(CN) - Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and estranged wife Dawn Gibbons reached a divorce settlement Monday after an 18-month legal battle. Though the governor ducked a public trial, experts say he likely damaged his shot at reelection next June.
Dawn Gibbons, 55, accused the governor of using her to advance his political position and cheating on her with a former Playboy model and at least one other woman.
In early 2007, it came out that Gov. Gibbons had used his state-issued cell phone to send more than 800 text messages over several weeks. The female recipient, the estranged wife of a doctor, claimed she and the governor were just friends. Gibbons apologized and said he reimbursed the state $130.
Jim Gibbons, 65, filed for divorce in May 2008, citing incompatibility. Nevada is a no-fault divorce state.
The lengthy divorce proceedings ended a 23-year marriage and are expected to hurt Jim Gibbons' bid for reelection next June. His current approval rating is below 20 percent.
Under the settlement agreement, the couple will split their Reno home and 40 acres of land in Elko.
Dawn Gibbons is set to receive monthly payments of 25 percent of the governor's gross income for the next five years. She will also receive $275,000 to relocate. The divorced couple will sell their Reno home and 40 acres of land in Elko County. They will each claim a Model T Ford from their collection.
If the divorce is approved, it will be the first by an incumbent Nevada governor.
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