Bill Dolan's gubernatorial appointment to the Pahrump Town Board may have come as a surprise to many people, but it won't be his first stint in the political arena.

Dolan's experience includes serving as an aide to North Las Vegas Mayor Montandon as part of the North Las Vegas Commission.

He was also president of the North Alliance Homeowner's Association in North Las Vegas.

Dolan served as a member of the North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as well.

In addition, he was an executive board member of the Clark County Republican Party.

Dolan also has experience campaigning for government posts.

In 2003 he ran for the North Las Vegas City Council and garnered approximately 20 percent of the vote, ultimately losing to the incumbent, Shari Buck.

The following year, Dolan ran for the District 1 State Assembly seat on an platform based on restructuring the education system. He did not win that election.

Here in Pahrump, Dolan applied for vacancies on the regional planning commission in 2006 and 2007 but did not receive the job either time.

Ironically, Dolan wrote a letter to the editor, published in this newspaper, criticizing the appointment process for that board.

The new board member seemed unconcerned about the controversy brewing over the abruptness of his appointment.

"I don't take any of it personally," Dolan said after a meeting during which several angry comments were made about the appointment. "I can assure the people I will do whatever is in my power to do, what's in the best interest for the people of the town of Pahrump," Dolan said.

"I look forward to doing my best and serving the town," Dolan said.