John McKenna: Public safety must be a priority

Certified public accountant John McKenna is vying for the Ward 3 supervisor seat, which will be left by Pete Livermore.

McKenna, 64, believes his financial background as well as his service on a number of city boards would be beneficial to him as a supervisor.

"Carson City is in the middle of the current economic crisis and is doing well handling the cuts needed," McKenna said. "However, a community-oriented, fiscally responsible voice on the board will not be there next year, and I feel my training, experience and philosophy will allow me to be a voice for fiscal responsibility."

McKenna's government experience includes 16 years on the school board, 12 years on the parks and recreation commission, eight years on the cable commission, four years on the debt management committee and current membership on the audit committee.

"Reducing the cost of government has already started. The initial cuts caused by the economic crisis will be in place by the end of 2010. Until the economy turns, there may be further reductions in programs and staff," he said. "My priorities are to protect public safety operations from further reductions."

McKenna is uncertain about the Nugget proposal.

"I don't have trouble so much with the downtown project. It was more the way it arrived than the details. We don't know what we're obligating, and I have a problem with raising sales tax when you're laying off people," he said.

"Carson City has been seeking an identity - an image - for many years. The (proposed) downtown Nugget project is just another example of a failed attempt," McKenna said. "To me, Carson City is best exemplified by the image that it is a wonderful place to live, raise a family, grow old, and along the way, have a career or business."

He said he would like to see a performing arts center in Carson City.

"If the voters wish to reinvest the savings from cutting the cost of government, we can work cooperatively with the school district and Western Nevada College to create a performing arts center," he said. "Carson City has the ability to build a performing arts center by using the school district's capacity to bond for construction. Structured correctly and approved by the voters, the school district could build a 1,000-seat auditorium and technical education center without increasing the property tax."

McKenna said Carson City is already known nationally as an arts community, and a center would provide more activities for everyone, including youth and seniors.

McKenna is unmarried and has lived in Carson City for 23 years.

He joins Mark Sattler and Day Williams in the primary race for the Ward 3 seat. Ward 3 encompasses the southeast portion of Carson City.