Gov. Brian Sandoval says he told someone recently that he is a “lion in winter,” a reference to that wonderful film about an aging king fretting about who will succeed him.

As I chatted with Sandoval on Tuesday evening at our first IndyTalks event, I realized something: This may be a Nevada royal whose mane is grayer as he enters the last season of his elective career, but this is also a political animal who already feels liberated from the zoo.

The governor was reflective and introspective, seemingly comfortable with where he has been and what he has done, even as he is uncertain of where he is going. He was emotional when talking about what he saw in the wake of the Oct. 1 shooting and also when he said he regretted how he had handled mental health issues, which he said were the catalyst for him opting into Obamacare.

It was a remarkable hour on stage with one of the state’s most successful elected officials, one where he revealed much about his career and his decisions and why it will be impossible for him, much like Henry II, to choose a successor.

So much of what he said appeared to be a man letting down his guard and willing to talk candidly. (I am hopeful that this first IndyTalks event – we will do them at least quarterly – will set the bar for the kind of elevated discussion we had Tuesday evening at the Smith Center.)

Here is some of what Sandoval said -- the full video is below:

---On being called a RINO (Republican In Name Only): A man who has so often chafed at the pervasive artificiality and reflexive partisanship of politics couldn’t help but chuckle when he said, “I don’t have to go to many Lincoln Day dinners anymore.” Sandoval said he considers himself a conservative and “a proud Republican.”

When he claimed to be a “fiscal conservative,” I wondered about how that jibed with passing the largest tax in history and he retorted: “That was invested in every child in Nevada, and I will never apologize for that.”

The diverse crowd applauded loudly.

Sandoval acknowledged he learned the lesson of how different it is “from being a candidate and governing” after promising not to raise taxes when the state was in a recession. As for being called a RINO, he said, “You know what? If it means I’m a RINO and the decisions I made better health care and kids have better education, and the state’s in a better fiscal position than it’s ever been, then: Guilty as charged…I’d rather get an honest boo than a hollow cheer.”

It was hard not to think of the political Lilliputians, from their nearly invisible blogs or e-mail blasts, firing their tiny arrows at Sandoval, who as he put it, “expended a lot of political capital” on that tax increase because he believed it would help the state he so obviously loves.

---On President Trump: When I asked whether he looks at what Trump is doing in DC and wakes up in the morning and shakes his head, Sandoval said: “I do.” When I asked if he had ever had a meaningful conversation with Trump, the governor said (to much laughter): “I’ve had a conversation.”

When the crowd’s delight quieted, the ever-classy Sandoval said, “Yes, I’ve had a meaningful conversation.” By then it was not believable. (He did praise Trump for calling him after Oct. 1 and then visiting Las Vegas.)

Sandoval, who could not be more different from Trump, mentioned he had worked as an intern in 1984 and was a disciple of then. Sen. Paul Laxalt.

His approach, learned from Laxalt and the late legislative leaders Bill Raggio and Joe Dini, and one dying in DC and Carson City: “Work together to solve problems but be principled at the same time.”

That does not sound like the president.

---On economic development: Sandoval touted the benefits of Tesla, which he said were transformative in Northern Nevada, although he acknowledged skyrocketing home prices. He also gave no quarter on the Raiders stadium or the use of public money, saying that was what room tax should be spent on and that the job creation and money generated by the facility will help fund education.

Sandoval was cryptic on his offer to Amazon to come here, but he seemed to realistically believe Nevada has a shot. “Our offer will not require a special session, nor take us out of any statutory regime,” he said. He implied that the changing dynamic of the state with so many companies coming and the tools legislators have put into law will be enough to put Las Vegas in the finals.

“It’s not just about the money (incentives),” he said. “I believe we are one of top candidates, given the constellation of assets.”

Hard to believe, but he seemed adamant and serious.

---On education: Is he proud of the state’s system? “I’m more proud than I was before,” the governor said. “We have a long ways to go.”

Sandoval catalogued all of the improvements and investments and said that the state’s graduation rate “has improved more than anywhere, but we’re still one of the worst.” He acknowledged the ship was sinking, but added, “I didn’t want this to be the zero moment where the ship sank. I think we righted the ship.”

And then he added, showing how much he considers this so essential to his legacy, “I assure you I am going to watch very closely what the gubernatorial candidates will be saying.”

On school choice, he touted the $20 million increase in funding for Opportunity Scholarships (a program to allow poor children to choose a different school), and said he decided not to hold up the session for Education Savings Accounts because districts needed to set their budgets, the stalemate would have gone on and it would cause “people to lose trust and faith (in government).”

When I pushed him a bit, Sandoval insisted “there was a deal” to fund ESAs and “somebody else blew that up…..I did tell somebody you are going to want those five minutes back…You have got to know when to say ‘yes’ to a deal.”

There was clear frustration in his voice, and while he would not name the person, there were rumblings at the end of the session that Sandoval and other Republicans believed state Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford had reneged on a deal. (Ford denied it.)

---On social issues: Sandoval, a Catholic, said he had not evolved on abortion – he has always been pro-choice. “At the end of the day, I believe that decision is up to a woman” he said. “It’s her body, it’s her decision.” And on gay marriage, where he said he has changed his mind, he said, “My best friends are gay. They deserve to be happy, they deserve to have the partner of their choice....That’s where I am now.”

When I asked him why he opposed pot legalization when an argument could be made that gambling is even more addictive, Sandoval said he had never smoked marijuana but believed it to be a gateway drug. “I have had the benefit of serving as a judge, and when I did my sentencings, marijuana was almost always involved as a gateway.”

He also revealed that he had talked to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in February about cracking down on states. But he would not say what Sessions told him, insisting there was “a gentleman’s agreement that what was said in that room would stay in that room.” (I think the implication was Sessions would not come to Nevada to shut down pot businesses, but I’m not sure.)

On guns, Sandoval said he was not an owner, but he opposed Question 1 and insisted that the background checks issue is not black and white. He also revealed that the Department of Public Safety is doing free checks on private transactions if they are requested, which surprised me considering all the post-initiative legal wrangling.

---On the Legislature: Sandoval said he had “taken the bait” on term limits but now realizes what a mistake they are and how much they have enfeebled the legislative process. He acknowledged what a “huge advantage” that gives a governor – he supports limited budget sessions in off-years but not full time legislators.

Sandoval was even stronger than he has been in opposing the proposed recalls of two Democratic state senators (one already has failed), saying they are “horrible policy, and it’s opened a door that won’t get shut again. It just kind of escalates the bad side of politics.”

And then he went even further: “I don’t always agree with those legislators they are attempting to recall (Joyce Woodhouse and Nicole Cannizarro) , but I respect them…I hope these recalls fail…Those that are supporting them should have been a little bit more vocal about why they are doing that…..When the shoe’s put on the other foot, I think some people are going to be sorry they opened that door.”

This is the top Republican in the state pointing out how disingenuous state Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson and his cronies have been and firmly opposing what they are doing, saying it will undermine the political process. How many governors would take on a cabal of elected officials in his own party?

---On endorsements: Sandoval is all in for Sen. Dean Heller, and he scoffed at any notion the incumbent wouldn’t file and he might. “I will not be on a ballot in 2018.” (He said he wants to teach at Boyd School of Law.)

On his successor, Sandoval said he is very upset about talk of repealing the Commerce Tax, which he said infused a needed $400 million into the budget and stabilized the state’s fiscal situation. He suggested whoever proposed to repeal it should have to come up with a place to find that money.

And although he clearly loves Paul Laxalt, Sandoval obviously has no affection for his grandson. When I asked if he would endorse Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who wants to get rid of the Commerce Tax, Sandoval at first demurred saying he hadn’t made a choice and would “see what the candidates have to say.”

Then this:

“I am not going to support a candidate who is going to seek to undo what we have done in the last seven years. I’m not going to do it."

Does he consider repealing the Commerce Tax undoing his what he has done?

“Yes,” said the governor.

The lion in winter does not want the grandson of his political hero to be his successor. That's an even better movie.

Jon Ralston is the editor of The Nevada Independent. He has been covering Nevada politics for more than 30 years. Contact him at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ralstonreports

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Here’s the full video: