For potential public servants, training course is essential

Being a good, responsible elected official is a tough job that involves processing an enormous amount of information on topics that are often highly complex.

If you don’t believe that, just check out Clark County’s 267-page budget or the Clark County School District’s 266-page budget. And that’s just the budgeting end. Try wading into things like taxes, public school funding, legal responsibilities and such.

But for leaders in Southern Nevada, there’s help.

The Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas offers two classes aimed at giving leaders the foundation they need to be successful public servants.

The foundation’s Public Policy Leadership Series provides instruction from UNLV faculty and other experts from the community on a range of topics — the budgeting process, fiduciary responsibilities, legal and ethical norms and much more. There are two courses, one focusing on general government and the other on education.

For someone wanting to serve in a public leadership role, it’s difficult to imagine a more helpful program.

The courses, held at the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs at UNLV, are scheduled from 6-8:30 p.m. on six consecutive Thursday nights beginning Sept. 6. The deadline for applications is Aug. 31.

The program requires a significant investment of time and money — tuition is $750 — but the payoff is a well-guided trip through a learning curve that can be overwhelming to recently or newly elected leaders. For leaders in business, industry and other areas, it’s also an avenue toward becoming more effective managers.

For more information, contact Cara Clarke, executive director of the Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas, at 702586-3832 or cara@leadership.vegas. The foundation is an affiliate of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.