A little more than a year into his first term, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo had an admission to make Wednesday evening to a Reno audience.

The many problems facing the state are complex, he told the capacity crowd that gathered inside the National Automobile Museum for the latest edition of The Nevada Independent’s IndyTalks series. Whether it’s improving public education, increasing access to affordable housing, solving Nevada’s eviction crisis in real time or increasing mental health services, there are no easy answers.

As he bantered and parried with The Indy founder and CEO/Editor Jon Ralston, Lombardo unpacked the intricacies of issues that consume the state. At times some of his details were dizzying. I heard a lot about what’s not working despite a bustling post-COVID economy and a mountain of federal largesse, but not much in the way of solutions — at least, not yet.

That’s certainly understandable. Solutions are the hard part, and Nevada is a tangled mess on many fronts.

As Lombardo rolled along, answering some questions and ducking others, I got the distinct impression that Nevada’s no-nonsense governor had experienced an epiphany during the past 14 months. The cop who rose through Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s ranks to become the leader of one of the nation’s largest police departments had taken on a responsibility that made his previous efforts appear almost child’s play by comparison.

He was at times quite candid. On the adjustment to his new role, Lombardo acknowledged the steep learning curve he experienced, saying, “I think it was because of the nuance and the newness of the position, and the unknowns, and the unawareness, and just the ignorance of the fact of how state government works …” He compared the process to “drinking from a fire hose.”

And when Lombardo told his host, “I didn’t know there would be that many adversarial folks,” I believed him.

Had the former Clark County sheriff, accustomed to giving orders and having them carried out, imagined that making meaningful progress in a state mired in quality-of-life issues would be anything but multifaceted and contentious? Was he ever under the impression that real progress for the entire state — not just his political patrons — would take a new level of cooperation, communication and compromise?

After one year in office, I’m certain he now holds no such illusions.

Nevadans know that one thing Lombardo learned in his first year was how to use his veto pen. He made state history with a record 75 vetoes in the 2023 legislative session. Talk about “Just Say No.” Veto Joe gave himself a “B-plus” grade in his first year on the job. By his count, he made the freshman honor roll.

That will put him in good stead with his political allies. Most of those who voted for him will also forgive his shrugging embrace for another Donald Trump candidacy in a state that finds six Republican Party insiders facing criminal charges in the former president’s fake electors’ scandal. 

The optics of a former top lawman surrounded by “friends” who face criminal charges remains cringeworthy nonetheless. Surely not even Veto Joe will find it easy to smile for those photo-ops.

Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have made the actions of the fake electors a felony, calling the punishment excessive. But I wonder if he will support future legislation that takes such transgressions seriously, but calls for a shorter sentence. I guess we’ll see.

Lombardo sounded anything but convincing when it came to discussing a way forward to address Nevada’s affordable housing, tenant protection and eviction proceedings problems in a meaningful way. He vetoed legislation that attempted to address those complex ills. Will he share his own plan? I guess we’ll see.

Ralston kept the night’s conversation civilized. The governor kept his sense of humor even after the talk turned to his veto of eviction. The audience appeared to appreciate the opportunity to hear the state’s chief executive as he reminded them of the potential difficulties ahead as Nevada weans itself from the Biden administration funding that helped kick start the state’s latest economic recovery.

It's too early in his term for me to get too cynical. I still want to believe that Lombardo, who vetoes like a conservative but looks downright moderate compared to the Trump forever crowd, is capable of rising above his partisan comfort zone. 

It sounds terribly naïve, but I hope he finds a way to forge common ground with legislative opponents on key issues essential to improving Nevada’s future — and not just when it comes to arranging public financing for billionaire professional sports team owners.

John L. Smith is an author and longtime columnist. He was born in Henderson and his family’s Nevada roots go back to 1881. His stories have appeared in Time, Readers Digest, The Daily Beast, Reuters, Ruralite and Desert Companion, among others. He also offers weekly commentary on Nevada Public Radio station KNPR.