Every kid deserves a real shot at a good life. Not just a diploma. Not just a pep talk. A real pathway to a stable, high-paying career right here in Nevada.
That’s why, if I’m elected to the State Assembly, I intend to pursue something practical and long overdue:
A true pipeline from our high schools into skilled trades like electrical, construction, HVAC, and mechanical work.
Not another feel-good program. Not another task force.
A pipeline that actually leads to jobs.
College isn’t the only road to success
For years, we’ve told students there’s only one way to make it: take on debt, go to college, and hope for the best.
But here’s what parents already know.
Plenty of great careers don’t require four years at a university. Electricians. HVAC techs. Welders. Mechanics. Construction supervisors.
These are honest jobs that pay well.
Many start at $60,000 a year and can climb past six figures with experience. And they don’t come with mountains of student loans.
Meanwhile, Nevada contractors are desperate for workers. Housing projects stall. Repairs get delayed. Businesses can’t expand.
That’s a problem we can fix.
“Don’t we already do this?”
That’s the first objection I hear.
Some will point to Career and Technical Education programs through the Nevada Department of Education.
Others will mention apprenticeships run by labor groups like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, or workforce grants handled by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
They’re not wrong. Pieces exist. But pieces aren’t a pipeline.
Right now, everything is scattered.
Schools teach classes, but don’t guarantee jobs.
Unions train apprentices, but most kids don’t find them until after graduation.
State agencies hand out grants, but no one owns the outcome.
There’s no single system responsible for taking a student from classroom → paid training → licensing → permanent employment.
That’s the gap. What I’m proposing connects those dots.
If elected, my goal is simple: build a clear path that starts in high school and ends with a real paycheck.
Here’s how:
Start before graduation
Juniors and seniors should be able to earn safety certifications, begin trade coursework, and log apprentice hours while still in school.
They shouldn’t graduate hoping for work. They should graduate with a job lined up.
Bring employers in first
This only works if local electrical, HVAC, construction, and mechanical companies commit up front.
Not later. Not maybe. Before anything moves forward, we’d seek written commitments from employers willing to train and hire.
If businesses truly need workers, they’ll step up.
Make it paid
Training shouldn’t mean working for free. Students deserve to earn while they learn. Even modest wages help families and teach responsibility.
Cut red tape
Nevada’s licensing process can be slow and confusing.
For students coming through approved programs, we should streamline credentials so they can get to work faster.
That’s not lowering standards. That’s removing pointless delays.
The big question: who pays?
Some critics will say this sounds expensive. Here’s the truth.
Nevada already spends millions every year on workforce programs. Much of it comes from federal funds that often disappear into consultants, studies, and paperwork.
My approach doesn’t require a massive new tax or bloated bureaucracy.
Instead, we’d:
- Redirect existing workforce dollars toward high-school-to-trade pipelines
- Tie funding to real job placements, not attendance sheets
- Require employers to help cover training and wages
- Use school facilities and instructors already in place
- Add only small, performance-based state support when students actually complete training and get hired
Same money. Better results. And no blank checks. If a program doesn’t produce workers, it doesn’t get funded.
That’s fiscal accountability.
What we won’t do
Let me be clear about what I don’t support:
No new agencies. No endless studies. No “awareness” campaigns. No checks written without results.
Nevada doesn’t need more bureaucracy. We need outcomes. This is about dignity, not dependency.
Some on the left love to talk about “equity.” I care about opportunity.
This plan gives young people something far more powerful than a government program. It gives them skills, paychecks, and pride in their work.
It helps families stay rooted in Nevada. It helps small businesses grow. It strengthens public safety by creating stable careers. And it respects taxpayers by demanding results.
That’s conservative governance. Limited government. Personal responsibility. Real opportunity.
If voters send me to Carson City, I’ll work with schools, employers, and workforce leaders to build this pipeline the right way.
Not with slogans. With contracts, commitments, and measurable outcomes.
Every kid deserves a real shot at success. Let’s give them one – right here in Nevada.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
