Commissioner Mark Gardner to seek re-election

On Friday, Douglas County Commissioner Mark Gardner announced he was seeking re-election.

“After much consideration, I am announcing my intention to run for re-election in District 3,” he said. “Serving the people of Douglas County has been an honor and a privilege, and I want to continue as part of the leadership team that keeps our county the best place to live, work, and play in our state.”

Gardner, a Topaz Ranch Estates Republican, was elected in 2020.

“Four years ago I set upon a journey to be a county commissioner,” he said. “My successful campaign centered around the theme of ‘Let’s Be Safe, Sound, and Rural.’ Three years have gone by, so accountability to the promises I made is in order.”

He said his support of construction of a new judicial center as an example of progress toward the safe portion of the promise.

“I offer the significant progress on replacing our aging Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, which outlasted its intended lifespan of 20 years by decades,” he said. “We’ve purchased land and just recently approved a funding plan that will not require any raise in taxes.  Once the new Judicial Center is built, law enforcement will have full use of the current structure on Buckeye, which they badly need.  Additionally, the robust labor agreement we’ve approved with our sheriff’s unions will bolster our ability to recruit and retain the best officers possible.

“Moving on to ‘sound,’ The county faced the challenges of the COVID pandemic almost immediately after the 2020 election,” he said. “As a result, budgeting carefully was essential to ensure the county had the necessary funds to properly and efficiently conduct business and maintain a vibrant workforce without raising taxes.  I had signed the Taxpayer Pledge promising no new taxes. I meant it then, just as I still do. Mission accomplished.”

Gardner served the last two years as chairman of the commission.

“We were able to enter into a new four-and-one-half year labor agreement with county employees,” he said. “The Board, under my chairmanship, opted to not remain a receiving county of Nevada thereby keeping upwards of two million taxpayer dollars within our borders annually.  Only increasing our workforce where absolutely essential played a role in our financial strength as well.”

He pointed out that most of the current residential development was approved prior to his taking a seat on the Board of County Commissioners.

“Last, yet certainly not least, ‘Let’s be Rural,’” Gardner said. “While it may appear that we are surrounded by a large amount of residential development, please note that all of that development was approved PRIOR to my becoming a commissioner. During the last three years we have only approved a total of 90 new units, that’s right, 90 new homes, and of that I only voted in the affirmative for 10. Let’s stay Rural. I remain a strong proponent of the growth management ordinance.”

Gardner asked voters to return him to office for the next four years.

“With the above in mind, it is my hope that county residents would agree that I have worked hard to serve them well and I again ask for their support of my candidacy for re-election as your Douglas County Commissioner representing District 3 in the upcoming election cycle.”

Filing for nonjudicial office is March 4-15.

Filing for judicial office wrapped up on Friday with races for both of Douglas County’s justices of the peace.

Former prosecutor Laurie Trotter and Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Schemenauer will face off for East Fork and Michael K. Johnson and Rich Gardner are competing for Tahoe Township.

Both races will be resolved in the November general election, assuming no one drops out by the Jan. 24 deadline.