THOM REILLY

Dr. Thom Reilly is a professor in the School of Public Affairs and Co-Director, Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University (ASU).

He is the former Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) where he served as chief executive officer and oversaw, under the authority of an elected board of regents, a complex system that included R-1 research universities, four-year undergraduate institutions, a research institute, and community colleges. During his tenure, he accumulated an impressive record on multiple measurable dimensions of success centered on increased accessibility, student success and expanded workforce training and education.

Prior to his appointment, he served as director of the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University where he also was a professor in the School of Public Affairs.

He previously served as County Manager for Clark County (the Las Vegas Valley), where he provided both regional and municipal-type services. As CEO, he was responsible for the fiscal management of the County's $5.8 billion budget and administrative oversight of close to 12,000 employees. During his tenure he was known for innovative governance practices including instituting increased transparency in the budgeting process, creating a host of citizen involvement/engagement activities; establishing a pay-for performance compensation system for employees; and championing regional governance efforts.

Reilly has extensive experience in the private sector, serving as managing principal of The Reilly Group, a management consulting firm and as Executive Director for the Caesars Foundation. He has also held senior administrative positions with the State of Nevada overseeing the statewide child welfare system.

Reilly has authored numerous published works on public pay and benefits, governance, the independent voter, and child welfare. He and his work have appeared in a number of international and national media sources including: NPR's "Here and Now," PBS NewsHour, CNN Money, ABC World News, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”, C-SPAN, Fox Business News, Voice of America, Soledad O-Brien's 'Matter of Fact' and CBS News; and in the following print media: Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera, EL PAIS (Mexico), NZZ (Swiss) , The UK Independent, BBC News, USA Today, Forbes, The Hill, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Journal, Inside Higher Education, The Guardian, Law 360, Governing, Businessweek, The Associated Press, Reuters News The Conversation, and The Washington Post.

In 2012, his first book, Rethinking Public Sector Compensation: What Ever Happened To The Public Interest? was published by M.E. Sharpe Publishing, Inc. In 2016, Lexington Books published his second book, The Failure of Governance in Bell, California: Big Time Corruption in a Small Town. The Independent Voter (2023) with co-authors JacquEline Salit & Omar ALI is being published by Routledge Press (Francis & Taylor Group).

Reilly currently is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, professor emeritus at San Diego State University; on the Editorial Board for the academic journal Public Personnel Management; serves on the Board of Directors for Global Outreach Doctors, an international NGO; and with his partner Jim Moore, has served as host parents for the international high school exchange program, AFS since 2005.

He received his master's and doctorate of public administration from the University of Southern California. He earned his master of social work at ASU and a bachelor in social work from the University of Memphis.

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BOOKS

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PUBLICATIONS

Pezer, M., Stanić, B., & Reilly, T. (2024). The Adoption of Council-Manager Model of Governance in Croatia: An Exploratory Study. State and Local Government Review, 1-12.

Reilly, T.., Coordes, L., Reinisch, E. & Schlinkert, D. (2023). Uncovering Municipal Fiscal Distress in the United States. Public Finance & Management, 21 (2), pp.1-28. Politics & Policy. 00:1-22

Reilly, T., & Hunting, D. (2023). The Fluid Voter: Exploring Independent Voting Patterns Over Time. Politics & Policy. 00:1-22

Reilly, T. (2020) Sick Leave Policies in the Public Sector (2020), Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance.

Reilly, T. (2017) Are social enterprises viable models for funding nonprofits? Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. (2017)

Reilly, T. (2013). Comparing Public-Versus-Private Sector Pay and Benefits: Examining Lifetime Compensation. Public Personnel Management., 42(4), 521-544.

Reilly, T. (2012). Public Pensions and Retiree Health Care in Nevada: An Analysis. The Nevada Review Journal, (4) 2, 3-28.

Reilly, T., Woodruff, S., Smith, L., Clapp, J., and Cade, J. (2010). Unsafe Sex Among HIV- Positive Individuals: Cross-Sectional and Prospective Predictors. Journal of Community Health , 35 (2): 115-122.

Reilly, T. & Schlinkert, D. (2022). Transition from Foster Care: A cross sectional comparison of youth outcomes twenty years apart. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.

Reilly, T. (2017). Corruption in public administration: an ethnographic approach. International Review of Public Administration

Reilly, T. (2013). Rethinking The Role of the Profession on Public Sector Compensation. Public Administration Review,(73) 1, 8-9.

Reilly, T., and Reed, M. (2011). Budget Shortfalls, Employee Compensation and Collective Bargaining in Local Governments. State and Local Government Review. 43 (3), 215- 223.

Reilly, T., Schoener, S. & Bolin, A. (2007). Public Sector Compensation in Local Governments: An Analysis. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 27 (1), 39 -58.

Reilly, T., Smith, L., Woodruff, S.I., Clapp, J.D., and Cade, J. (2010) Predictors of Death and Survival Duration among a Sample of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. Social Work in Health Care, 49 (9), 783- 798.

Reilly, T. & Hedberg, E. (2022) Social Networks of Independents and Partisans: Are Independents a Moderating Force? Politics & Policy.

Reilly, T. & Platz, L. (2004). Post adoption service needs of families with special needs children: Use, helpfulness, and unmet needs. Journal of Social Service Research , 30 (4), 51-67.

Laura N. Coordes & Thom Reilly Predictors of Municipal Bankruptcies and State Intervention Programs: An Exploratory Study. (2017) Kentucky Law Journal, 105(3), 493-562

Reilly, T. & Thom, M. (2015). Local government sick-leave practices: An exploratory study. Review of Public Personnel Administration.

Thom, Michael & Reilly, Thom (2015). Compensation Benchmarking Practices in U.S. Local Governments: Results of a National Survey. Public Personnel Management, 44(3), 340-355.

Reilly, T. (2013). Reforming Public Pay and Benefits. State and Local Government Review, 45 (1), 57-64.

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New analysis shows how independents helped Trump win swing states like Arizona
A new analysis of voting patterns found that independents in battleground states like Arizona helped turn the 2024 presidential election in Donald Trump’s favor... Read more from ktar.com

How students are helping their peers work through election confusion Read more from azcentral.com

U.S. Elections: What do they tell us about America’s future?
The importance of gender voting and the Electoral College’s future will shape this electoral process’s results... Read more from heraldousa.com

The Latino vote in the United States: More diverse and decisive than ever
Factors such as gender, religion, and education level play a crucial role in shaping voting trends within the Latino community... Read more from heraldousa.com

Thom Reilly CBS interview
Segment starts at 1:06 and goes to 1:28... Watch on criticalmention.com

Sen. JD Vance rallies in AZ just weeks before election
FOX 10's Ashlie Rodriguez has the latest on GOP Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance's latest stop in Arizona. The Oct. 22 visit marks one of the many times he's visited Arizona to rally for the Trump-Vance ticket. Read more from fox10phoenix.com

Voter trends to watch in November
Thom Reilly, co-director of ASU's Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy, breaks down three voter trends that could affect the presidential race. Watch interview on youtube.com

Biden visits Indian Country and apologizes for the ‘sin’ of a 150-year boarding school policy
President Joe Biden on Friday formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of a government-run boarding school system that for decades forcibly separated children from their parents, calling it a “blot on American history” in his first presidential visit to Indian Country. Read more on apnews.com

Thom Reilly on Campaign 2024 and Battleground Arizona
Arizona State University professor Thom Reilly talked about Arizona’s political makeup and history. Watch interview on C-SPAN

How Republican-leaning Arizona became a swing state
Watch on VOANews

Trump vs. Harris: who will claim the youth vote? | People & Power Documentary
The battle for the youngest voters in the United States is a crucial front in the 2024 presidential election. Watch on YouTube

Young Arizonans Express Concern Over the Economy
Ahead of Election Day, national polls show economic issues are a top concern for voters. This is especially true in the battleground state of Arizona, where the high cost of living has some residents in a financial bind... Read more from Matter of Fact

Will Evangelical Christians Skip the Election? AZ GOP Faces Internal Division Ahead of 2024 Vote
As the 2024 election season heats up, Arizona has again emerged as a key battleground state, with significant concerns about growing divisions within the Republican Party that could jeopardize its prospects in both state and national races... Read more from CBN

Stocks and politics interview
Interview with Arizona State University Professor Thom Reilly... Watch interview on Fox10

Young Arizonans want to vote in November. But they hate their choices
A new ASU survey says Gen Z cares deeply about many issues but is turned off by both the Democratic and Republican parties... Read more from PhoenixNewTimes.com

Arizona Young Voters Survey
Arizona State University researchers just finished compiling results of a new, rare comprehensive survey of the political beliefs of Arizona adults age 30 and younger... Read more from azpbs.org

Frustrated with politics, Gen Z still plans on voting
Large numbers of Gen Z voters say both major political parties are out of touch with their concerns. Find out why many of them say they still plan to vote in November... Read more from kjzz.org

"Frustrated but engaged": Gen Z Arizonans plan to vote, but they're not happy about it
A majority of Arizona's Gen Z voters plan to cast a ballot this November — but they're not happy with their options, according to a new ASU survey... Read more from axios.com

Arizona could see open primaries on the ballot this November, allowing independents to weigh in on presidential nominees
A campaign aiming to open Arizona's primary elections filed its petition to qualify for the November ballot on Wednesday after collecting over 560,000 signatures... Read more from Cronkite News

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema won't seek reelection
After months of speculation, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced on Super Tuesday that she will not seek a second term... Read more from azfamily.com

Arizona independents in play as Biden pushes big Intel investments
President Joe Biden's move on Wednesday to pump $19.5 billion into Intel's expanding chip-making business could pay dividends with a critical part of the American electorate his Democrats need to win over: independents in the swing state of Arizona.
Read article on Reuters.com

Independent voters increasing in Arizona
The number of people registering as independent voters in Arizona has kept increasing to the point where more Arizonans registered as independents in the last six months than signed up as Democrats or Republicans combined... Read more from AZPBS.org

Independent voters now make up the largest voting bloc in Arizona
NPR speaks with independents, who account for about a third of voters in the swing state of Arizona, about the issues motivating them ahead of the 2024 elections... Read more from NPR.org

ASU study finds most voters want nonpartisan primaries
azfamily Arizona State University Professor Thom Reilly explains his recent study that found 80% of Arizonans favor moving to a nonpartisan primary system.
Watch interview on azfamily.com

U.S. elections official takes part in secretive GOP conference, sparking backlash
A commissioner of a federal elections agency recently spoke at a secretive conference of conservative voting activists and Republican secretaries of state and congressional staff... Read more from minnesotareformer.com

What Election Reforms do Arizonans Support?
New ASU poll sheds light... Read more from azcentral.com

Laid off? Tips from experts on how to move forward
Here is experts' advice on navigating career choices and mental health after a layoff... Read more from azcentral.com

Arizona survey respondents want an open primary system
A new Arizona State University (ASU) study found that more than four in five respondents want the state to adopt an open primary system... Read more from AZPBS.org

Arizonans want to take politics out of voting, survey show
ASU survey of 1,000 voters finds broad support for open primaries, non-partisan election managers... Watch video on YouTube

Former Chancellor Thom Reilly talks about how high school students should prepare for college.

View on YouTube

Data shows how independent voters swung the election by splitting their votes
President Donald Trump won the White House in large part by winning the handful of swing states nationwide, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. And one of the reasons that happened was how independent voters cast their ballots... Read more from kjzz.org

Arizona projected for Trump by DDHQ, giving him all 7 swing states
Donald Trump is projected to win the swing state of Arizona, giving him an additional 11 electoral votes, according to Decision Desk HQ on The Hill. Read more from wdhn.com

Why Trump won
Political polls leading up to this week’s U.S. presidential election showed a tight race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. But Trump pulled off a resounding win across several demographic groups... Read more from voanews.com

How Trump won
Trump held on to his base of voters while making gains with several groups that traditionally vote for Democrats, including young Black men, Latino men and young people... Read more from voanews.com

Biden 'looks happiest he's been during presidency' as he calls for peaceful transition
President Joe Biden has given a powerful statement outside the White House - with some syaing it's the happiest he's looked during his presidency... Read more from msn.com

Is my ballot secure? The people behind the audits to ensure ballot security
Many voters question the integrity of ballot safety and experts explain why to trust the process Read more from statepress.com

Why more Arizona Democrats are switching parties than Republicans
Here's why the Democrats are losing people in Arizona Read more on azcentral.com

Biden apology for Indian boarding schools interrupted by Gaza war protester
President Joe Biden formally apologized on Friday for the U.S. government's role in running abusive Native American boarding schools for more than 150 years, and was heckled at the event over his support for Israel's war in Gaza. Read more on reuters.com

Arizona Tries 'Radical Transparency' To Defeat Election Conspiracies
Four years after Donald Trump's electoral defeat, America's body politic is swimming in vote-rigging conspiracies pushed by a man who still refuses to admit that he lost. Read more on Barrons.com

WBZ News Radio Interview with Thom Reilly
Listen on WBZ News Radio

Here's Why The Democrats Are Losing People In Arizona
Read more from AZCentral

In closely divided Nevada, Harris and Trump battle for economic hearts
Vice President Kamala Harris has never met Maria Rodriguez. She probably never will. But the Democratic presidential nominee should be worried about Rodriguez, and voters like her... Read more from the LA Times

After Harris-Trump debate, independents weigh in on who gets their vote
With weeks remaining until Election Day, both major presidential candidates are fighting for the votes of independents... Read more from Fox10

Arizona and Nevada edge toward Harris and Walz
In early August, Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly selected running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, swept through the Southwest, holding massive rallies in Phoenix and Las Vegas and energizing Democratic voters just before the party's national convention, which concluded yesterday... Read more from High Country News

Will Nevada and Arizona Pick the Next President?
California's neighbors, Arizona and Nevada, stand out as pivotal swing states in this year's presidential election, each with a large bloc of independent voters... Read more from KQED

Gen Z Defies Political Norms In New ASU Study
A new study released by the ASU Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy found that while Generation Z voters have become frustrated with the current state of American politics, there is still major motivation to participate in the 2024 election... Read more from AZFreeNews.com

66% of Arizonans age 20-30 say they will definitely vote despite political system dissatisfaction
A new survey of Gen Z voters in Arizona found that, despite disillusionment with the two-party system, most said they plan to vote in the November election... Read more from kjzz.org

NEW ASU CISD REPORT
In the November 2024 election, almost 41 million members of Generation Z (under age 30) will be eligible to vote nationally... Read more from indys4az.org

Make Elections Fair Arizona works to make voting as an Independent equal
It's the Independents in Arizona who will determine who gets elected. For the first time since 2016, registered Independents outnumber both Democrats and Republicans... Read more from fox10phoenix.com

Biden and Trump go on the hunt for the independents
They identify as neither Republicans nor Democrats and represent almost half of the electorate, a percentage that is growing steadily; in the November elections, they will be more crucial than ever... Read more from elpais.com

FAQ: How Arizona Supreme Court Justices are selected and how retention elections work
Two of the four Arizona Supreme Court justices who voted in favor of the 1864 abortion ban are up for retention in November... Read more from azfamily.com

Episode 7: Professional wrestling and the rise of the independent voter: Lessons from the American Southwest
If Republican and Democrats were listed on the New York Stock Exchange, I would sell right now. The two legacy parties are tied at 27% in January polling. And dropping... Listen to Episode 7 on lostmiddle.com or
from Apple Podcast

As Kari Lake Enters Senate Race One Question Tops All Others
Read more from azcentral.com

ASU event examines demographics, mindset of unaffiliated voters
Extreme partisan politics and hostility is turning off many American voters, who are increasingly disaffiliating themselves from the two major political parties, according to participants in a forum on Wednesday night... Read more from ASU.edu

As Kari Lake enters Arizona's Senate race, one question tops all others: Can she win?
Kari Lake's U.S. Senate candidacy brings fire and attention to Republican efforts to retake the chamber. But will it help?... Read more from azcentral.com

Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2020
Governors receiving an A are those who have cut taxes and spending the most, whereas governors receiving an F have raised taxes and spending the most... Read more from cato.org

In battleground Arizona, independent voters decry Trump
Mark Clarcq is an independent voter in the presidential battleground state of Arizona. In 2016 he cast his ballot for Donald Trump, but as the former Republican president appeared at a Georgia jail on Thursday... Read more from reuters.com

Open primaries proposal won't require ranked choice voting, but opens the door
Ranked choice voting (RCV) could still come to Arizona, but a ballot measure to overhaul primary elections won't explicitly mandate it... Read more from Axios.com

A Deep Dive Into Arizonan's Views of Elections ft. Thom Reilly
In the new Center for Politics Crystal Ball ratings for the 2024 presidential election, Arizona is just one of four initial toss-up states... Listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts

ASU study finds some common ground on election reforms
Arizona is ground zero for questions on election integrity and reform... Read more from ABC15.com

Include the Independent Voter: Jackie Salit & Thom Reilly
“The power of Independents is the growing numbers that they have.”... Listen to podcast on Future Hindsight

Who Are the Independent Voters?
The number of independent voters continues to grow, and their impact was felt in a massive way in Arizona--as what was expected to be an extremely successful 2022 for the GOP didn't turn out that way in statewide races...
Listen on Apple Podcasts

ASU study shows how independent voters split 2024 ticket, decided races in Arizona
According to ASU's Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy, independent voters helped put Trump in office while also electing a Democratic senator... Watch on YouTube

Trump won big on election night. Is his victory bad news for Biden’s legacy?
As he became the Democratic frontrunner in 2019 and favored to defeat Donald Trump in 2020, a report claimed that Joe Biden was only going to serve one term if elected... Read more from aol.com

Trump wins Arizona and Nevada, completing sweep of swing states: AP
Arizona’s 11 electoral votes and Nevada’s 6 will go to President-elect Donald Trump, the Associated Press projected on Saturday... Read more from fox5sandiego.com

The re-election of Democratic senators in four key states confirms Harris’ weakness against the Trump brand
Democratic Senate candidates win in Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona despite the vice president’s setback in these territories... Read more from elpais.com

AP declares Trump victorious in Arizona and Nevada, securing all crucial swing states
President-elect Donald Trump has been projected to win Arizona’s 11 electoral vote and Nevada’s 6, according to the Associated Press... Read more from brady-today.com

Journalists emphasize the importance of ethical behavior among rise in disinformation
A panel of local reporters came together at The Westward Ho on Sept. 14 to discuss “Covering Elections in the Age of Misinformation” and how it is crucial for journalists now more than ever to prioritize accountability and objectivity... Read more from downtowndevil.com

The Scramble for College Voters in Arizona
Campuses in the swing state are swarming with Republicans and Democrats, celebrities and politicians, as they deploy decidedly different strategies to turn out crucial student voters... Read more on insidehighered.com

What makes Nevada a ‘pure battleground’ state
During the U.S. presidential election, all eyes will be on the seven so-called battleground states that are expected to determine the outcome of the 2024 contest... Watch interview on voanews.com

Voter trends to watch in November
Watch on 12News.com

Mortuaries and other unique polling locations in Maricopa County as school districts opt out
Maricopa County said they've lost some traditional locations that have served as voting locations and have had to pivot to find new ones... Read more from 12News.com

Young Arizonans want to vote in November. But they hate their choices
A new ASU survey says Gen Z cares deeply about many issues but is turned off by both the Democratic and Republican parties... Read more from Phoenix New Times

Arizona could see open primaries on the ballot this November, allowing independents to weigh in on presidential nominees
A campaign aiming to open Arizona’s primary elections filed its petition to qualify for the November ballot on Wednesday after collecting over 560,000 signatures... Read more from Cronkite News

Nonpartisans feel disenfranchised, written off, excluded from primaries in swing state Nevada
There are more nonpartisan voters registered in Nevada than registered Democrats and Republicans, and that’s been the case since July of last year... Read more from kunr.org

Arizona group wants to give the power to independents with open primaries
This November, Arizona voters will be given the chance to move their state away from semi-closed primaries and open them to all registered voters... Read more from Washington Examiner

2 out of 3 Gen Z voters in Arizona say they will vote in November, ASU survey finds
Two out of three Gen Z registered voters in Arizona say they plan to vote in this year’s general election, while four in five say the two major political parties don’t represent them, according to results of a new Arizona State University survey... Read more from ASU.edu

"IT DOESN'T TAKE A BIG SWING": EXPERT SAYS "ONE GROUP" DITCHING TRUMP OVER CONVICTION — INDEPENDENTS
Donald Trump's allies have insisted that his criminal conviction in New York would actually help him in the campaign, arguing that the public would buy the former president's claim that the prosecution amounted to political persecution... Read more from indys4az.org

"FRUSTRATED BUT ENGAGED: GEN Z ATTITUDES ON VOTING, PARTIES AND ISSUES IN 2024
Arizona State University’s Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy released a new report, “Frustrated but Engaged: Gen Z Attitudes on Voting, Parties and Issues in 2024.”... Read more from independentvoting.org

2024 Election: Kyrsten Sinema to leave Senate
The Senator, who left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent, issued a statement and an accompanying video message... Read more from fox10phoenix.com

With... Sinema quitting, do independents anywhere have a chance in politics?
Read full article

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holds campaign event in Phoenix as he gathers signatures to appear on the Arizona ballot
According to Arizona Secretary of State data, more Arizonans are registered as independents than Republicans or Democrats. That's the block Kennedy wants... Read more from 12news.com

Independent voters increasing in Arizona
The number of people registering as independent voters in Arizona has kept increasing to the point where more Arizonans registered as independents in the last six months than signed up as Democrats or Republicans combined... Read more from azpbs.org

ASU center to host 3-part election education series
The Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University will host a three-part election education series that explores issues of elections, the fundamental right to vote and election patterns... Read more from ASU.edu

To Unions, Organizing Time Is Fine When It's on the Taxpayers' Dime
Randi Weingarten, the powerful president of the American Federation of Teachers, hasn’t been a working teacher in more than a quarter of a century...
Read more from realclearinvestigations.com

Arizonans want changes to the way we choose election officials, ASU survey says
Arizonans appear interested in changes to the way the state chooses election officials, according to a new survey...
Read more from Fronteras

“Nonpartisan Election Administration Is the Norm in Other Democracies. Why Not Here?”
Thom Reilly in Governing, on the ASU survey of Arizona voters' attitudes about elections: “What we found was that Arizona voters strongly supported...
Read more from Election Law Blog

What do most Arizona voters want? A different way to vote, according to new ASU survey
Voters across the spectrum support open primaries, a new survey finds. They also agree on removing politics from election oversight...
Read more from 12news.com

ASU Report on Voter Attitudes about Elections
From the hotbed — no pun intended (sorry Arizonans, I know it's been sweltering) — of election denialism comes this report by Arizona State's Center for Independent and Sustainable Democracy...
Read more from Election Law Blog

How your secretary of state affects elections and why you should care
A once under-the-radar governmental role with significant control over elections is getting a lot more attention this year...
Read more on PBS News Hour

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Are Independents Showing Us a Path Away from Political Polarization?
They split their tickets in last year’s elections more than they have in the past, and they were more likely to identify as moderates. It’s cause for optimism...
Read article on Governing.com

Frustrated with political system, Gen Z voters not giving up
In the November 2024 election, almost 41 million members of Generation Z (under age 30) will be eligible to vote nationally...
Read article on AZCapitolTimes.com

Nevada is a battleground state – and may be a bellwether of more extreme partisanship
Over the course of Nevada history, no one party has dominated the state’s politics, and its electorate has remained surprisingly balanced in its political leanings...
Read article on TheConversation.com

Nonpartisan Election Administration Is the Norm in Other Democracies. Why Not Here?
As a new Arizona survey shows, voters want to take the partisanship out of how top state and local election officials are chosen. The system we use now erodes public trust...
Read article on Governing.com

Focus on Poverty
Comparing Outcomes 20 Years Apart: Transitioning Out of Foster Care for Emerging Adults
Read full report

Independent voters can be decisive in elections - but they're pretty unpredictable, not 'shadow partisans'
In the end there was no red wave. And there was no blue wave. There was an independent wave...
Read more from TheConversation.com

Good faith and the honor of partisan election officials used to be enough to ensure trust in voting results - but not anymore
As the U.S. moves closer to the 2022 midterm elections, a sizable number of Americans express a lack of confidence in the accuracy of the vote count...
Read more from The Conversation

Four ways the Biden administration should reach out to independents
So-called independent voters, or those who do not identify as Republicans or Democrats, made up more than two-fifths of the electorate as the new year began... Read more from thefulcrum.com

The Murky World of ‘Official Time’ in Government
"Official time," or union business leave (UBL), is widely practiced at all levels of government... Read more from Governing.com

COMMENTARY: Collaboration key to attacking Southern Nevada’s homeless issue
Problems of homelessness in the Las Vegas Valley and across the nation remain huge and complex... Read more from the LVRJ

Education partnership aims to improve college and career readiness
It’s no secret that education in the state of Nevada is a hot topic. Everyone – from teachers and administrators to parents and students – agrees that education is foundational to our state’s future success... Read more from the Nevada Independent

Our Turn: Arizona's independents can bridge political divide
Voters today are not so much shaped by news as the news is shaped for them. In cafeteria-style format, we consume news from a personalized menu that, in addition to informing us, satisfies our appetite for reinforcing our individual beliefs. Read more from azcentral.com

Court rulings show fate of state pensions likely in voters’ hands
Voters may be tasked with ultimately deciding the fate of state pensions after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled for a second time that provisions of a 2011 reform law passed by the Legislature are unconstitutional. Read more from azcapitoltimes.com

A Better Way to Set Public Pay
Too few local governments are taking advantage of a valuable tool: benchmarking compensation among their public- and private-sector peers... Read more from governing.com

First step to fix pension woes: Proper accounting
Officials from Nevada’s Public Employees Retirement System recently announced that the system saw a 12.4 percent increase in value in the fiscal year that ended June 30, beating its 8 percent goal... Read more from Las Vegas Sun

Nevada Taxpayers Association
My years in both state and local government have made me a passionate non-partisan. I stand before you today believing very strongly that the policies and financial issues surrounding public pay and benefits are bipartisan issues and the failure to make needed reforms will have a profound impact on the ability of state and local government to function effectively... Read entire keynote

Students schooled in global citizenship
We live in an increasingly global economy characterized not only by the free movement of goods and services but also the free movement of ideas and capital... Read more from The San Diego Union-Tribune

Thom Reilly on the importance of addressing Nevada’s health care crisis now, before it’s too late
Despite a sustained period of economic prosperity and substantial job creation in Nevada for the past decade, our state faces serious challenges related to our health care system, including an unacceptably large number of uninsured and underinsured citizens and a serious workforce shortage of health care professionals... Read more from The Las Vegas Sun

Exploring Interest in the Council-Manager Form of Governance in Croatia
How receptive are transition countries—those moving from authoritarian to democratic governance—in adopting components of the U.S. council-manager reform model of governance to rectify low administrative and fiscal capacities? This is the research question my colleagues, Martina Pezer, Branko Stanić and I explored with top city administrators in Croatia...
Read article on PAtimes.org

In 2024, independent voters grew their share of the vote, split their tickets and expanded their influence
With a growing number of American voters identifying as politically independent, many pollsters, most members of the media and the campaigns themselves viewed the independent vote as crucial to the outcome of the 2024 presidential election...
Read article on theconversation.com

Legislative inaction and dissatisfaction with one-party control lead to more issues going directly to voters in ballot initiatives, with 60% of them in six states
Recent polls show Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with their system of representative democracy, in which they choose candidates to represent their interests once in office...
Read article on theconversation.com

Consensus and Concern in Arizona's Hot Political Climate: Voter Attitudes About Elections
Do voters have confidence in our election system? What is their level of support for election integrity and election reform measures?
Read Full Article

A Better Way to Help Young Adults Transition from Foster Care
They face many a myriad of negative outcomes, ranging from homelessness to involvement with the criminal justice system and unplanned pregnancies. But one county’s approach shows promise in helping these youth build better lives...
Read more from Governing.com

Voters largely reject election deniers as secretaries of state – but the partisan battle for election administration will continue
Midterm voters in six states – Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont – appear to have rejected extremist secretary of state candidates who denied the validity of the 2020 presidential election...
Read more from The Conversation

The important role played by secretaries of state in administering fair elections is changing – and not in a good way
The state officials who administer fair, accessible and secure elections have historically operated quietly without garnering much public attention...
Read more from The Conversation

Can Independents Be a Bridge Over Our Partisan Divide?
When partisans include independents in their networks, they're less likely to live in alternative media realities and more likely to moderate their views, a new study suggests... Read more from governing.com

“I can’t breathe” – NSHE’s statement on George Floyd’s Death
I, like many of you, have been profoundly disturbed by the recent deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery that have led to days of civil unrest... Read more from Nevada.edu

NSHE Statement on SCOTUS LGBTQ Ruling
Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision clearly underlines that federal law now protects our LGBTQ students, staff, and faculty’s right to fairness... Read more from Nevada.edu

COMMENTARY: Revisiting remedial education in Nevada
While not everyone needs a four-year degree, some type of postsecondary education — certificate or two-year degree — is needed in our growing and demanding skill-based Nevada job market... Read more from The LVRJ

COMMENTARY: Time is now to protect Nevada’s Dreamers
We are a nation of immigrants. Nowhere is this more evident than in Nevada. Our state is home to people who have moved here to make a better life for themselves and their families... Read more from LVRJ

My Turn: Lessons from a deeply corrupt city
"Corruption on steroids" is how Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley described the city of Bell, Calif., a tiny enclave of 37,000 people in Los Angeles County... Read more from azcentral.com

Government’s Continuing Budget-Buster: Paid Sick Leave
While paid sick leave is critical to economic security and health for employees and their families, its impact is even more far-reaching -- even contagious... Read more from governing.com

Why We Need to Re-Think Public Employees’ Compensation
Traditional public pensions widen the public-private pay gap, and they aren't a good fit for a younger government workforce... Read more from governing.com

Nevada's public employee compensation needs reform now
Nevada's pension system is one of the most generous public employee retirement plans in the nation... Read more from LVRJ

The Carter Presidential Library and Museum presentation
June 21, 2012 - A broken system... Read entire presentation

Why consolidation is not a panacea
Due to the economic crisis and severe budget shortfalls facing Clark County and local cities, there has been renewed conversation at the state and local levels for the consolidation of governments in Southern Nevada... Read more from The Las Vegas Sun

Why is it so hard to know how many independent voters there are?
Modern U.S. politics has largely been viewed through the lens of a two-party power structure: Democrats and Republicans. However, this may be changing...
Read article on TheConversation.com

What’s at stake this Election Day – 7 essential reads
As Election Day closes in, uncertainty and concern about potential chaos – from violence at polling sites to candidates refusing to accept defeat – continue to rise...
Read more from The Conversation

We must radically change election administration to preserve American democracy
The bipartisan agreement in the Senate to reform the Electoral Count Act is a hopeful sign that the next election for president will be less susceptible to corrupt influence... Read more from thehill.com

NSHE Lauds Supreme Court DACA Decision
NSHE and its students were greeted with uplifting news Thursday morning as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of keeping open the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Read more from Nevada.edu

NSHE improves odds for former Nevada foster children: Reilly
The odds have never been good for the thousands of Nevada children who enter the foster care system due to abuse, neglect or abandonment by families... Read more from Reno Gazette Journal

Gamechangers? Independent Voter May Rewrite The Political Playbook.
Like the thick glass shakers of salt and pepper that dominate kitchen, diner and banquet tables where modern U.S. politics often are discussed and debated, elections and governance largely have been viewed through the lens of a seemingly impenetrable two party power structure: Republicans and Democrats. Read Full OP-ED

Voters, Media & Social Networks
Sociologists have long established that our media consumption and circle of friends can in uence our individual political opinions and perspectives. To better understand that relationship, Morrison Institute for Public Policy conducted a pre-election survey and separate post-election focus groups in Arizona regarding how the interaction of news and social networks a ect voters in their gathering and discussion of political-related information... Read full OP-ED

Viewpoints: The plan to prevent Arizona child neglect
Child neglect is less visible than child abuse. But it’s a similarly dangerous type of child maltreatment in that the resulting negative outcomes too often last a lifetime... Read more from azcentral.com

Viewpoints: How to solve Arizona's pension crisis
Pension reform is complicated, particularly with Arizona's constraints. Here's how we can get around them... Read more from azcentral.com

TANF cuts: Is Arizona shortsighted in its dwindling support for poor families?
Arizona’s recently adopted budget for fiscal year 2015-16 includes dramatic reductions in assistance to low-income families with children. Read more from The Morrison Institute

Giving shelter: Promising news on homeless front
Let’s talk about homelessness. But wait — this time, remarkably enough, the news is promising... Read more from San Diego Tribune

More transparency needed for city’s pension reform
It is of little surprise that the Comprehensive Pension Reform (CPR) initiative (which replaces guaranteed pensions for most city workers with a 401(k)-style plan, freezes base pay for city workers and removes special pay from counting toward pension calculations) is appearing on the June ballot in San Diego and garnering a good deal of citizen support... Read more from U-T San Diego

Thom Reilly: Intermountain states must unite, seek federal help
A recent report by the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, suggests the southern Intermountain West states — Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah — should team up, flex their collective political muscle and together insist the federal government work more helpfully with them to create more sustainable, deliberate policies to empower their growing urban areas... Read more from The Las Vegas Sun

Should county recorder’s office be eliminated?
One thing that frustrates all of us is that many interactions with government require standing in a line. Sometimes we go through one line at a governmental agency, only to find out that we need to go to yet another line... Read more from The Las Vegas Sun

Where I Stand — Guest Columnist Thom Reilly: Building citizen trust
TOO OFTEN I hear, "What is government going to do to fix this problem in our community?" The problems vary depending on the community issue and whom they affect... Read more from The Las Vegas Sun

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