Chris Giunchigliani

(pronounced june-kil-e-on-e)

500 Grand Central Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-455-3500

Biography

Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani has lived in Clark County for more than 29 years. During her time here, Chris has become deeply involved in the community as a member of numerous boards, committees and organizations, as well as serving as a member of the State Assembly from 1990 until 2006.

Chris earned a BA degree in special education from Avila College in Kansas City, Mo. in 1976, and later attended UNLV where she earned a Master’s degree in education with a special emphasis on the emotionally disturbed. She has also compiled more than 50 additional credit hours in post-graduate work.

Her teaching career began in the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, where she taught from 1976 to 1978, and then moved to Clark County to be a special education teacher. Chris was a special education teacher here from 1979 to 1983 and again from 1991 until the spring of 2003. She then spent about a year at the Community College of Southern Nevada in School District and Community Relations, before returning to the Clark County School District in 2005 as a special education facilitator and mentor to new teachers at Bridger Middle School.  She then went back to teaching at Carroll Johnston Middle School until applying for an unpaid leave of absence in June 2007

Chris’ extensive experience with various boards, committees and associations includes serving as president of the Clark County Education Association from 1983 to 1987, and then as president of the Nevada State Education Association from 1987 to 1991.

Chris was sworn into office as County Commissioner for District “E” on Jan. 2, 2007, and will serve a four-year term. 

On January 5, 2009, Commissioner Giunchigliani was selected by her fellow commissioners to serve in the following capacities:

• Chair – Redevelopment Agency
• Chair – Southern Nevada District Board of Health (until June 30, 2009)
• Vice Chair – University Medical Center of Southern Nevada Board of Trustees
• Vice Chair – Kyle Canyon Water District Board of Trustees
• Member – Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition
• Member – Criminal Justice Advisory
• Member – Regional Transportation Commission/Regional Flood Control District

As a Clark County Commissioner, Chris also serves on the following regional boards:

• Las Vegas Valley Water District Board of Directors
• Clark County Water Reclamation District
• Liquor & Gaming Licensing Board

As a Clark County Commissioner, Chris has served in the following capacities:

• Member – Metropolitan Police Committee on Fiscal Affairs
• Member – Southern Nevada Water Authority 

Chris’ previous public and community service also has included:

• Member – Clark Towers Board of Directors, a privately owned, nonprofit, low-income senior housing project, starting in 2003
• Member – Advisory Board for Maternal and Child Health, starting in 2003
• Member – Department of Corrections Re-entry Steering Committee, starting in 2004
• Circle Park Steering Committee, 2003-2004
• Appointed to serve on the University Council on Teacher Education
• Mount Charleston Volunteer Association, Inc.
• Member – National Youth Sports Program Board of Directors
• Member – United Way Review and Allocations Committee
• Member – Clark County Community Block Grant Committee S
• Selected as a Young Political Leader to tour India and Pakistan and share ideas about American democracy
• Elected as Nevada Delegate to the National Democratic Convention (1984)
• Clark County deputy voter registrar
• Bell Ringer, Salvation Army Christmas Campaign
• State PTA Board of Managers, Consulting Member
• Member – Latin Chamber of Commerce
• Member – Hispanics in Politics
• Member – NAACP
• Member – Vegas Valley Business and Professional Women
• Member – American Association of University Women
• Member – AFAN
• Member – People for the American Way
• Member – Seniors United
• Member – ACLU
• Life Member – Sierra Club
• Member – National Women's Political Caucus
• Member – National Education Association
• Member – Nevada State Education Association
• Member – Clark County Education Association
• Nevada Empowered Women's Project
• Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
• Democratic Central Committee
• National Organization for Women

 Her elected and appointed positions include:

• Appointed – Committee to Study the Fiscal Affairs of State and Local Government by Governor Richard Bryan
• Appointed – Council on Narcotics Control and Drug Abuse by Governor Richard Bryan
• Appointed –Trust Fund for the Education of Pupils by Governor Richard Bryan
• Appointed – Governor's Commission on Excellence in Education by Governor Bob Miller
• Appointed – Task Force on Student Truancy by District Attorney Stewart Bell
• Chris was first elected to the Nevada State Assembly in 1990, and while a legislator held Democratic Central Committee
• Speaker Pro Tempore – Nevada State Assembly
• Vice-Chair – Ways and Means Committee
• Vice-Chair – Growth and Infrastructure Committee
• Member – Interim Finance Committee
• Member – Committee on Commerce and Labor
• Chair – Elections, Procedures and Ethics
• Chair – Labor and Management Committee for three terms
• Member – Taxation Committee
• Member – Ways and Means Committee
• Member – Legislative Commission (manages the legislature when not in session)

Throughout the years, Chris has received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts,
including:

• 2004 Friend of Education Award, Nevada State Education Association
• 2003 Citizen of the Month, City of Las Vegas
• 2003 Freedom Fighter Award, Martin Luther King Committee
• 2003 100% Voting Record Award, Nevada Conservation League
• 2002 Profiles in Courage Award, Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• 2002 Best Role Model by Las Vegas Life magazine
• 2001 Legislator of the Year, Nevada Association of Social Workers
• 2001 Legislator of the Year, Nevada Council of Police and Sheriffs
• 2001 Legislator of the Year, Nevada Highway Patrol Association
• 2001 Profile in Courage Award, Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• 2001 Legislator of the Year for Commitment to Social Justice, Nevada Association of Social Workers
• 2000 Citizen of the Month, City of Las Vegas
• 2000 Community Access to Child Health Award, American Academy of Pediatrics
• 2000 Exemplary Civic Leadership Award, Clark County School District
• 2000 Leadership Award, Oral Health Consortium of Southern Nevada
• 1999 Outstanding Legislator Award, NOW
• 1997 Distinguished Alumnus Award, UNLV Alumni Association
• 1995 Award for "Efforts on Behalf of Women,” Nevada NOW
• 1994 "Good Gal" Award, Southern Nevada Women's Political Caucus
• 1993 Legislator of the Year Award, Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs
• 1993 Award for :Outstanding Legislative Accomplishment on Behalf of Working Men and Women," Ironworkers Council
• "A Fighter and Advocate for the Little Guy" Proclamation by Governor Bob Miller declaring September 11, 1992 as Chris Giunchigliani Day
• Outstanding Service Award, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee
• UNLV Women's Center recognition
• Mike O'Callaghan Teamwork Award
• Certificate of Appreciation, Culinary Training Academy
• NSEA Member Rights Award
• Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada, Appreciation Award for "Support of Working Men and Women in Nevada"
• Legislator of the Year Award from the Nevada State AFL-CIO
• Legislator of the Year Award from the Chiropractors Association
• Women's Democratic Club Spotlight Award

Chris and her husband Gary Gray have been married since 1987 and live in Las Vegas with their English bulldogs.