Carson City Supervisor Shelly Aldean says there are a lot of things she will miss about public service when she leaves office at the end of this year, but there are some that won't be missed.
"I will miss working with city staff, my colleagues on the board and many of my fellow residents who embrace the philosophy that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem," Aldean said Friday. "I may not, however, be as sentimental about trudging through my board packet on the Sunday night before a week of meetings."
For those not familiar with board packets, some have been known to be as beefy as 4 to 5 inches thick.
Aldean announced in a letter this past week that she would not seek another term as the Ward 2 representative on the board. She was appointed in 2003 to fill the term of Jon Plank, who died in office, and she was later elected to the post in 2004 and 2008.
Aldean said she has enjoyed her years working with and for the community, and that she has seen a lot of change.
"Over the past nine years, I have had the good fortune of working with an extraordinarily talented and dedicated group of people. Other communities are envious of our city staff, of the cohesiveness of our board, the strength and generosity of our volunteers, and the spirit and the resilience of our residents," Aldean said.
"We have grappled with issues as controversial as the V&T reconstruction effort and the City Center Project, and topics as benign as gateway signage and the presentation of awards to our Miracle Workers on Main Street. Every conversation we have as a community makes us stronger and fosters a greater understanding of the issues," she said.
Aldean, known not only for being articulate, but for her attention to detail and business acumen, has been intrinsically involved in many leadership roles during her years on the board, most prominently as chairwoman of the Redevelopment Authority and Regional Transportation Commission.
"I am proud to have participated in the effort to move the Carson City Freeway forward, to have helped promote a vision for our downtown that will one day enable us to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment in the center of our city and to have aided in the creation of a reliable public transportation system (JAC) whose ridership has grown steadily since its inception."
As a member of the sometimes controversial Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, she has helped move it from a primarily regulatory agency into one which is now seen as more collaborative.
Aldean also has been central to building relationships with neighboring counties in the search for solutions to mutual challenges, and in helping individuals within the community.
She said she has "helped form an organization (the Circles Initiative) that moves people from poverty and dependence toward economic self-sufficiency."
She explained in her letter why she has decided not to run for re-election.
"It was never my intention to linger too long or to deny others for too many years the honor of serving their city," she said.
I want to thank those of you who have graciously offered me your support and the benefit of your wisdom over the years and who have made my time in office such a memorable and rewarding experience. Carson City is a community with a strong heart and steady resolve - attributes that will serve it well in the years to come.
Republican Maurice White, who has attended every supervisor meeting for several years, has said he will formally announce his intention to run for the Ward 2 seat later this month.
Aldean said she believes that Carson City will continue to innovate and be a leader among communities by preserving its open spaces, protecting its historic resources and ensuring the adequacy and quality of its public services and exploring opportunities to partner with the private sector to strengthen its economy.
"I also hope that the citizens who are passionate about our community will stay engaged in a productive way and help our city staff and elected officials find solutions to the problems of the day," she said.
Aldean said that at the moment, she has no political plans for the future.
"I think I'll need to decompress for awhile," she said.
