Opinion: Independent Guinn Center affiliates with UNR
“Memo from the Middle” is an belief column written by RGJ columnist Pat Hickey, a member of the Nevada Legislature from 1996 to 2016.
“Data-driven. Unbiased. Nonpartisan,” is how the Guinn Centre for Coverage Priorities describes itself as a newly-affiliated “think tank” at the College of Nevada, Reno.
Remaining unconstrained by political leanings and nonaligned with lobbying interests is what intrigued me when my political job was completed and I was invited to join the Guinn Center’s Board of Directors in 2017. It was refreshing to see a Nevada investigation group whose priorities were being identified not by any certain ideological bent, but by a determination to proof-based, wise coverage options.
Former Governor and present UNR President Brian Sandoval agrees, and is web hosting a reception on April 6 to welcome the Guinn Center’s new partnership with Nevada’s oldest university. UNR Provost Dr. Jeff Thompson welcomes the emerging relationship, expressing, “Both the university and the Guinn Heart will benefit from this formal affiliation. We glimpse forward to obtaining our faculty and pupils make upon our past collaborations and continue to give skills on a broad selection of public-plan problems that are significant to the point out and Guinn Middle research.”
Nonetheless, essential to any legitimate reports remaining finished and balanced community coverage formulated as a outcome will suggest that research be completed as impartial as achievable. The popularity of both equally UNR and the Guinn Center will depend on just how open and unconstrained the connection will be. According to a the latest dialogue at the College of Pennsylvania entitled “Assuring the High quality, Independence, and Integrity of Think Tanks,” the community expects serious transparency and needs this sort of analysis companies to be pure “think tanks rather than lobbying tanks.”
Even however the Guinn Middle is being hosted by UNR, it will manage its independent board of directors and stays economically self-ample, continuing to pursue exterior grants and philanthropic assist to fund its operations. Not long ago, the Guinn Center productively partnered with the University’s College of Community Health on a USDA National Institute of Foods and Agriculture Rural Wellness and Security Training grant.
The general public policy group took its name from Nevada’s 27th governor, Kenny Guinn (1999-2007). Governor Guinn was a average Republican (and former Democrat) who created a standing as a hard, pragmatic chief much more interested in acquiring issues accomplished than pushing a political agenda. Retired Nevada Condition Archivist Man Rocha stated, “In the eight decades he served, he proved he was a Nevadan 1st, not a partisan first.” The creator of the “Millennium Scholarship,” was also praised by previous Nevada Governor and U.S. Senator Dick Bryan, who explained about Guinn “He was much more intrigued in accomplishing benefits than scoring political factors. He was not an ideologue. He would operate both equally sides of the isle.”
Having a nonpartisan think tank purposely named right after such a Nevada figure was in aspect the brainchild of two former university presidents, Joe Crowley of UNR and Carol Tougher of UNLV. Each served on the original Guinn board of administrators in 2009. Whilst UNR is at present internet hosting Guinn, the firm hopes a person working day to spouse with UNLV as perfectly.
Legendary Nevada gaming government Phil Satre is the Guinn Center’s founding board chair. In an belief column in the Nevada Unbiased (2020), Satre mentioned, “In the early ears, some of us puzzled regardless of whether it could make perception to shift Nevada’s only statewide, nonpartisan research middle to a college campus. Nevertheless, we identified that we to start with experienced to confirm that we could correctly operationalize our vision—a vision that experienced hardly ever been attempted in Nevada.”
The Guinn Middle has published extra than 60 stories in parts of tax and fiscal plan, education and learning, wellness, social policy, economic improvement, workforce advancement, excellent governance and power.
Most major-flight universities in the U.S. have investigation entities connected to them. Dr. Nancy Brune, former govt director of Guinn, explained, “The Guinn Center’s wide portfolio of research aligns with UNR’s strategic approach to maintain its Carnegie Tier 1 position.” Dale Erquiaga, former Superintendent of Education and learning in Nevada, is Guinn’s new government director and will have an business on the UNR campus. General public membership in the Guinn Middle is welcomed and exploration fellows are routinely sought soon after.
Nevada, with its unparalleled population development and existing difficulties confronted by a at any time-diversifying financial state, could use a strategic believed associate. Gov. Kenny Guinn was known for his impartial and nonpartisan method to problem-resolving. Hopefully, his Nevada-based mostly consider tank namesake will are living up to that legacy.
”Memo from the Middle” is an opinion column created by RGJ columnist Pat Hickey, a member of the Nevada Legislature from 1996 to 2016.
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