Mayor Bob Crowell was spirited, resolute, at times almost uncharacteristically feisty.
Supervisor Shelley Aldean was measured and stuck mostly to the facts.
And Sheriff Ken Furlong demonstrated his trademark, pitch-perfect blend of hardball and humanity.
These three Carson leaders delivered a report card Friday at the State of the City event that should leave residents feeling that their city is in good hands - and that the view through the windshield is a whole lot better than what's in the rear-view.
Crowell walked the walk of mayor, touting Carson City's recent national publicity as a top vacation/retirement destination and pugnaciously knocking down some unfavorable reports about the city's economic health. He lamented some missed job-creating opportunities - and hinted at some promising new ones on the horizon, including one that may add to the culture of Carson City: a yogurt factory.
Most significantly, he and Aldean spoke strongly in favor of the proposed City Center Project, the $48 million library-plaza-parking complex planned for downtown. Crowell talked up the benefits of the project itself, while Aldean spoke plainly about why she opposes a current effort to, in effect, put the issue to a public vote before the city spends any more money on it.
"We were elected to make these decisions," said Aldean, who recently announced she won't seek re-election.
The City Center was what drew many to Friday's breakfast forum, so it was surprising - and a little disappointing - that only one opponent spoke up during the question-and-answer period. This was a rare occasion, when protagonists on both sides of the third-rail issue had a rapt audience eager to hear their back-and-forth. We would have welcomed a more thorough discussion, or even a rousing debate, but perhaps that's best left for another day - soon, we hope.
With Crowell and Aldean addressing specifics, it was appropriate and refreshing to hear Furlong speak from the heart.
"We just passed through a year from hell," the sheriff said, citing the IHOP shootings and other tragedies that befell the town and region. He balanced the pain with positives, though: Methamphetamine crime is down, gang activity is down, volunteerism is at an all-time high, and volunteer patrols are saving the city a half-million dollars a year.
But, he said, "Good is not good enough." Furlong pointed out how graffiti abatement and anti-drug efforts must be an ongoing effort. To illustrate the point, he trotted out one of his department's K-9 officers and his human partner, noting that the team recently took almost 20 pounds of drugs off city streets.
Furlong, who's usually good for a sound bite, also noted that the best law enforcement is the kind that keeps little crimes from becoming big ones.
"Don't wait for the shooting to start - pick 'em up for spitting on the sidewalk."
• Nevada Appeal Editor Dennis Noone can be reached at dnoone@nevadaappeal.com.
