City worker enters supervisor race

Rebecca Beisenstein is pretty normal, she said. She has a teenage son and is passionate about gardening. When she gets done with work, she goes home to do more work.

But now she has a purpose above and beyond being a customer service technician in Carson City's Public Works water division. Beisenstein filed Tuesday to run for City Supervisor for Ward 2.

"I just wanted to give people a choice," Beisenstein, 44, said. "Too many times, I see candidates run unopposed for local elections."

The single mom has worked over the years for several organizations, including 4-H camp, the Master Gardener's program at the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension office, the Shade Tree Council and GROW (Gardeners Reclaiming our Waysides). Beisenstein has also recently advocated for a new skate park.

A resident since 1978, Beisenstein said she threw in her hat for the supervisor's seat because wants the average person to be represented on the board.

"I just want to give the average person some support within the city government," she said. "I don't own any big business or anything like that. I just go to work and do my job and go home and do my work at home."

Beisenstein will challenge Supervisor Shelly Aldean to represent the city's northwest sector. Since being appointed to replace Supervisor Jon Plank after his death, Aldean has worked with the auto mall planning group, on transportation, become a representative on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's Governing Board, and continued work on the city's economic strategic plan.

Aldean is a developer, manager and commercial broker and has volunteered through the years on several economic, business and planning committees and has won community awards for her service.

Beisenstein has won a few awards herself in recent years - for her tattoos.

She wasn't sure if that is something that should be publicized, she said.

"I am pretty normal," she said. "I've fought for the kids who like to skate in town. I think the young people need to get involved in government, especially on the local level."

Candidate filing ends Friday.

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