Name: Shelly Aldean
Age: 52
Address: 2614 Bohr Road, Carson City, NV 89706
Phone number and campaign Web site: 885-8282 www.aldean4supervisor.com
Education: BA from the University of California at Davis
Profession: Corporate Broker/Commercial Property Manager
Political experience: I have served on the Carson City Board of Supervisors
since 2003.
Please write a short biography of yourself (this answer may be up to 200
words; you might include such things as birthplace, career, community
involvement/volunteer efforts, family, etc.):
I was born and raised in the East Bay Area and since graduating from college
have worked as a member of a family owned and operated business specializing
in commercial and resort-oriented residential development. Raised by parents
who stressed the importance of community service, I became civically
involved shortly after moving to Carson City in 1989. I have served as
president of the Carson City Mainstreet organization and as president of the
Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce. I am past chair and a current member
of the Western Nevada College Foundation and an emeritus member of the UNR
Foundation and was recently elected as president of the Capital City Circles
Initiative, a new program helping people in need achieve self-sufficiency.
As a member of the Board of Supervisors, I serve as Carson City's
representative on the TRPA Governing Board and am the current chair of CAMPO
and RTC.
Describe your vision for the Carson City of the future:
I envision that Carson City will continue to innovate and be a leader among
communities by preserving its open spaces, protecting its historic
resources, ensuring the adequacy and quality of its public services,
cooperating with its regional partners, and by creating a keener sense of
place by renewing and upgrading its built environment while retaining its
small town charm. I also envision that Carson City will continue to be
blessed with residents who are passionate about their community and willing
to work to ensure its future as an appealing place to live.
What are the three most important elements to the quality of life in Carson
City?
1. Carson City's strong sense of self. We are a capital city and a
crossroads community with a venerable past, a bright future and the will to
overcome any challenge.
2. The passion and dedication of its residents. People in Carson City are
extremely generous with their time, their talents and, when necessary, their
pocketbooks.
3. It's beautiful geographical location which affords all residents access
to incomparable recreational opportunities.
List the three most important issues Carson City will face in the next few
years:
1. Our battle against drug abuse and gang violence; 2. The need to diversify
economically in order to weather future economic downturns; and 3. The need
to remain fiscally disciplined even in prosperous times.
Recently, the Chamber of Commerce executive director printed an assessment
of the aesthetics of Carson City's business districts, detailing many
buildings and sites in disrepair. What kind of "first impression" do you
believe Carson City makes on visitors? Would you support tougher standards
on building owners, even if they require those business owners to be fined
or closed if they do not comply?
Sometimes we are our own worst critics. Although Carson City is not without
its eyesores, we have done a reasonably good job of addressing blight in
high visibility areas. As a generaI rule, I would prefer to work
cooperatively with an owner of a building that has fallen into disrepair
rather than resort to punitive measures, especially during financially hard
times. On the other hand, if the owner has the resources to abate the
problem but refuses to do so, then I would consider harsher remedies
especially if the blighted condition of the building is depreciating the
value of surrounding properties.
Sales tax revenues have been declining steadily in the city due to the slow
economy. If this trend continues, what can the city do to compensate? For
example, would you consider layoffs as part of the solution?
The City can compensate by evaluating every program based on a cost to
benefit ratio and by eliminating those programs that are not cost effective
based on value received. Although layoffs should be avoided because of the
impact they have on the City's ability to provide services, the toll they
take on the fabric of families, and the added burden they place on social
service providers, nothing can be excluded as an option.
How would you characterize the level of crime in Carson City, including
gang-related crime? Do you believe the city needs more law enforcement
officers?
I would characrterize it as manageable. Like every other department in the
City, the Sheriff's Office has had to address the challenge of doing more
with less and, to date, has succeeded. However, if gang related crimes
continue to rise we may have to re-evaluate the number of officers dedicated
to gang suppression and reassign resources within the Department.
How will you vote on the public safety ballot question that asks voters if
they want to increase their property taxes to add more firefighters,
paramedics and law enforcement officers? Why?
Approximately 45% of our general fund budget is already dedicated to public
safety. Given the weakened state of our economy and the increasing number of
retail store closures, an added property tax burden would only compound the
problem, leading to the possibility of further business failures and an
increased diminishment in retail sales tax collections which represent
roughly 45% of our General Fund revenues. Although I admire and respect our
public safety officials, now is not the time to increase the tax burden on
either our residents or our local businesses.
How will you vote on the V&T tax ballot question, which proposes using sales
tax to provide $10 million for the railroad in return for a share of the
profits. Why?
I intend to vote in support of the ballot question but, as I have already
stated publicly, if re-elected , I will not vote to enact the additional
sales tax without an affirmative vote of the people. Carson City has a $21
million investment to protect and the only way for the City to fully benefit
from the reconstruction of the railroad is to ensure that it is extended
through the Carson River Canyon to a terminal in Carson City. If the sales
tax increase is approved by the people, I would condition the enactment on
increasing Carson City's oversight of the project.
Is there enough for young people to do in Carson City? Could the city do
better? If so, how?
Many young people, unfortunately, have become too dependent upon electronic
forms of entertainment and have lost the capacity to use their imaginations
and find satisfaction in simple activities like hiking or shooting hoops.
Personally, I don't subscribe to the assertion that there is nothing to do
in Carson City. Just open the pages of the Parks & Rec Department's
"Discover Us" publication. It is also encumbent upon parents to recreate
with their kids and spend more meaningful time engaged in healthy family
activities. This would also help to reduce gang recruitment and other forms
of delinquency.
Carson City has a detailed plan to make the downtown more inviting to
walking traffic, which includes a reduction in lanes. Do you support the
overall plan? What are your ideas for improving downtown?
I support the downtown redevelopment plan and the effort to make the heart
of our City more pedestrian friendly. Throughout the country similar plans
have been successfully implemented resulting in an economic rebirth in these
areas. While the reduction in travel lanes will improve the overall ambience
of the downtown district, it is imperative that we have adequate and
conveniently located parking that is well marked and easy to find. To
sustain the viability of downtown long term it is important that the
merchants and property owners remain cooperative and cohesive and take
responsibility for sustaining what the City helps to create.
The city has recently attracted retailers by offering monetary incentives.
Do you support this policy? If not, what strategy do you believe the city
should use to attract businesses to locate here rather than in nearby
communities?
I am hopeful, based on recent conversations with adjoining jurisdictions,
that in the future large cash incentives to attract or retain major
retailers will no longer be necessary. However, in the interim we must do
everything in our power to protect and enhance our sales tax base. Beyond
monetary incentives, we must continue to project a business-friendly
attitude and look for other ways of partnering with prospective retailers
through deal facilitation, infrastructure improvement work and/or the
sharing of revenues through a growth in the sales tax base.
Carson City has been in competition with Douglas County for retail
businesses and the sales tax dollars they bring. Is this competition
healthy? Are you in favor of exploring an arrangement that would combine
business recruitment efforts and share sales tax revenue?
Supervisor Williamson and I initiated the discussion with Douglas County
about a possible revenue sharing arrangement which has now been expanded to
include other resources. The competition between the two jurisdictions has
not been healthy. It has created ill will and, if it continues, could
result in poor planning decisions and the continued use of large cash
incentives to "out bid" the competition. Cooperation will prevent large
retailers from pitting one county against another and will result in better
financial decisions.
Do you believe Carson City's library is adequate? Would you support a tax to
expand and improve the library? Why?
I believe that the current library is at a tipping point. In order to remain
viable it needs to expand and modernize but it also needs to integrate into
its operation a greater retail component to help offset reductions in City
support due to current economic conditions. I certainly would not oppose the
placement of a question on a future ballot requesting voter approval of a
tax increase.
Do you believe the city's bus system is adequate? Should it be expanded?
Although JAC's monthly ridership expanded to over 11,000 rides in August of
this year, its fare box revenues have generally not met projections. In
view of the fact that it provides an important public service, especially to
seniors, I would support its expansion providing Federal transit funds are
available to support the growth and providing it doesn't become too great a
burden on the General Fund.
Do you believe Carson City has an adequate number of parks and similar
facilities? Why?
Coupled with its open space acquisitions, I believe that Carson City has an
exceptional selection of parks and recreational facilties for a community
its size.The passage of Question 18 has provided the Parks and Recreation
Department with the financial resources that most communities don't have and
has allowed Carson City to improve and maintain its parks and recreational
facilities using a dedicated source of funding.
What role should the city play, monetarily and otherwise, in supporting
private efforts in the areas of social services and arts? (examples include
Partnership Carson, City, CASA, etc.)
Through the Community Support Services grant funding program Carson City has
provided a substantial amount of support to local nonprofits offering
services to our community. To the extent that these organizations continue
to relieve Carson City of having to provide these essential services or to
the extent that their activities benefit the local economy, I would support
continued funding if financially feasible.
What else would you like to say to voters about your qualifications and
ideas?
I have spent most of my adult life in community service and feel a strong
sense of commitment to help Carson City realize its full potential as a
center of commerce and as a community dedicated to the safety and prosperity
of its residents. I welcome voters to visit my website for further
information about my qualifications.