Lawson challenges Hillyard for Lyon County commission position

Charlie Lawson has experience in planning and that's what he said the future of Lyon County is all about.

"That's pretty much the whole issue if you look at it," he said. "Planning for water, planning for roads, planning for services."

Lawson, a native of Nevada, is challenging Chet Hillyard for the District 2 seat on the Lyon County Commission. Lawson said he didn't want to see Lyon County become like Carson City, having to spend millions to put a highway through.

"We need to bring the traffic situation somewhat into control," he said. "Also, we have to bring services to the county such as shopping, so people don't have to drive all the way to Timbuktu."

Lawson spent eight years serving on both the Lyon County Planning Commission and on the Carson Water Subconservancy District. Since 1984 he has served on the Stagecoach General Improvement District, most of those as that body's chairman.

He was a builder and contractor, he said, having built the first stage of the Arrowhead development. He also served eight years in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Lawson said gas prices will keep him from doing much door-to-door campaigning.

"It's tough to do that in a rural area," he said.

He said planning, transportation and water issues are all related, and that he supports the Carson Water Conservancy's plan for a regional water system.

"You get a lot of local folks not wanting to part with 'their' water," he said.

Incumbent Chet Hillyard is seeking his fifth term as representative for District 2. He said he is running to "improve the health, safety and welfare of every citizen."

In a statement, Hillyard outlined his accomplishments over 16 years in office, including creation of the Silver Springs wastewater treatment project and creation of the general improvement district, organizing the county business license office and the county government substation office in Dayton.

Hillyard said he would work hard on planning issues and in his statement, called "the Fernley and Dayton areas examples of intelligent planning."

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.