Letters to the Editor, July 23

Watch out for these campaign practices

Editor:

During the course of this election season you may receive a telephone call from a person purporting to conduct a poll. As you listen, the caller will attempt to inform you of information that is negative or derogatory regarding a particular candidate rather than actually conducting the usual unbiased poll. Under NRS 294A.341, this is called a persuasive poll or what is commonly known as a push poll. This is unlawful unless the person conducting the poll "discloses, at the end of the poll, the name and telephone number of the candidate, political party, committee sponsored by a political party or committee for political action that requested or compensated the person for the poll."

This practice was actually used against Commissioner David Brady during the 2006 election season. Fortunately, he was nonetheless elected and has turned out to be an outstanding commissioner. So, watch out for this kind of poll during this election cycle. If you receive such a call, ask the caller to disclose the information required by law. Report any failure to do so to the Secretary of State's office in Carson City, telephone: (775) 684-5705.

What may also be confusing is that each county commissioner is elected by the majority of registered voters (who actually vote) of the entire county, not just by the voters within the district represented by the candidate. Thus, all voters within the county will elect all three commissioners this election.

"Follow the money" is always good advice in political campaigns. Some candidates are reluctant to disclose the identity of their campaign contributors and the amount contributed until the law actually requires them to do so by a certain date. Unfortunately, Nevada law is a little weak because the state contribution and expense report is not required to be filed until Aug. 5, 2008 (a week before the primary election on Aug. 12), but early voting starts July 26. Thus many voters will go to the ballot box without the opportunity of discovering who has contributed to any particular candidate's campaign - more specifically as to those amounts over $100. To be open and transparent, candidates Dave Nelson, Doug Johnson and Stuart Posselt are weekly disclosing their contributions and the identity of each contributor on their respective Web sites at:

Doug Johnson: www.vote4doug.net

Dave Nelson: www.4davenelson.com

Stuart Posselt:

www.slp4DouglasCommissioner.org

We believe that all other county commission candidates should voluntarily do the same.

Lastly, look out for any candidate who refuses to appear and be interviewed by any group that might, in the mind of the candidate, appear to be adverse to that candidate. Such candidates should not hide in the dark and take pot shots from afar. If they are going to represent the people as opposed to the special interests, they should willingly show themselves to answer questions. Who knows, certain misunderstandings might even be cleared up.

John H. Garvin, Co-Chair,

Sustainable Growth Comittee

Minden

Seek depth in

a candidate

Editor:

A recent luncheon meeting sponsored a forum for our Douglas County commission candidates. During the question and answer session, District 1 commissioner candidate Greg Lynn was asked about his support for youth and senior services. Mr. Lynn gave a reasoned and thoughtful answer, saying that these are essential services because of their high cost avoidance potential.

One dollar spent on these services has the ability to save many times that amount in down-the-road indigent care for seniors and court and probation costs for juveniles. Commissioner candidate David Nelson was next to answer the same question and his response was "Ditto." Ditto? I was left with impression that Mr. Nelson had not given even a moment's thought to the issue. In fact, Mr. Nelson's presentation never touched on any of the issues facing our county.

Rather, he focused on empty buzzwords like transparency, and accountability, and professed allegiance to, and support for, the Sustainable Growth Committee. Voters should be aware of Mr. Nelson's limited grasp on the real challenges facing Douglas County. The next time he is asked this question perhaps he should thank Greg Lynn for doing the homework and providing him with the answer.

B. Hertz

Gardnerville

Hayes letter

was baffling

Editor:

The June 20, 2008, letter by Michael Hayes was baffling. Mr. Hayes is the campaign manager and father-in-law of Blaine Spires, candidate for county commissioner. I guess we shouldn't really expect the 24-year-old Spires to understand zoning and the master plan, but after reading Hayes' letter, it is clear that Spires and Hayes don't. It is disconcerting to have a candidate with such a dangerously uninformed and naïve view of these important principles.

Let's look at the Park Cattle Co.'s proposal discussed in their letter. Park Cattle has nearly 4,600 acres, almost all of it zoned A-19. This would allow them about 240 homes. Under the current master plan, they also have the right to cluster homes (presumably on the east side), which, with the 150-percent bonus, would allow them 600 homes. This would preserve the rest of the land as open space, including most of the land in the flood plain. This is considered preferable by many people to one home per 19 acres, which would likely mean ranchettes scattered throughout the flood plain. This is why the clustering bonus exists.

The Spires' campaign belittles their opponent, Doug Johnson, for supporting the 600 units, even though this is clearly allowed, even encouraged, by the master plan. What Mr. Hayes, and presumably Blaine Spires, are apparently unable to comprehend is that the master plan states that clustering must take place outside of the flood plain, hence zero homes in the flood plain. Doug Johnson's point is that he would not support one unit more than the master plan allows. This is in keeping with what I expect the vast majority of residents believe and would support.

Mr. Hayes letter states that Blaine Spires would support 600 units less than his opponent, hence zero homes on the 4,600 acres. They are undoubtedly the only two people in the county who support that untenable position.

Mr. Hayes goes on to say that he "can't think of one positive thing Doug Johnson has actually accomplished." Hasn't he heard of the growth management ordinance that his candidate supposedly supports? This compromise ordinance would not have been adopted without the leadership of Doug Johnson, who was chairman at the time. He was determined to get this passed in order to keep faith with the voters, and to tackle the most contentious issue this decade, so that we could move forward to other pressing concerns.

Some have suggested that Blaine Spires is a pawn of the development industry. The fact that his father is a developer and Realtor lends credence to this idea. Don't be fooled by all his big signs - they do not indicate widespread support. All they indicate is substantial funding from special interests in the development and real estate industries, which will be revealed when the required campaign contributions forms are filed with the state. Doug Johnson, on the other hand, has the best interests of the community at heart. He deserves your support. There are too many critical issues facing the county to leave them in the hands of an inexperienced, untested, uninformed 24-year-old.

Lee Johnson

Gardnerville

Good reasons

to vote for Lynn

Editor:

Many will say "why vote for Greg Lynn? We don't need or want a developer on the Douglas County Board of Commissioners." I had a long talk with Mr. Lynn to find out just what sort of developer we're talking about here. Mr. Lynn has been licensed in Nevada since 1985. His first project of any size was the last phase of the Westwood Park patio homes in Minden, a 30-unit project, successfully completed in 1995. He then purchased the balance of Pleasantview from Mike Hickey, 110 lots. As of this writing he has built or sold all but five of these lots. This works out to a production rate, as a result of his activities, of just a fraction over eight (8) homes per year. Given the scale of development in Carson Valley during that time period, this does not qualify as mass development or valley-paving. His current project, Rainshadow Ranch, consists of 43 units which Greg figures will take 10 years to build. Just over four homes per year.

As a resident I can speak to the level of quality that Greg Lynn brings to both the homes he builds and the attention to detail in the overall infrastructure of the projects. Most folks don't know this but Greg Lynn's Rainshadow Ranch homes will have solar power, and utilize groundwater recharge drainage. This type of drainage system makes his projects essentially groundwater-neutral. These are costly underground systems that recycle storm and landscape drainage back into the water table. From a resident's point of view, much preferable to a weedy detention pond.

Greg Lynn has also never asked for relief from any condition placed upon his approvals. To the contrary, he has offered to assist the residents in creating a pedestrian park along the Drayton Blvd right of way until such time as the County's transportation needs require that Drayton Blvd be built. He is obligated to provide a significant contribution to the future construction of Drayton Blvd. He has offered to allow the County to use that contribution for the pedestrian park.

He worked for over a year volunteering and helping to draft the current building permit allocation ordinance (growth control).

There are developers and then there are builders who contribute to the welfare of the entire community. Mr. Lynn is one of those builders who cares deeply about the future of Douglas County.

Michele Romero

Minden

Disagrees with Olson letter

Editor:

I disagree with Mike Olson's attack on Jim Slade in his "Candidate Responds" letter to The Record-Courier editor July 18. Jim Slade should not have been attacked personally because he gave his opinion about the candidates in a letter to the editor.

I would not vote for a candidate like Mr. Olson who uses the newspaper to make nasty personal remarks about a citizen who attends almost every county meeting and appears to be trying to point out the demise of what used to be a beautiful county and appears to be deteriorating into a city full of traffic and residential houses.

The fact that Mr. Slade disagrees with the commissioners conduct of a meeting or any ordinance discussion or questions their judgment is his right as a concerned citizen.

Most citizens do not attend the meetings and we are all better off because Mr. Slade attends the meetings and questions the politicians.

All his comments appear to be courteous and show he is interested in the future of Douglas County. If he were running for commissioner, which he is not, I would vote for him. I do not know Mr. Slade, have never met him or talked to him. My comments are from watching the meetings on channel 16.

Jim Joseph

Gardnerville

How about advance notice?

Editor:

I was more than a bit disturbed when I received this last bill from Douglas Disposal. To have extra charges added for past service due to increased fees was insulting.

Most companies will advise their customers that fees will increase with the next billing cycle and this is what I've always encountered in my nearly 50 years of bill paying. To have you decide you needed to raise fees is understandable with rising cost of gas but to not let your customers know ahead of time is inconsiderate to say the least.

I'm sure, and know for a fact when I've seen totes sitting full outside a home after pickup time, that you do not reciprocate the same way; if the tote is not out on time, too bad. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to say "too bad, I'm not paying that extra amount because you didn't let me know in time!"

Unfortunately your company is not one that we can simply say because of your inconsideration we're switching as we would with a cable company. I certainly hope you have more respect for your customers in the future.

Judy DeRyke

Minden

Riverview and 395 a bad intersection

Editor:

What is going on here? Hasn't anyone else that drives 395 south of Gardnerville passing the light at the 7-Eleven been bothered by the southbound accidents that continue to happen with no end in sight?

It's a two lane highway that converges into a single lane past the light at the intersection of Highway 395 south and Riverview that turns west.

Persons familiar with the area, or are totally aware of their senses, see the seven signs of impending doom on the side of the road just past the Virginia Ranch nursery. Through traffic has to get into the left lane or else a right turn is necessary at the light. Yet for those that do not know this or can't see this coming, there are two overhead green traffic lights stating "straight ahead full rudder" as if the two lane highway will still exist.

What about those dark foggy nights, rainy nights or snowy white outs we occasionally get that block the solid white line dividing the through lane and turn lane and the little warning signs on the side of the road we have to pay attention to?

What about those a little addled by cell phones, changing radio stations or in unfamiliar surroundings, all in traffic or inclement weather? A panicked turn over into the left lane without even looking is the most common solution I would suspect.

I have lived in the area almost four years and have seen the carnage of at least six of these accidents where the turn-lane-only vehicle suddenly has to get over to the left to avoid crashing into the 7-Eleven gas pumps, and of course more often than not, another vehicle already occupies that space.

What I see as a possible inexpensive but effective solution would be to change the right side overhead traffic light to blinking red at all times. This would alert all in the right lane that it will soon come to an end. The left through traffic light would continue to have normal red, yellow, green functions.

The blinking red traffic light would hopefully warn everyone to slow down to turn or get ready to stop. And already on the right light pole is a traffic light that shows green to turn right only, or shows red to stop, or a green arrow that gives permission to turn. A posted reflector right turn only sign on the island would be an additional safety reminder. But whatever the solution, something has to change and the sooner, the better.

Dave Stewart

Gardnerville

Be careful on

the roads

Editor:

I am a senior citizen who enjoys walking through my neighborhood in Minden. I was almost killed on July 15 on 10th Street. A speeding car came within inches of me. The driver did not slow down or stop. There is no excuse for this carelessness.

A life can be taken in a second due to speed or inattention.

There are many people with their children out walking these streets for health and enjoyment. Please slow down and pay attention. I know that I was protected by God and I have a very grateful heart today.

Donna Roberts

Minden

Mother of three needs help

Editor:

Jessica Cook, a Gardnerville Ranchos mother of three, was recently diagnosed with brain and lung cancer. She has already had to endure numerous surgeries and extensive hospitalization, which has naturally been hard on her and her young family emotionally, physically and financially.

Through the generosity of the owners, employees and customers of several Ranchos businesses, several hundred dollars has been raised to assist the family with rent, food and utility bills. Those businesses are:

PJ's Liquors, 7-Eleven, Ranchos Liquors, Boodlers, Pony Espresso, and Music Trading Outpost.

I realize that times are hard for everyone, so it is especially touching that there are so many willing to give to a family in their time of need.

If you did not get a chance to donate, there is an account set up for the family at U.S. Bank under the name Brian and Jessica Cook.

Amy Meeks

Gardnerville

Reid lacks an

energy plan

Editor:

Mr. Hamilton (July 11 R-C) had an excellent commentary and history on gasoline supplies and prices. He ended his letter with "Positive impacts on energy costs can materialize from ... the will of elected officials" " that's where I want to start " with our "chief" elected offical Senator Reid.

A few days ago the third airline announced closing of service or reduced flights at our Reno-Tahoe airport due to high fuel prices. Our Sen. Reid doesn't seem to understand that demand is higher than supply, causing prices to rise. In an interview on KOH (Ross Mitchell " July 3 " www.kkoh.com/sectional.asp?id=26774) Sen. Reid says "we need to wean ourselves from 21 million barrels of oil a day and the only way to do that is use the sun, the wind and geothermal."

How does he think a tractor-trailer (21 percent of our petroleum products) which transports 70 percent of our goods and airplanes (8 percent) will run on these renewables? Ted Koppel said on ABCs This Week in 15 years China will have as many autos as the US has today. Maybe autos can run on electricity or compressed natural gas in the future, but airplanes and 18-wheelers?

It's obvious that Sen. Reid has no comprehension of the importance of petroleum products to our economy nor the impact of world-wide demand growth on prices. Is he concerned about the impact of high fuel and food prices on his constituents? Wouldn't you think a senate majority leader would have a comprehensive energy plan? Is he leading our economy into a recession? Does he have a hidden agenda? Call his office and ask him.

We need to drill here, drill now, pay less

Bill Moriarty

Indian Hills

Drill way out

Editor:

I am sick and tired of hearing Democrats say "we can't drill our way out of this" as another excuse for not drilling our way out of this. OK, while I agree we do need to seriously start developing alternate fuel and power sources, that is a long way into the future, but we need to start now. In the meantime, we have vast amounts of oil at our disposal, supposedly, 10 times the amount of the Arab world.

So it's time to drill it, mine it, whatever we have to do to get it, are we just going to leave it there? Just starting forward operations to drill will most likely bring prices down, we need it, let's get it. What's so hard about that? Start drilling and developing these alternate fuel and power sources now.

Quit talking and arguing about it. If the Democrats continue to block efforts to allow drilling and mining (shale oil) it's time to start wondering what their motivations are, and where their alligences lie, Harry Reid being the in the top five worst of the lot.

There is a petition you can sign to start the drilling at www.newtgingrich.com, if you are sick of being robbed at the pumps, and sick of the liberals telling you it's too bad, go there and sign it, and don't vote for these pirates on election day.

Carl Grindstaff

Wellington

Firm did great job

Editor:

Too many times the public hears about poor service that they have received. I would like to give a huge thank-you to Ozzie, Rick and Brandon from RHP Heating & Air Conditioning, who installed a central filtration and air conditioning system in my family's home just as all the smoke from the California fires arrived in Carson Valley. Not only were they on time and polite, but it was smoke-free and cool when I came home from work. I don't usually write to a newspaper, but if you would like the same professional service call RHP. It was a pleasure doing business with them. Thanks guys for everything and I'm sure I will be using your company again. My family and I are completely satisfied.

Brian Harker

Minden

Thanks for help with Relay for Life

Editor:

The Topaz Lake Relay for Life team, The Cure-Aiders, would like to thank all of our friends and neighbors for all their support in making our garage sale, car wash, bake sale and hot dog lunch, a great success.

A special thank you to Chuck and Linda Fields for the use of their marina on such a busy holiday weekend. And to our team for all your hard work - great job. We invite all of you to join us at the Relay for Life celebration on Saturday and Sunday at Lampe Park. Hope to see you there.

Captain Kathi Shoemaker

Co-Captain Linda Fields

South County