In the sole race for Carson City supervisor, incumbent Pete Livermore has earned the support of voters because few people can match his record of community involvement over the past two decades.
Livermore, a Carson resident since 1961 and small-business owner, has been a driving force behind youth sports organizations, a parks commissioner, a Carson-Tahoe Hospital trustee and, now, city supervisor.
His record in those posts has been one of consistently looking out for the best interests of Carson City. He has been outspoken when he needed to be, and he has put in many hours behind the scenes trying to find solutions.
We can't say we've agreed with Livermore on every issue, and that's not necessarily a negative in our book. He can be blunt and hard-headed, but he's a pragmatic thinker and keeps two fingers on the pulse of Carson City residents.
His opponent, Neil Weaver, has built his campaign on the need for change. He takes a creative approach to city issues, is a businessman and also has experience working with city government as a member of the Airport Authority.
He's also the only person in a city of 50,000 willing to put his name on the ballot to challenge the status quo in this election, in particular the Fuji Park/fairgrounds issue.
Will that be enough? Probably not against an opponent with Livermore's record.
Livermore, as a candidate in 1998, played a key role in the last Fuji Park/fairgrounds controversy. He sounded an alarm that a planned events center would have up to 800 slot machines, a revelation that caught city officials by surprise. The Bar-One proposal ultimately was rejected by supervisors.
More significant over the long haul, however, were his 12 years on the city's Parks & Recreation Commission. The Edmonds Sports Complex (reached via Livermore Lane) can be counted high among that commission's accomplishments.
Livermore has shaped Carson City for the better. We believe he'll continue to do so over the next four years.
