Legislators balance service, work, family by Mark LaPointe, Outpost Staff In this package: Citizen legislators shun politican label Work follows legislators home Opinions split on biannual sessions Campaigning challenges local legislators A common focus of legislators is on the importance of balance between elected work, employment and family. Rep. Jan Evans, who has a full-time position with the University of Nevada's medical school, is very careful about giving her employer the time she promised. To do otherwise "would be highly inappropriate" she says. "The university hires me to do university work, not to do legislative work." For that reason, Evans says, she only accepts offers to speak and meet with area organizations when it won't conflict with her work schedule. She always takes unpaid leave of absence when the Assembly is in session in Carson City. Evans' two children are grown, but not so for Reps. Hickey and Sandoval who work hard to find time for their children amid all of their official duties and professional activities. Unlike Evans, Sandoval is protective of his evenings. "I'm real selfish with my evenings," he explains. "That's the time I get to spend with my kids." Likewise, Hickey says that his family is his top priority and that balance and time management are key to making it all work. Between studying at the university, running his own painting business and maintaining his ongoing legislative work, Hickey would seem to have no time left for his family. Not so, he insists: "My kids are real important to me. I rarely go to social engagements in the evening. It is not a difficult choice." copyright 11/15/97 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost Outpost | Metro | Lifestyle | Travel | Dining | Outdoors Specials | Links | About us | Mail us Top|Previous|Next