Barrick taps Greenspun for board, mining new resources for its state lobbying efforts

Canadian mining giant Barrick has tapped Brian Greenspun for its board, creating yet another conflict for the Las Vegas Sun publisher who already is hopelessly compromised because of his closeness to Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid and because of his entrance into the medical marijuana business.

Barrick Vice President Michael Brown, in an email gushing about the news, told folks that Greenspun is the first Nevadan ever appointed to the board, coming, coincidentally, a few months before a ballot question that could remove mining taxation from the state Constitution. (Editorial in opposition to follow?)

"The news about Brian is another major step in our effort to shift Barrick from a rural company to an 'All Nevada' company," Brown exulted.

And, why, pray tell, would they want to do that now, of all times? Perhaps the hurting company wants to tap Greenspun's financial acumen? Or could it have something to do with that ballot question and GOP state Senate candidates making mining taxation a central issue?

I love this line, too, from Brown about Barrick Chairman John Thornton: "John is very keen on running Barrick with a partnership culture and so the external partnerships we have built with Communities in Schools, Public Education Foundation, Springs Preserve, Nevada Ballet, Opportunity Village, Council for A Better Nevada and Three Square Food Bank will become more important to us."

Translation: The more we can neuter potential Southern Nevada opponents with our charitable good works and now with the hiring of a newspaper publisher, the more likely Nevada will never increase our taxes."

Greenspun did not respond to a request for comment.

Brown told me via email: "Our new Chairman, John Thornton, has known and worked with Brian through Brookings for many years.  It was felt that it was time to have a Nevadan on the board of directors and someone with in-depth knowledge of the state."

So the Sun, which has some great young talent, is now suspect on tracking the two major races on the 2016 ballot, the biggest new enterprise in the state and coverage of a major industry with much at stake in Campaign '14 and Session '15.

Thank God Brian saved the Sun.

The full Brown email:

 

Yesterday it was announced that Brian Greenspun has joined the Board of Directors of Barrick.  This is great news. Brian is the first Nevadan to ever serve on the Barrick board and it shows how deeply committed our Chairman John Thornton is to Nevada.  Brian has served with John on the national board of the Brookings Institution for many years and the two of them collaborated with the Lincy Foundation to bring Brookings to Las Vegas.

In related news, you might have seen that John has revamped Barrick’s leadership by creating two co-president positions.  One is held by our former Chief Operating Officer, Jim Gowen, and the other by my boss, Kelvin Dushnisky.  Both report directly to John.  The position of CEO has been abolished.  My role as Executive Director USA is slated to further expand.  I will know more after Labor Day. 

John is very keen on running Barrick with a partnership culture and so the external partnerships we have built with Communities in Schools, Public Education Foundation, Springs Preserve, Nevada Ballet, Opportunity Village, Council for A Better Nevada and Three Square Food Bank will become more important to us.  To help with all of this we are moving Leslie Maple to Las Vegas as a full-time manager for communications and community affairs.  For the short-term she will office at R&R Partners. 

These are exciting times at Barrick.  The news about Brian is another major step in our effort to shift Barrick from a rural company to an “All Nevada” company.

Best wishes. 

Michael Brown

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