Staub, Walt to fight for supervisor seat

By Dave Frank

Appeal Staff Writer

Incumbent Richard Staub and teacher Molly Walt will fight for the Carson City Ward 4 supervisor seat in the general election after beating out three other candidates in the primary Tuesday.

Staub took about 39 percent of the 8,039 votes and Walt got about 25 percent. Former Carson City sheriff Paul McGrath got about 18 percent.

Walt said she was excited by the support she got from her message advocating more attention from the city for children, teens and young families as well as more investment in city by bringing visitors to Carson, especially to a downtown that has a lot of promise.

"Let's bring them here and keep them here in Carson City," said Walt, a 39-year-old Carson City School District teacher.

Staub, a two-term supervisor, said he will continue to talk about issues such as the freeway, redevelopment and the budget, despite accusations from some candidates who didn't do "the appropriate homework."

"Stirring the pot that has no ingredients does not make for good soup," said Staub, an attorney.

Transportation has been a major issue for him since he was first elected, he said, and he is working on a proposal that would suspend Carson City's contributions for the bypass that are raised through a gas tax until plans to finish it are resumed.

The city has kept its promise and the state does too, he said.

Staub criticized opponents who he said didn't recognize the work the board of supervisors has done by balancing the budget during a slow economy and cutting staff costs without significantly hurting service to the public.

Walt has said good government is important, but the city needs to focus more on downtown, schools and parks. She said she has found that her own family is often forced to leave the city on the weekend if it wants something to do, but there's no reason Carson City can't have the recreation and activities available that neighboring counties have.

McGrath said he wasn't too concerned about finishing third because "you don't have to worry about going on" to the general election anymore.

He said he was disappointed by the low turnout among a possible 22,160 registered voters.

Following McGrath, Jean Bondiett got about 11 percent of the vote and Andy Salm got about 6 percent.

• Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.