The Mineral County Board of Commissioners seat that has been empty for several months has apparently been filled with the appointment of Hawthorne resident Tina Manzini. The local business owner was sworn in sometime last week.
The Commissioners seat has been vacant since November 10, 2023, when former Mineral County Commissioner Cassie Hall resigned following allegations of misuse of spending with her Mineral County credit card. She said in her resignation letter that she would be moving out of state, and a criminal investigation was launched.
The Nevada Governor’s Office was notified of Hall’s leaving, and it was up to them to appoint a replacement since remaining MC Commissioners Curtis Schlepp and Larry Grant opted out of making any recommendations.
However, there seemed to be no timeframe for Governor Joe Lombardo to appoint anyone to the seat. In the meantime, both Schlepp and Grant had to vote ‘yes’ for any motion to pass since Hall’s absence automatically meant a ‘nay’ vote.
On November 29, 2023, Governor’s Office Press Secretary Elizabeth Ray said that two candidates sent a Letter of Interest to serve on the Board and one person called in. Five applications were submitted to fill the seat. Ray would not say who applied.
She said, “Our office is in the process of reviewing the applications that have been submitted and looks forward to advancing the appointment process”. That was the last communication with the Governor’s Office had with the MCIN until the MCIN caught word that Governor Lombardo appointed Tina Manzini to fill the vacant seat last week.
At press time for this article, the Governor’s Office would not comment on anything regarding Manzini’s appointment to the Board of Commissioners yet indicated they would be sending a press release out about it. Manzini could not be reached for comment to confirm the appointment.
