Deputies endorse DA challenger Rombardo

Carson City deputies announced Wednesday they will support Neil Rombardo in his bid to unseat District Attorney Noel Waters.

Carson City Sheriff's Detective Bob Motamenpour, treasurer for the Carson City Sheriff's Protective Association, said the question was put to a vote Tuesday night, and Rombardo won by a "landslide." About 37 out of 41 members present, voted to endorse Rombardo. The organization has about 72 members, Motamenpour said.

The decision came after Rombardo and Waters spoke during a forum held for the group on Jan. 19.

"It's time for a change," he said. "I think this DA's office is probably not as effective as they should be."

Motamenpour said Rombardo presented ideas, such as "vertical prosecution," in which one deputy district attorney handles a case all the way through the courts. He said that under Waters' administration, it's common for one deputy district attorney to file the complaint, another to handle the preliminary hearing and a third to handle the trial.

"The cop should know everything and the DA should know everything," Motamenpour said.

He said association members also liked Rombardo's promise of improving relations with deputies.

Rombardo, who prosecutes open meeting law and securities fraud for the Nevada Attorney General's Office in Carson City, has outlined three steps his administration would take toward crime reduction: Forging a stronger bond with the Carson City deputy sheriffs, implementing vertical prosecution, and making strides toward winning "the war on drugs."

"I'm very excited," Rombardo said of the endorsement. "It goes back to my first point with regard to the disconnect with the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office."

He said his plan for the latter is the absolute prevention of drug use, rehabilitation of drug abusers and zero tolerance of manufacturers, sellers, dealers and traffickers.

Waters, who has said he intends to seek re-election, said Wednesday he was disappointed with the association's vote. He noted only about a dozen members were at the forum, and none of them posed questions regarding experience. Waters was first appointed to his position in 1985. He has served five four-year terms.

"They didn't ask about qualifications, and, clearly, I have more than my opponent does. He's never supervised an office. He's never had a jury trial. He's done maybe a handful of prelims," Waters said.

"In the last three years he's been responsible for open meeting law cases, and while that is interesting, it's not exactly what you'd call hard-core DA work."

Rombardo, 33, said though he doesn't have 20 years experience, he does have drive.

"I do have a desire to fulfill this position. I do have criminal experience and I do have administrative experience. This is an administrative position that creates policy for this office, and that's what I'll do. That's not getting done right now, and I will get that done."

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.