New Assembly chief clerk knows the law

When the 2005 Assembly is called to order next Feb. 7, Nancy Tribble will be as new to the zoo-like scene as any freshman on the floor.

The difference is, they'll all be looking to her to help make sure the session runs smoothly.

As the new chief clerk of the Assembly, Tribble will stand right in front of the speaker - reading the summaries of proposed legislation, making sure business gets done, and managing the front desk.

She was one of 124 who applied to replace Jackie Sneddon, who retired at the end of last year.

"I've been told I'll be watched," she said.

But while she's new to the legislative process, Tribble is far from new to government and the law. She has worked for federal and for state and family courts as well as in Washoe School District's business office. She even did a stint with an urban renewal agency in New England.

For more than 20 years, Tribble worked for the Washoe District Court system in a variety of positions.

"I enjoy the law a lot," she said. "In the courts, we administered and enforced the law. With the legislature, I get to work with the people who make the laws. It's an incredible opportunity."

The technical and often arcane legislative process doesn't worry her, she said, because she comes from the court system - which has just as many rules and is just as confusing to the unfamiliar.

"The courts are a lot like this, but on a smaller scale," she said.

But there are huge differences. So, for now, the bible of Legislative floor procedure, "Mason's Manual," is on her bedstand -- nightly reading to help her prepare.

While most visitors see the chief clerk only on the floor of the Assembly, that's far from the entire job. Her staff is two full-time people now, but by the time session begins, it will have expanded to more than 60, including the rest of the front desk crew, pages and interns on the floor, the sergeant at arms and his staff, and a host of legislative and committee secretaries.

Tribble said it's in the process of managing and improving the system that she feels she can make the most immediate impact - especially in the use of technology.

"We're going to incorporate technology more into the system, the way we track the minutes and other places," she said.

Tribble was a key member of the team which brought technology into the Washoe County court system.

As chief clerk, she would like to bring all her experience together.

"I'm not looking to retire in the near future, but this might be the job I retire from so I really want to focus on this," she said.

A key difference between the legislature and the courts, she said, is the deadline: "There's only 120 days to do all the work we have to do."

Tribble was born in Reno, went to Sparks High, and graduated in Wooster's first class in 1964. After a few years in New England, she said Nevada's call was too strong.

"I missed Nevada," she said. "I love to ski, hike in the mountains with my dog. I used to love to ride horses."

"The first horse I ever had was a mustang my dad caught out in the Virginia Foothills when you could still do that."

She also raised two sons in Reno. Dennis, 37, was stationed north of Baghdad. He has now returned to an Air Guard post in Reno. But Lance, 24, also in the Air Guard, left for Afghanistan just a week or two after Dennis returned.

She said unlike past generations, e-mail enables her to at least keep in touch. And Lance is in a safe enough place that she can concentrate on her new job.