Steve Laden

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Steve Laden

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of California at Santa Barbara, 1982

Personal

Birthplace

San Jose, Calif.

Profession

Financial Advisor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Steve Laden ran for election to the Nevada Board of Regents to represent District 11. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Laden completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Steve Laden was born in San Jose, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1982. His career experience includes working as a financial advisor. He has been affiliated with Lions Clubs International.

Elections

2022

See also: Nevada State Board of Regents election, 2022

General election

General election for Nevada Board of Regents District 11

Jeffrey Downs defeated Steve Laden in the general election for Nevada Board of Regents District 11 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jeffrey Downs (Nonpartisan)	54.1	34,560
		Steve Laden (Nonpartisan)	45.9	29,350

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 63,910
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nevada Board of Regents District 11

Jeffrey Downs and Steve Laden defeated John Gwaltney in the primary for Nevada Board of Regents District 11 on June 14, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jeffrey Downs (Nonpartisan)	40.9	14,145
✔		Steve Laden (Nonpartisan)	34.7	11,989
	Submit photo	John Gwaltney (Nonpartisan)	24.4	8,422

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 34,556
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Emily Ellison (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

To view Laden's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Steve Laden completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Laden's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have been a Northern Nevada business and community leader for over 30 years. I have over 20 years experience volunteering with local and state boards focused on education in Nevada. That experience includes years serving with the Education Alliance of Washoe County and the Nevada Council to Establish Academic Standards. This provides me with a deep, unbiased, business and community-based view of how we manage and deliver education in Nevada. I am a 37 year resident, married, a parent and a grandfather. I hold a degree in Business Economics and was a financial advisor for over 32 years until retiring in January 2021.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Serving as a Regent is first and foremost about our students. We must provide accessible, affordable and meaningful education through our colleges and universities. Our system of higher education provides significant pathways to allow students to pursue their life goals and dreams, and this should never take a back seat when setting priorities for our colleges and universities.
• The Board of Regents has a duty to our state and to Nevada taxpayers. Currently, the Board is asking the state for approximately $800 million for each of the next two years. Another $400 million per year comes into the system from student fees and tuition. This is a significant investment in Nevada's colleges and universities, and our state demands and deserves a return on that investment. Our graduates must be knowledgeable and skilled. They must be ready to contribute to our communities, workforce and economy. I am the one candidate with the business experience to help us achieve sound fiscal management and a high return on our investment.
• Leadership within the Nevada System of Higher Education is critical to the long-term success of our colleges and universities. The Board will have a new chairperson and new Chancellor in 2023. The Board must establish a clear strategic plan, develop a meaningful value proposition and speak with a unified voice. Leadership must then work to rebuild positive, constructive relationships with our elected representatives, business interests, faculty and staff, and the community at-large. The aim must be to stabilize and secure state funding, enhance community and business support, adequately recognize our dedicated on-campus professionals and promote student achievement.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about public policy relating to education at all levels. Since the Nevada System of Higher Education is populated mainly by Nevada citizens, what happens at the K-12 level is of utmost importance to Nevada’s colleges and universities. In the long-run, how we educate our students at all levels is one of the primary factors in determining the quality of our state, economy and society as a whole.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This is the constitutionally mandated body that governs all of higher education in Nevada. Top-flight colleges and universities allow our students to pursue their life's dreams, are critical to the health of our state's economy and social fabric. Sound philosophical and fiscal management of our system of higher education is foundational to our long-term success.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My mother. As a first generation college graduate in the late 50's, she was an early challenger to the glass ceiling. Over her career, she emerged as a business and community leader. She was mayor of my hometown and owned her own business for many years. For her generation, these were high accomplishments for a woman who was also a dedicated wife and mother.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To truly serve our communities, an elected official should possess high moral standards, an open, inquisitive and analytical mind, and the willingness to step forward as a leader. They most certainly should have no conflicts of interest.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I spent 32 years as a financial advisor. This required highly tuned communication skills. It also centered on my ability to build relationships and earn trust. As the past president of several organizations and foundations, I've also honed my skills as a leader, goal setter, and team builder.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A Regent needs to step forward as a champion for higher education. They must establish long-term goals, define the culture of the system, build relationships with stakeholders, manage the business of high education and higher the right campus and system leaders.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered for making a positive contribution to our community.

What is your favorite book? Why?

East of Eden. Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors and this is his favorite novel. It serves as an example of great American literature. I believe a college graduate, from any discipline, should have a broad education, including knowledge of great American literature.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

A Regent must maintain a clear focus on student achievement, including keeping our campuses accessible and affordable for our population. A Regent must further exercise leadership and management skills capable of guiding the sizeable business of higher education. They must be responsible for effectively working with all stakeholders, including students, faculty and staff, elected officials and business and community leaders, to ensure a healthy and vibrant future for our colleges and universities.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Regents are directly responsible for hiring and retaining the campus presidents and the system's Chancellor. These people are the key drivers of the culture and success of each campus within the system.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. Leadership, knowledge and drive do not have to emanate from government or political positions.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I believe a Regent must be a leader, communicator, manager and team builder. They must also come to the position with an informed, unbiased, holistic view of our state's higher education system.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Nevada Board of Regents District 11

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