Tosa West grad elected as next Nevada governor
Sisolak is first Democrat to claim state’s office since 1994
You might be surprised to know the governorelect of Nevada is all too familiar with November or Snowvember in Wisconsin.
But that is because he is a Wauwatosa native. Nevada Governor-elect Steve Sisolak remembers the bone-chilling winters in Wisconsin and how his mom used to make him and his brother get up early to shovel snow.
“You would get done shoveling the driveway and see the plow coming down the street,” he said with a laugh.
These days he prefers a warmer climate. The Wauwatosa West graduate made headlines this month when he won the Nov. 6 election to become Nevada’s first Democratic governor since 1994.
As if his election victory wasn’t exciting enough, the businessman and longtime Clark County commissioner revealed wedding plans.
A few days after the election, Sisolak announced his engagement to Kathy Ong, a Las Vegas-based financial consultant. The campaign was intensely heated against Republican governor nominee Adam Laxalt, and Sisolak wanted to wait before popping the question.
“I didn’t want it to be a political thing. It was my fiancee’s moment, assuming she said yes,” Sisolak said.
While enjoying personal and professional triumphs, he still pays tribute to his Midwestern roots.
The Wauwatosa native has come a long way from his first job as a caddie at Tripoli Country Club on Good Hope Road to his new role as governor. He took his first job at age 13.
As a youngster, he attended Longfellow Junior High School and graduated from Wauwatosa West High School in 1972. The Sisolak family lived on 93rd and Capitol, behind where a Mister Donut shop used to be. His dad was an engineer and his mom worked at a grocery store.
During high school, he was active in the student council and basketball.
Dennis McBride, a former Wauwatosa alderman and former candidate for State Assembly, was a classmate of Sisolak at Longfellow.
McBride said there were 25 boys on the basketball team and he and Sisolak often “rode the bench” during games. He thought Sisolak was a tall, quiet and super nice kid.
“Because he was quiet, I think we underestimated the guy,” McBride said.
Sisolak worked full-time to put himself through college at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In January of 1976, he packed up his car and headed towards palm trees and bigger opportunities.
He enrolled in UNLV’s Graduate Studies Program, where he received a master’s degree in 1978.
Both his daughters attended Nevada’s public high schools and UNLV. Ashley is an attorney in Cark County public defender’s office and Carley is a marketing manager for the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.
Sisolak is eager to be sworn in and address the issues that need attention, such as health care, improvements in education, and expanding job opportunities. He has seen a growth spurt in northern Nevada and hopes to continue to broaden it beyond gaming and hospitality.
Another concern is the need for tighter background checks for gun buyers. Sisolak mentioned
the recent anniversary of the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting in which a gunman opened fire from a Las Vegas hotel and killed 58 people and injured hundreds more.
Steve Berger was one of the 48 killed and it left Sisolak stunned. “I remember seeing a list of the deceased and coming across someone from Wauwatosa,” he said.
He said it is crazy that people can be on a no-fly list and still be able to buy a gun or be served with a restraining order in the morning and buy a gun in the afternoon.
“Someone unstable can take someone’s life. We need to do what we can to stop it,” he said.
His Wisconsin upbringing has made him realize that education in Nevada needs to improve.
Motivated by his passion for education, Sisolak decided to give back to the community by serving on the Nevada Board of Regents for 10 years.
In 2008, Sisolak was elected to the Clark County Commission, where he now serves as chairman. His mission is to improve the school system in Nevada, which he said is underfunded.
“We are at the bottom of every good list and the top of every bad list,” Sisolak said.
Having been educated mostly in Wisconsin, Sisolak points to the good education system in Wisconsin. He added that a lot of money was invested in the public education system in the dairy state.
“It was a good upbringing for me and I want kids in Nevada to have the same opportunities,” Sisolak said.
Being involved in government has been rewarding for Sisolak. The upside is doing good things for others. The downside is the climate can be rough and tumble and leave a politician bruised. There is the occasional mud-slinging such as attack ads on television.
McBride said that when he ran for state office he heard complaints about infighting in politics and Sisolak heard the same thing.
“I’m not surprised Steve made those major points in his campaign. He is a nice guy and wants to do what is right,” McBride said.