Thalia Dondero
(1921-2016)
First Female Clark County Commissioner
The first woman elected to the Clark County Commission, Thalia Dondero opened the doors of opportunity for countless Nevada women. She moved from California to Henderson in 1942 to work at Basic Magnesium Industries during World War II and later married Harvey Dondero, a teacher at Las Vegas High School. Together, the Donderos made many contributions to education in Nevada over the years.
As a mother of five children, she first got involved with public education at the Mayfield Grade School her children attended, where she was active in the school's Parent Teacher Organization. She was mentored by Maude Frazier, the superintendent for Las Vegas Schools, who later encouraged her to seek public office. In 1972, Dondero made her first foray into politics. Although she was defeated in an election for the Nevada State Assembly, two years later she won a seat on the Clark County Commission, eventually serving on the commission for 20 years (1974 to 1994) and acting as chair three times. As commissioner, she oversaw the expansion of McCarran International Airport and as chair of the Las Vegas Valley Water District Board, she helped the valley find available and adequate water supplies. It wasn’t easy being the first woman commissioner, and Dondero made the news by refusing to act as secretary to the male members of the commission. Her service on the Clark County Commission gave other women the opportunity to serve without facing the same discrimination she originally encountered.
Dondero's public service continued in 1996 when she was elected to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents, where she served until 2008. As a regent, she worked to improve higher education in Nevada. She was also active in many community organizations, serving as president of the Junior League and Executive Director of Frontier Girl Scouts Council. She was also appointed to the Nevada State Parks Commission and the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council, where she was instrumental in expanding state-owned recreational areas, including Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. In 2007, UNLV presented Dondero with an honorary Doctor of Law degree for her commitment to higher education and distinguished service to the community.