Minden Town Board to hold first-ever primary

Voters in the Town of Minden will experience a number of election firsts this primary season.

There's Nevada's primary date, June 8, early by all standards.

And, there's the fact that the town even has a primary for its approximately 2,300 registered voters.

According to Clerk-Treasurer Ted Thran, this is the town's only primary since Minden held its first election in November 1980.

The primary runoff is necessary because seven candidates have filed for three available seats on the five-member board.

"When you have more than twice the number of open positions, you have to have a primary," Thran said.

The three seats are held by Dave Sheets, Bob Hadfield and Ross Chichester. Their departure from the board - after more than two decades each - is required under Nevada's term limits legislation.

Two years ago, longtime members Ray Wilson and Bruce Jacobsen suffered a similar fate.

The vacancies opened the field to include seven candidates.

Matt Bernard, 49, is a professional land surveyor. His family moved to Carson Valley when he was 2, and he's lived in Minden for 35 years.

"I'm sorry to see the gentlemen on there for so long have to leave, but with my background I feel I have things I can bring to the board," he said.

Bernard said as a land surveyor, he had experience dealing with flood plains, water rights and growth.

"I love my hometown," Bernard said. "I would like to contribute."

Charlie Condron, 57, also moved to Carson Valley when he was a child. The retired educator has lived in Minden for 22 years.

He, too, complimented the outgoing board members.

"The gentlemen who have run the town for the last 25 years have done just an outstanding job maintaining our financial stability and our water. It's important to keep the momentum going that they've established over time. We live in a wonderful town, and I certainly want to maintain it."

Civil engineer Jon Erb, 44, has been a Minden resident for five years.

"Minden has been a good town to live in for me and my family, and I would just like to give back. The existing bond between current board members leaves some big shoes to fill. I think my background in engineering will help."

Robert Hellwinkel, 46, has lived in Minden since birth. His family owned the C.O.D. Garage and now he is in property management and development.

"Having been raised in Minden, I want to give back to the town," Hellwinkel said. "I'm concerned with the challenges the town faces in the commercial business sector. I feel I have a good rapport with the citizens as well as the county government and the current Minden Town Board."

Robert Pohlman, 73, is a retired engineer and part-time insurance agent.

He has been a resident for 16 years.

"I think the town has been very well run. I would like to make sure our Plan for Prosperity is maintained. I do have reservations about our water. I have the ability to work with diverse groups and opinions to achieve consensus toward establishing goals and objectives."

William Souligny, 66, is a retired state budget analyst and 43-year town resident.

"We're losing three really skilled and talented people," he said. "I think the skills I developed working for the state will fill the gaps, especially in the area of the budget.

You have to have a budget to live by. I want to keep things going for the town that are working. I am retired and I have the time to devote to the board."

Roxanne Stangle, 57, has been a resident for 34 years. She has owned and operated Tumblewind in the heart of Minden for decades.

"I'm a business owner and a home owner and I obviously care about what happens in Minden," she said. "As a life-long resident of Carson Valley, I care about the whole Valley. This is my way of giving back."