Gibbons is a five-term congressman, representing Nevada's 2nd District since 1996. Prior to that, Gibbons served three terms in the Nevada Assembly and has held private-sector positions as a hydrologist and an airline pilot. Gibbons also is a decorated military airman, flying in both the Vietnam and Gulf wars.

After spending 10 years in Washington, Gibbons decided to turn his attention back to Nevada, and polls indicate he is the front-runner in the Republican primary race for governor.

Gibbons talked to In Business Las Vegas about his campaign for governor and what he hopes to bring to the Nevada business community.

Question: What can you bring to the Nevada business person that your opponents can't bring?

Answer: I think first of all, federal and state experience in the legislative process, knowing and understanding the state of Nevada as I have grown up and was educated here, vast experience and background and education throughout the state of Nevada. My experience involves all cities and counties in the state of Nevada. Plus Washington, D.C., representing the state of Nevada, coming home every weekend, talking to constituents and representing their interests both on the state and the federal level.

As a congressman, what do you think has been your most important contribution to the Nevada business person?

I would like to believe that helping small business by reducing income taxes, reducing capital gains taxes and improving the security environment for businesses throughout the state of Nevada—by that, I mean helping with Homeland Security issues—creating a more stable environment for the state of Nevada. I think when I look back at all of my experience, one that I'm really proud of is the Gibbons Tax Restraint Initiative which passed by an overwhelming majority, putting a two-thirds supermajority on the Legislature before it could make taxes increase. I believe that the Gibbons Tax Restraint Initiative is the underlying reason why we don't have a gross receipts tax in the state of Nevada today.

Polls say you are the front-runner in the gubernatorial race. To what do you attribute your strength in Nevada's rural counties?

Well, having represented all or portions of 17 counties in Nevada for the last 10 years, I think just the fact that I come home every weekend and talk to those constituents, I've listened to their concerns and represented them for 10 years in Washington, D.C., they know who I am. I've tried to be there for their concerns and deal with their issues over the last 10 years. We have a very strong working relationship with local officials in every county. It has been that experience and that connection with the people in rural Nevada that I have taken with a very deep concern and a great deal of pride in accomplishing and being there for them.

Critics say because you are the frontrunner, you are reluctant to participate in debates that could hurt your standing. Your response?

(Laughs). I don't have a response because it doesn't deserve a response. We have said we will debate, we've agreed to debate. I think it's disingenuous for people to ask for debates when all of the candidate field has not been completed with regard to the governor's race. I think anybody's who interested in running for governor should have an opportunity—and I think the public deserves to have an opportunity for a debate. But it would be unfair to somebody who joins the governor's race after the debates have already begun. So I feel an obligation to the voters to make sure the field is complete so that they see the candidates. The filing deadline is in May.

What's your stance on the Tax and Spending Control for Nevada amendment to the state's Constitution? Why did it take so long for you to reach a position on it?

First of all, let me say that it took them three times drafting it and submitting the public document before they got it right. It went to the court to determine whether or not that final draft was finished. It is a very complicated document and it's not a perfect document. While I am a very strong believer in controlling government spending—we need to have a small, efficient and effective government—I don't believe that adding an imperfect document to the Constitution is the correct way to do what these people want to do.

What's imperfect about it?

The way it's written. It's not a perfect document. When you look at the complexities of how it is enacted, how it enforces small rural communities as well as urban communities, how it enforces determinations of population and how that ratio is effected on the state. It's a very complex document.

So one size doesn't fit all?

Precisely. And I think what we need is true leadership in the governor's mansion that says I will, as governor, submit budgets that are within the means of the state of Nevada and the taxpayers of the state.

Your campaign so far has endured a number of public gaffes, but they haven't seemed to affect your credibility. To what do you attribute this Ronald Reagan-like Teflon quality?

I believe that goes back to the fact that I have represented most of the people in 17 counties for 10 years. Yes, we all make mistakes, and I've apologized, but one thing I'll never apologize for is supporting our troops and doing what I think in my heart is right.

The most common complaint business people have about Nevada is that its workforce isn't as educated as others. Should the state spend more for education and how should it be accounted for?

I think first of all, we need to put a greater emphasis on K-12 and getting children excited and educated in math and sciences so that they bring a broader capability to their life when they graduate from high school. I think we also need to expand and improve our community college system so that those high school graduates that aren't necessarily interested in going to the university will have an opportunity to get a technical skill that will help them in a profession that will make a big improvement in their future.

What are your thoughts on Gov. Kenny Guinn's Millennium Scholarship program? Would you continue it as governor?

It's a good idea. We do need to give children an opportunity for a college education. I would continue it. I think we need to look at all of the things that can be done or should be done in order to maintain that. And I plan to work with the state Legislature to enact measures that will ensure the survivability of the Millennium Scholarship.

What do you consider to be the biggest waste of money in the state government's budget?

To be quite honest with you, there are a lot of little things that are there, but which one is the largest? There's a lot of efficiencies that can be invoked, but I'm not sure how to quantify what is the largest waste of funding in the state right now.

Conversely, in what areas are Nevada residents really getting their money's worth in the budget?

Anytime you look at performance of the state of Nevada, our transportation system comes to mind. Our highway systems have been voted some of the best in the country. We've done a good job in rural Nevada making sure the highway infrastructure serves the businesses out there. I think the state of Nevada has done a great job with economic diversification in terms of getting new businesses to come to the state of Nevada.

What are your thoughts on the state's Economic Development programs? How can the state offer better incentives to companies to locate their businesses here?

We can do several things. One, we have to show that we have a government that is less invasive, less intrusive in terms or regulatory restriction, yet helpful in making sure businesses comply with the laws and allowing them to be successful. I think making taxes as low as possible is an enormously important aspect of attracting new businesses to the state. But that has to be coupled with an educated workforce. Without an educated workforce, companies won't move to the state, even if its favorable in its tax status to other states. One of the big goals that this state must continue is improving its educated workforce. It's a priority for the state, it's a priority for me. That's why I put out the effort for the Education First initiative.

With competition so rigorous, shouldn't the state be putting much more money into it?

Economic incentives to attract business to the state of Nevada are critical and we need to make those differences with other states, like California, who haven't done this project right at all. If you want to look at a state that has done everything wrong, look at California. We need to be able to attract those businesses, we need to be able to get the information out there to those businesses that Nevada really truly is the shining beacon on a hill for new businesses to come to the state. There are ways to get the information out about the state of Nevada and one of the ways is through commercial advertising and we've done that throughout the country and Nevada has profited well by that effort and we should continue the effort of telling people about the great things that are going on in this country's greatest state economy. I just think we have to let people know. This is the best place in the United States to do business. We want your business here.

Are you satisfied with the pace of diversifi cation?

I think there are areas in Nevada that are doing very, very well. Some of our rural counties, like Lyon County and Storey County are really leaping ahead in terms of their efforts. We have counties that are doing very well and we have counties that are trying to catch up. We've got to make sure that we allow for economic development in every county in this state. The state has a role to play in making sure we treat everybody fairly and equally and that's what I plan to do as the next governor of the state of Nevada.

What is best business diversifi cation opportunity on Nevada's horizon in the next five years?

I think there are several. First of all, I think biotechnology is going to be important. Nanotechnology, biotechnology will be enormously important. The electronics industry will be extremely important. I really truly see the energy industry being enormously important to add jobs to diversify the economy of the state of Nevada. We are going to certainly have a great need for resources in energy, whether that's geothermal, solar, wind, fossil fuel energy systems in Nevada. We're certainly going to have to be looking at all those energy sources to help fuel the continuation of this great economy. The No. 1 challenge is going to be cost.

How has the rising cost of living affected the state's — and particularly Las Vegas' — ability to compete in the economic development arena with cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque and Austin, Texas?

The rising cost of living here is two-fold. No. 1 is housing costs. It's very difficult for entry-level workers to find suitable housing when they bring their families here. That's something we must address. Health-care costs are another rising issue that small businesses are going to have to address because that is a quality-of-life indicator just as housing is. People want to have health care and, as a result, it makes it challenging for small businesses to attract new employees when they cannot find housing or health care that they can afford for those employees.

How do we address attaining more affordable housing?

Housing is a function of two things. It's a function of the cost of supplies, the steel the concrete and all those things which go into the material makeup of housing. The other aspect is the cost of the underlying land. What we need to do is get the federal government to understand that obligation and hold down the cost per acre of sale of public land. No other state but Nevada has 87 percent, approximately, of land owned and managed by the federal government. That fences every community in this state in by the federal government. When the federal government decides when it's going to hold every little square inch only available to the highest bidder, that demand puts an enormous pressure on the product at the end of the day, which is called a home. We need to get the federal government to start releasing more land more quickly to relieve the pressure and the demand for that land so that we can bring the price downs.

Should Nevada continue to invest money in the development of tourism from China?

I'd like to believe we can invest in the people of the state of Nevada first. There are a lot of benefits of looking at programs and aspects of the Nevada economy and making sure Nevada is well-suited of taking advantage of the opportunities that we're building here in the state of Nevada. There's no doubt about it that this is a global economy and I think we can't focus on one economy to draw from. There are a number of other economies and other population segments in other countries that are adequately suited to coming to Nevada and taking advantage of our tourism and entertainment.

So if I'm hearing you right, you're saying don't put all the eggs in the China basket?

I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.

Do you feel there is a need for ethics reform in government?

Certainly. Ethics reform needs to be part of rebuilding the public trust in government at all levels. I think openness and full disclosure are necessary when we look at what we do on the federal level. Within the last 14 days before an election, there is a requirement that you file electronically every 24 hours. We could do that in the state of Nevada. We need to disclose every contribution, not just those contributions above $100 or whatever figure you want to determine. The public deserves to know where a candidate gets its money from before the election, not after the election. Open, full disclosure and timely disclosure are a critical component of the public having the full knowledge and trust in the political process.

What are the biggest challenges facing small-business owners? How would you solve those problems?

No. 1 is going to be making sure we have an educated workforce. No. 2 is making sure that we can afford health care for those workers because of the quality-of-life issues and No. 3 would be affordable housing. Those three things encompass a lot of work and a lot of opportunity within the state of Nevada.

Assess some of your opponents in the primary election: state Sen. Bob Beers?

Bob's an economist. He certainly has spent time in the state Legislature learning the budget process. Bob is knowledgeable on spending in the state of Nevada. He's been there a number of years and understands spending as part of his experience.

And Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt?

Lorraine is a wonderful lady. She's a personal friend and I like her. She's been a friend for a number of years. She's done a great job with economic development and tourism as lieutenant governor.

Assuming that you win the Republican nomination for governor, would you expect the gaming industry to back you ?

We have backing from the gaming industry today. They're very much interested as the state's No. 1 industry in making sure that we have good government. They, like any other business, have some issues they need to be concerned with as anyone else would have, and they want to make sure that their government does the right thing. I know I've worked on issues for them over the past, whether in the state Legislature or in the federal Legislature.

Some have said that while you would make a good governor, the state would lose a lot at the federal level if you left Congress.

(Laughs). I'd like to think whoever it is who follows in the 2nd Congressional District seat is as capable as I am and as hard-working as I am. And, believe me, my wife is running for that; I'm a 110 percent supporter of hers and I think she'd do a wonderful job. There's an opportunity for fresh, new ideas for Washington. I'm coming back to run for governor because I know the state of Nevada, I know the opportunities and I know the challenges that we have and I think I'm the best candidate to take Nevada into the 21st century to make sure that we optimize those opportunities.