Candidates debate on Monday evening

Staff report

Candidates for Carson City mayor, supervisor and state assembly will debate Monday during a "no frills" forum hosted by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, said Kathleen Plante, chamber programs manager.

The 16 candidates will face questions from Robert Morin, a political professor at Western Nevada College.

The audience will be able to participate by submitting written questions.

None of the three school board candidates will be in the forum, since only one seat is contested, Plante said, and that by only one person.

The chamber also hosted a forum in 2006, but that was a luncheon event.

Former Carson City Sheriff Paul McGrath, a candidate for Ward 4 supervisor, is focusing his campaign on his opposition to the November ballot questions that would raise sales taxes for the V&T Railway and would raise property taxes for the fire and sheriff's departments.

He said he would like to get across at the debate his opposition to "city bureaucrats" who try to raise taxes just because they get "a hair up their butt."

Dennis Johnson, who is running against incumbent Shelly Aldean for Ward 2 supervisor, said the debate might be tight on time with so many candidates, but he will try to let voters know his message.

He said citizens should be more involved with city government and get more educated with what it's doing.

He called some of the board of supervisors' actions "questionable."

Ken Haskins, candidate for mayor, said he's excited about the debate and hearing what other "high-caliber" candidates have to say.

"I think I'll learn more than I'll contribute," he said, "but I'm looking forward to it."

Candidates for mayor include Haskins, Bob Crowell, Pete Hansell, Ken Haskins, Sean Lehmann, Steve McClung and Jim Shirk.

Mayor Marv Teixeira will not seek a fourth term.

Candidates for Ward 4 supervisor include McGrath, incumbent Richard Staub, Jean Bondiett, Andrew Salm and Molly Walt.

Candidates for Assembly District 40 are incumbent Bonnie Parnell, Cheryl Lau and John Wagner.

If you go

What: Local candidates forum

Where: Marlette Hall at Western Nevada College, 2201 W. College Parkway

When: 6 p.m. Monday