Gibbons divorce still not final

Three months after the judge adopted a settlement agreement, Gov. Jim and Dawn Gibbons' divorce is still not finalized.

The reason no final decree has been issued is that Washoe Family Court Judge Frances Doherty made it a condition of the divorce that Gibbons pay Dawn $275,000 - her share of the couple's Elko County property - before the divorce would become final.

Under the original order by Doherty Dec. 28, Gibbons was given 60 days to pay Dawn for the Elko property. He was also supposed to list the couple's Reno home for sale within 30 days. According to Dawn's lawyer Cal Dunlap he has done neither.

"He's supposed to cash her out," said Dunlap. "He can't get his divorce until the money is paid."

Dunlap said, however, that Gibbons has been making the alimony payments required by the settlement agreement.

Gibbons said the economy has played havoc with his attempts to raise the money and sell the couple's Reno home.

"Nobody wants to take a loan on vacant land," he said of the property near Lamoille. Gibbons said he wants to cash her out so he can keep the property where he eventually wants to build a home he can retire to.

"It's really difficult. People say they're willing to help but they've kind of shied away."

As for the Reno home, he said the problem is that "there's just nothing selling."

"I've tried. I've really, really tried," he said. "Sure, they will (buy) - if you give it away."

He said he wants the divorce finalized so both of them can move on with their lives and has no reason to try delay things.

Gibbons also said that condition that he pay before the divorce decree is issued is "something I've never heard a court do before." But he said he is actively trying to raise the money.

At the same time, Dawn Gibbons said she is trying to move on with her life. She began a new radio talk show on Reno radio station KBUZ-1270 AM Tuesday morning, interviewing Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who she described as a long time friend. She plans to talk with Brian Sandoval, who is challenging Jim Gibbons in the Republican primary, this week as well as Washoe District Attorney Dick Gammick on the show.

While she has rented a place on the Las Vegas Country Club grounds as her permanent residence, she said until the divorce is final, she maintains access to the apartment adjacent to the governor's mansion for those times when she is in northern Nevada.

She said, however, she is having financial difficulty since the governor hasn't come through with the money yet.