Brittnie Watkins, a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board since 2021, announced Wednesday that the January meeting would be her last on the board.
Watkins, who gave birth to a daughter six months ago, thanked former Gov. Steve Sisolak, who first appointed her, and Gov. Joe Lombardo for allowing her to continue in the role after he takes office in 2023. She also thanked her colleagues, Chairmen Kirk Hendrick and George Assad for their support.
“I’m leaving the board completely fulfilled by the challenges, fulfilled by the rewards and the learning,” Watkins said as she announced her plans at the meeting.
“There is no other opportunity like this, and I am truly grateful for it. I just want to express that I will miss all of you. I will miss each and every one of you in this room and those who are not here today, those who are online and Chairman Hendrick, I don’t know what to do without your new idioms to add to my language , and Judge (Assad), I don’t know what to do without your investment advice.”
Lombardo is expected to appoint a new member in the coming weeks. Board representatives said they had no idea who Lombardo might consider for the appointment.
Watkins said she chose not to seek reappointment to the position after her term expires Jan. 26.
“I just think it’s time for me to move on,” Watkins said during a break in Wednesday’s meeting.
Watkins, an attorney, said she’s not sure what she’ll do next.
“I’m honestly excited about the opportunities and possibilities,” she said. “My mind is open, but I’m not sure yet what I want to do.”
For a brief period, Watkins served as interim board chairman the month before Hendrick was appointed.
Watkins was thrust into an unwanted spotlight in September when she was accused of racial discrimination in a lawsuit filed by the former head of the comptroller’s administration division.
In a lawsuit filed Sept. 16, Jaime Black, an employee of the comptroller’s board since 2014 and named to lead the administration department in June 2017, said in the seven lawsuit that she was pressured by Watkins to engage in discriminatory hiring practices, then fostered a hostile work environment when she resisted.
Black’s attorney could not be reached for comment on how or if her resignation would affect the lawsuit.
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