Incumbents rule the day

Staff Reports

Incumbents ruled the day in Douglas County with county commissioner Dave Brady, Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl and Public Administrator Lynn EnEarl all winning their races handily.

Some new faces joined the incumbents with Carson Valley native James Settelmeyer taking the Assembly District 39 seat vacated by Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick and Douglas County planning commissioner Nancy McDermid winning the right to replace commissioner Tim Smith on the county commission.

McDermid defeated Democrat Greta Hambsch 11,735 votes to 6,629.

In all, 19,480 voters cast ballots in the election or about 71.5 percent of the county's active voters.

Brady won by a only slightly narrower margin over fellow Republican and former Carson Valley broadcaster Lloyd Higuera.

Brady received 9,491 votes to Higuera's 7,094 votes.

Brady said he feels one of the factors that contributed to his win was the fact that the community is unsettled with a business as usual approach and is looking for a sense of direction that is different than they've had in the past.

"I offer leadership and direction, and I hope to contribute to teamwork and team building, as we create a sense of direction for the county," he said.

Brady complimented Higuera on a well-run campaign.

"In this campaign season of negative campaigns, I'm proud of the one we've run," he said.

Higuera thanked those who helped and supported him in this effort.

"It was a great experience," he said.

He's been a report covering campaigns, but being a candidate is a very different experience, he said.

"I want to congratulate all the winners," he said. "I'm pleased with the campaign I ran, but in the end the people decided to put Brady rather than me in the seat."

A certified financial planner, Brady has been a managing principal at Brady & Associates in Minden since May 1998. In his 20 years in Douglas County he has held many community service positions, including school board trustee, member of the board of commissioners for Douglas County Parks and Recreation and president of the Douglas County School Board.

He was appointed to the commission seat by Gov. Kenny Guinn in February 2005, after the resignation of Jacques Etchegoyhen.

Brady graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in public affairs. Three years later, he earned a master's degree in public administration from that institution.

Brady spends his free time sailing and cycling. He and wife, Mary, have five children, ages 21 to 17.

East Fork Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl defeated challenger, Minden attorney Kelly Chase 9,552 votes to 6,095 in the race for his seat.

He thanked the voters of East Fork Township for returning him to office.

"I am extremely humble and grateful. Certainly, my opponent ran a very spirited campaign. I am grateful that it wasn't negative like so many political campaigns were this season."

EnEarl thanked his staff and supporters for ensuring the justice court runs well.

"I believe I run the court fairly, efficiently and effectively," he said. "I believe I have instituted programs to accomplish those tasks. I couldn't do it without support of the staff in court as well as Doug Swalm in alternative sentencing. I am blessed to be surrounded by extremely competent people."