Carson City supervisors announce candidacy

Economic stability, quality of life and keeping auto dealers in town top the lists of two city leaders who will ask voters to return them to the Board of Supervisors this fall.

Supervisors Shelly Aldean and Richard Staub on Wednesday announced their intentions to run. A primary election will be Sept. 7, followed by a general election Nov. 2.

"We try to do the best job we can and we try to do it with compassion," Staub said. "Hopefully the citizens of this town will continue to allow me to do that."

As representatives of Ward 2 and Ward 4, Aldean and Staub join the mayor in facing a re-election process this fall. Aldean is seeking her first official election after being appointed to the board early last year following the death of Supervisor Jon Plank.

Both detail-oriented candidates emphasized the need to continue working with auto dealers to develop an auto mall within the city and the need for stabilizing retail.

With a long list of priorities on the table from transportation to preserving open space, Staub said his most important goal would be to maintain quality of life for Carson City residents while keeping taxes as low as possible.

"Obviously, we want to keep our tax base low," Staub said. "And, we want to maintain city service levels."

Staub said by completing the auto mall process by getting dealers to agree to purchase land and stay within city borders, the city could maintain the second lowest property tax level. He worked with other city officials last year in negotiating with local dealers to agree to focus on working together for the next two years.

"We want to build a project that is a jewel to the region," Staub said. "The auto mall - it is almost the hill to die for."

Aldean said her main focus would be "economic diversification," including manufacturing, tourism and retail growth.

"We need to have a healthy economy," Aldean said.

Since being appointed to represent Ward 2, Aldean has worked with the auto mall planning group, transportation, become a representative on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's Governing Board and continued work on the city's economic strategic plan.

During his four years in office, Staub has worked on transportation, traffic issues, growth management, preserving open space, the Carson City Airport Authority, implementing a citywide auditing process, youth and senior citizens boards.

Both candidates say they expect the city to undergo several changes in the next few years. The city is facing fallout from heavy loss of retail outlets to Douglas County, the Carson City freeway construction, development of downtown into a more pedestrian and parking-friendly area and growth challenges, they said.

Most recently, the board has faced several critical decisions, including turning down a $27.5 million incentives package for auto dealers to locate an auto mall near Hot Springs Road. The board also directed the city to sue the federal government after the Bureau of Land Management proceeded to sell 144 acres of prime real estate in northern Douglas County to Carson City auto dealers. The lawsuit created a rift with Douglas County that has yet to be resolved.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.