Former anti-bullying program chief to head Nevada’s aging, disability agency

CARSON CITY — Edward Ableser, former director of Nevada’s school anti-bullying program, has been appointed administrator of the Aging and Disability Services Division, agency officials confirmed Tuesday.

Ableser was appointed by Health and Human Services Department Director Richard Whitley, agency spokeswoman Chrystal Main said.

Ableser replaces Jane Gruner, who retired Aug. 22. He will be paid an annual salary of $120,564.

Ableser, a former Democratic legislator in Arizona, was the inaugural director of Nevada’s new Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment, a division within the Education Department. Creation of the office was part of Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval’s education reform package approved by the 2015 Legislature.

The Education Department posted a job announcement to fill the anti-bullying position on Aug. 23. Ableser held the job for less than a year.

Ableser attended Arizona State University and holds bachelor degrees in political science and Chinese; a master’s in counseling psychology; and a doctorate in justice and social inquiry, according to his biography on the state website.

He was appointed to the Arizona state Senate when he was 26, and served 10 years in that state’s Legislature before resigning his seat last year to take the job in Nevada. The division in a statement noted Ableser’s experience working on legislative budget committees and furthering legislation prohibiting the exploitation of seniors, individuals with autism, housing projects and community advocacy work.

Ableser is married to the daughter of U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Follow @SandraChereb on Twitter.