Regents hire outgoing AG for higher education job

LAS VEGAS — Nevada regents have hired the state’s outgoing attorney general as executive vice chancellor for $215,000 a year.

Nevada System of Higher Education regents voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Catherine Cortez Masto for the Las Vegas-based position beginning Jan. 1.

She will serve as the system’s chief operating officer and assist Chancellor Dan Klaich.

Cortez Masto is a Democrat and has been attorney general since 2007. She could not run again due to term limits, and will be replaced by Republican Adam Laxalt.

Clark County Republicans criticized the system for hiring her in a non-competitive manner.

Klaich explained the hire in a memo to regents, noting that he had a vice chancellor until recently, and that a search for the position last winter failed to produce a successful candidate.