Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada, Reno
, where he studied political science and communications but has not yet completed his degree requirements to graduate.
He is married to Dr. Sonya Horsford, a professor of educational leadership at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. They have three children, Benjamin, Bryson and Ella.
In November 2008, Horsford was elected Nevada Senate Majority Leader. He was re-elected in 2010.
. He was an early supporter of Barack Obama
’s candidacy. During the early caucus season, he chaired a steering committee of community leaders that headed the campaign in the state. During the general election, Horsford co-chaired the campaign, helping lead President Obama to victory in Nevada.
Horsford is the national vice chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
and is the Democratic National Committeeman for the State of Nevada. He is a member of the Democratic National Committee's Change Commission, and a member of the DNC's Rules & Bylaws Committee.
In November 2009, Horsford illegally parked his SUV with his senate license plate visible in a handicapped parking space at a park for six hours. Horsford refused to comment on the incident. Subsequently, Horsford pledged to work harder on disabled rights issues.
On August 19, 2010 Horsford was accused of participating in a “pay to play” fundraising scandal where he offered to sell private access in exchange for money. One columnist called the pay to play scheme a “new low in Nevada.” Horsford eventually returned the money.
On April 7, 2011 it was reported that web poker giant PokerStars treated Horsford on a lobbyist paid "junket" to the Bahamas immediately prior to introducing legislation that would benefit the online gaming industry. Horsford said of the trip, "It was productive. They made a good presentation." Horsford received $37,500 in campaign contributions from PokerStars.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member and Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
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 4 since 2004 (map). He is Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
's first African-American state senate Majority Leader.
Biography
Horsford was born and raised in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and has deep roots around Nevada. He attended Ed W. Clark High School
Ed W. Clark High School
Clark High School, opened in 1965, is a nine-month magnet high school that is part of the Clark County School District and is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Magnet programs at Clark High School:*Academy of Finance:...
in Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, where he studied political science and communications but has not yet completed his degree requirements to graduate.
He is married to Dr. Sonya Horsford, a professor of educational leadership at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. They have three children, Benjamin, Bryson and Ella.
Professional life
Horsford is the Chief Executive Officer of the Culinary Training Academy (CTA). As a joint management and labor partnership between participating gaming companies and the Culinary and Bartenders Unions, the CTA prepares more than 3,500 students annually for positions in the hospitality industry.Public service
Horsford was first elected to the Nevada State Senate in 2004 where he represents Senatorial District Four. He has served in six special sessions and four regular sessions of the Nevada Legislature. In the most recent session, he served as chair of the Senate Finance Committee and also served on the Senate Committee on Revenue and the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.In November 2008, Horsford was elected Nevada Senate Majority Leader. He was re-elected in 2010.
Political life
Horsford and was intimately involved in securing Nevada’s role in hosting the second in the nation Presidential Caucus in 2008Nevada Democratic caucuses, 2008
The Nevada Democratic Presidential Caucuses took place on January 19, 2008 after having been moved from a later date by the Nevada Democratic Party...
. He was an early supporter of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s candidacy. During the early caucus season, he chaired a steering committee of community leaders that headed the campaign in the state. During the general election, Horsford co-chaired the campaign, helping lead President Obama to victory in Nevada.
Horsford is the national vice chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is a counterpart to a Hill committee works to elect members of the Democratic party to U.S. state legislatures...
and is the Democratic National Committeeman for the State of Nevada. He is a member of the Democratic National Committee's Change Commission, and a member of the DNC's Rules & Bylaws Committee.
Controversy and Ethical Violations
In June 2004, Horsford resigned from the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board following conflict-of-interest complaints associated with Nevada Partners, a nonprofit he directed. Horsford abstained from voting on grants that might go to Nevada Partners. The agency had awarded at least $3.4 million to the organization from 2003 to 2005. In September 2006, a government audit confirmed “serious wrongdoing” and “deplorable practices” by Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board members. The audit commissioned by Las Vegas and the Clark County Commission noted that Horsford’s company had received over $10.4 million from the board and shown a “complete disregard for government accounting standards and . . . ignorance or disdain for the taxpayer.”In November 2009, Horsford illegally parked his SUV with his senate license plate visible in a handicapped parking space at a park for six hours. Horsford refused to comment on the incident. Subsequently, Horsford pledged to work harder on disabled rights issues.
On August 19, 2010 Horsford was accused of participating in a “pay to play” fundraising scandal where he offered to sell private access in exchange for money. One columnist called the pay to play scheme a “new low in Nevada.” Horsford eventually returned the money.
On April 7, 2011 it was reported that web poker giant PokerStars treated Horsford on a lobbyist paid "junket" to the Bahamas immediately prior to introducing legislation that would benefit the online gaming industry. Horsford said of the trip, "It was productive. They made a good presentation." Horsford received $37,500 in campaign contributions from PokerStars.
External links
- Nevada State Legislature - Senator Steven A. Horsford official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Steven Horsford (NV) profile
- Follow the Money - Steven Horsford