Challengers drop out of Douglas County commission race

The Douglas County commission won't be changing in November because both challengers have dropped out.

Al Wagner, the Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District trustee who challenged incumbent District 1 County Commissioner Steve Weissinger, announced Thursday he's dropping out. The decision comes a month after District 5 commissioner Kelly Kite's opponent withdrew.

In a short memo to Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Reed, Wagner cited a conflict of interest with his GID duties.

"I can't be objective to both governmental entities at the same time," he wrote. "I either have to give 100 percent or none - there's no in-between."

Reed said dropouts are not uncommon, but she can't remember another time when all the challengers withdrew.

"I've had one challenger decide to drop out, but I have not had them drop out of all the races," she said. "This is an unusual election year."

She said the last time the county commission posts went uncontested was in 1954, when no one challenged Marvin Settelmeyer and H.L. Dressler. The records books will show the 2000 race as contested because the challengers missed a deadline for dropping out, and their names will still appear opposite Kite's and Weissinger's on the ballot.

Weissinger said he'll campaign as if he's got an active opponent.

"I still plan on putting up signs from one end of the county to the other," said Weissinger. "I still plan on walking door to door."

The race never reached a high profile. Wagner entered late on the final day of the candidate filing period. When he filed, Wagner said in a statement he perceived "an honest dislike" of Weissinger among county residents and said he wanted to address issues like roads, Minden-Tahoe Airport, economic growth, open space and public transportation.

Weissinger anticipated a competitive campaign, and he said as of Thursday he had a $7,000 war chest and was expecting to reach a goal of $10,000 by the end of the month. Weissinger, who manages the Raley's grocery store in South Lake Tahoe, said he'll be declining further contributions, but he's encouraged by the offers for campaign help.

"I said from the outset that if I hadn't heard positive comments (about a run for a second term) I wouldn't have pursued it," he said. "I've gotten phone calls, I've had people come into the store and I've had people tell me on the street they will support me."

Wagner's decision means the three incumbent commissioners whose terms expire this year are essentially guaranteed a second term. No one filed against District 3 commissioner Bernie Curtis, and Kite's opponent, Elaine Smith, dropped out after three weeks, citing the time and energy required of public office.