Commission candidates focus on fiscal responsibility

Although the three Douglas County Board of Commissioners seats up for election Nov. 4 are from districts outside Lake Tahoe, all registered voters in Douglas County may cast ballots for the seats.

But first, some candidates must survive the Aug. 12 primary election.

Candidates participating in the primary election appeared Tuesday night at a candidates forum sponsored by the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce and the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. Here's what they had to say:

Republicans Greg Lynn and Dave Nelson will go head-to-head during the August primary. The winner will face Democrat Anje deKnijf during the general election in November for the seat currently held by Commissioner Jim Baushke.

A business owner and 28-year resident of the Carson Valley, Lynn's campaign literature includes his goals to move the county away from "a cycle of big-box retail followed by residential rooftops," keeping taxes among the lowest in Nevada and resisting regulation that threatens property rights.

During the forum Tuesday, Lynn said marketing efforts away from the gaming industry are going to be an essential part of maintaining tourism at Lake Tahoe.

"It seems to me, the lake is going to have to take advantage of other aspects of its appeal," Lynn said.

Nelson is a five-year county resident with a background in business, finance and real estate who has focused his campaign on fiscal responsibility, equitable treatment of small business and representing the majority community views.

On Tuesday, Nelson voiced his support for bond measures as a way to help provide firefighters, law-enforcement officers and teachers with attainable housing, while noting his distaste for big government.

"The government that governs best governs least," Nelson said.

Nelson also felt commissioners should encourage a "regional approach" to marketing Northern Nevada to international visitors.

Republican incumbent Doug Johnson will face off against newcomer Blaine Spires in the August primary. The winner will compete against Independent American Party candidate Eric Rieman in November.

A county commissioner since 2005, Johnson's 2008 platform supports a growth ordinance to be voted on in November and development of a floodplain ordinance.

His Web site lists a priority as "balancing the budget without asking for new taxes, or using reserves."

With the current downturn in the economy, "this is not the time to tax anybody," Johnson said Tuesday.

Spires, 24, is a lifelong resident of the Carson Valley. The University of Nevada, Reno, graduate is a manager at H20 Sports in Round Hill.

Spires' campaign literature indicates one of his first priorities will be to "build greater consensus among the Board of Commissioners," as well as protect the open space in Douglas County that he has enjoyed since his childhood.

Spires said his work in Round Hill has given him an understanding of the obstacles faced by Lake Tahoe's tourist economy and how to overcome those obstacles.

"It's really going to come down to marketing," Spires said Tuesday.

Of all the county commission seats up for election, District 5 has the most competition. The district's seat currently is held by Commissioner Kelly Kite, who is termed out of office.

The August Democratic race features Nancy Epstein vs. George Thiel; the Republican race pits Mike Olson against Stuart Posselt.

The Democratic and Republican winners will compete in November's election.

Epstein, a Douglas County resident since 1995 who works as a closed-captioning provider, said she is seeking her first office because she's dissatisfied with the available candidates.

"I decided to run because I didn't feel the candidates were representing me," Epstein said Tuesday.

During this week's forum, Epstein listed her priorities as balancing the budget, dealing with growth and protecting the quality of life in Douglas County.

Epstein emphasized the necessity of reducing Lake Tahoe pollution and said solutions must be based outside politics, because the lake is "the whole base of our economy."

"I think decisions regarding the lake need to be based on science," she said.

Thiel - a civil engineer and 28-year Douglas County resident - spoke Tuesday about the importance of maintaining affordable housing in Douglas County and said he opposed big government.

He also believes there is a way to consolidate the county permitting process at the lake.

"Any commissioner would have to do what they could do to support Lake Tahoe," Thiel said.

Stimulating tourism through "event-based" activities should be a priority for commissioners to attract visitors to Lake Tahoe, Thiel said.

On the Republican side, Mike Olson has been a Douglas County resident for 10 years and a member of the county's planning commission for five years.

His campaign literature says he'll vow to work within the master plan, be "agriculture friendly" and to plan for "balanced growth within a balanced budget."

On Tuesday, Olson said the county should try and attract markets to Lake Tahoe that are outside of California as a way to generate additional revenue. He also said all of Douglas County must be acknowledged in board decisions.

"I think it's important to understand we have different communities here, and we all need to be represented," Olson said.

Posselt is a retired architect who hopes to improve the county's fiscal responsibility through departmental audits, protect county water resources and Douglas County's rural way of life.

He described the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency as a "disaster" and proposed a "one-stop shopping center" for permits as a way to streamline projects in the county.

Posselt pushed for marketing of recreation-based activities as a way to improve tourism to the lake and Tuesday vowed to listen to concerns of all Douglas County residents.

"It's your county. We have to listen to you," Posselt said.