Mr. Richard Bunker

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Richard Bunker was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. Most of Mr. Bunker's career has been with local governments in Nevada.

He was Assistant City Manager for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Manager, serving as legislative lobbyist for both entities before being appointed by Governor Robert List to the State Gaming Control Board in January 1979. He assumed the chairmanship 1980.

After leaving local government, Mr. Bunker held senior management positions in several gaming hotels in Las Vegas. He established a business and public affairs consulting firm in 1987. Mr. Bunker assumed the presidency of the Nevada Resort Association in early 1990.

During his tenure at the Nevada Resort Association, Mr. Bunker served on the Board of Trustees for the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union Welfare/Pension Funds. He was also a Director of the United Labor Agency of Nevada, an assistance organization of local union members and their families. He retired from these positions in January 2002.

In 1993, he received the prestigious Distinguished Nevadan of the Year award from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Anti-Defamation League honored Mr. Bunker with the Distinguished Community Service Award in 1996.

Appointed by Democratic Governor Bob Miller to the Colorado River Commission in 1993, Mr. Bunker was made Chairman of the Commission in 1997. As part of the Governor's negotiating team for additional Colorado River water resources, he worked with six other Colorado River Basin states and the federal Bureau of Reclamation to establish programs allowing interstate banking in the Lower Colorado River Basin and also helped establish the Interim Surplus Guidelines. In 2001, Republican Governor Kenny Guinn reappointed Mr. Bunker to another term on the Commission.

During Mr. Bunker's tenure as Chairman of the Commission, the state of Nevada has taken a more aggressive role in the procurement of electrical power. In 1996, the Commission partnered with the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build the Newport Substation, which provides electrical power for the regional water system. The Commission also began purchasing power for the Authority, saving ratepayers approximately $30 million in 2001-2002.

In June 1999, Mr. Bunker was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nevada Gaming Attorneys and the Clark County Bar Association in recognition of his contributions to the gaming industry as a gaming regulator, chief executive of gaming resorts, and president of the nation's leading gaming industry association.

Mr. Bunker retired from day-to-day operation of the Nevada Resort Association in November 1999 to spend more time with family and his public affairs consulting business, Bunker and Associates. He continued as senior consultant at the Association through 2001.

He was the 2000 recipient of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center's Humanitarian Award, given in recognition of his work to foster human welfare and champion social reform. He now serves on National Jewish's Council of National Trustees.

Mr. Bunker and his wife, Carole, reside in Las Vegas. They have four children and nine grandchildren.