Carson City Supervisors select local businesswoman to fill Ward 2 seat

Carson City businesswoman Shelly Aldean was selected and sworn in Friday afternoon as city supervisor of Ward 2, filling the spot left vacant by the sudden death of Jon Plank last month.

"I'm delighted," Aldean said. "I look forward with great anticipation to the next two years."

Aldean's experience and knowledge of Carson City issues convinced Mayor Ray Masayko and supervisors Robin Williamson, Pete Livermore and Richard Staub that she was the top choice for the spot.

"The selection is appropriate given what we saw on the applications and what we heard during three hours of interviews," Masayko said. "We all agreed we needed to have somebody who could hit the ground running."

Aldean, 46, applied for the open position along with three other candidates: Tony Marangi, 71, a retired insurance claims manager, Stacey Wilke, 37, general manager of the Horseshoe Club casino in downtown Carson City, and Gregory Nimitz, 45, a business entrepreneur with background in the space industry.

The four candidates spent three hours sitting across the table from the elected supervisors as each answered question after question about themselves and city issues.

With years of experience serving on committees dealing with redevelopment, sign ordinances, economic vitality and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad project, Aldean was quick to answer many difficult and specific questions.

"I am under no illusions about an appointment to this position," Aldean said. "Although we can't replace Jon, I think I could meet his expectations."

Supervisors agreed, saying Aldean would be the most knowledgeable and experienced candidate to start working with them immediately to deal with tough issues that face the city in the next few months.

Her first meeting will take place Thursday when Carson City supervisors gather in a special joint session with Douglas County commissioners. The meeting comes after months of contention over a public land sale in northern Douglas County.

During the interview Friday, Aldean was asked whether her dealings as president of the land development and property management company Glenbrook Co. and Eden Managements in Carson City will present a conflict of interest.

Aldean said while she may have to excuse herself from voting and make disclosures on certain issues, she didn't feel it would hinder her serving on the board. She does own property located behind the old Wal-Mart building in south Carson, she said.

Answering questions about taxes and dealing with the possibility of budget cuts, Aldean told supervisors her philosophy would be to raise franchise fees and permitting fees but to do it in small increments to it would be politically and financially palatable.

Aldean said she sees Carson's challenges to include not losing its identity as a community when pursuing regionalism, finishing the Carson freeway bypass, economic development and the attraction of new retail.

On a lighter note, Williamson said she is happy with the choice for many reasons.

"I'm just so excited there's going to be another woman on the board," Williamson said.