PRIMARY ELECTION 2010: Storey County candidates

SHERIFF

Gerald Antinoro

Address: P.O. Box 88,

Virginia City, NV 89440

Telephone: 775-881-8196

E-mail: gantinoro@hotmail.com

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

I have 25 years of full-time law enforcement experience having started my career in 1984. In 1994, I came to Nevada and for the last 10 years I have been in the management area of public safety, currently serving as assistant sheriff of Storey County.

I am familiar with the finer points of leadership, labor relations and budgeting, which are all critical skills in our litigious society and with the current economic climate.

This is what sets me apart from the rest of the field: Experience and education.

My experience is full-time and current, while my education includes a master's degree in organizational management and graduation from the prestigious Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

Of course the biggest issues are always public safety. I will remain tough on drugs and criminal offenders while exercising proper discretion when and where it is appropriate.

I do not view my job as keeping the jail full, but providing a safe environment for our citizens and visitors, while being community, business, and tourist

friendly.

Along with a tough stance on criminality, I intend to continue developing the Senior Awareness program that has been implemented as well as the Neighborhood Watch program.

I am working with the schools to get the DARE program back into the curriculum and we are looking at the possibility of an Explorer program for high school students.

Safety and community involvement are paramount issues that I will focus on as well as further developing deputies to provide the best service possible to the citizens of Storey County.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

I am the only candidate that is currently in public safety and have been for the past 25 years. I am well established as a leader in both Storey County and the State of Nevada law enforcement communities.

Most of the competition do not even meet state peace officer standards and would have to attend the academy.

With the current economic climate, already possessing the knowledge, skills and abilities to run a law enforcement agency will prevent unnecessary spending to train individuals who lack these requirements.

Even if the other candidates successfully completed the requisite training at taxpayer expense, they will be managing individuals who are more highly trained and qualified than themselves.

By voting for me, the citizens and visitors of Storey County get a highly qualified and experienced peace officer who can successfully lead the Sheriff's Office to meet the challenges it will face.

Charlie Bolle

Mailing: P.O. Box 1095, Virginia City, NV 89440

Telephone: 775-847-0518

E-mail: cowboycharlie@att.net

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

I have 40 years experience in government positions - including budgeting, administration and management at the state and federal level - NASA as a budget analyst, the United States Army Communications Command as a comptroller, and three state public utilities commissions as a financial analyst and manager of commissioner advisors.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

My goal is to improve law enforcement reputation. This can be done by serving and protecting the people. All residents will be treated fairly and equally.

Residents should feel safe and comfortable with their sheriff's department. There is no need for aggressive and hostile tactics. Vehicles will only be stopped when there is valid probable cause. People violating the law will be issued a citation.

Deputies should live in Storey County, be part of the community, and know and respect the residents of Storey County. Deputies need to remember that their salaries are paid by the Storey County residents and they are public servants to the residents of Storey County. Deputies need to set an example to the residents and visitors.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

Because of the financial crisis that Storey County is currently facing, I am willing to take a 50 percent pay cut if elected. I hope that other county officials would do the same.

I have lived in Storey County for 12 years. I feel the sheriff should be a good manager and administrator. I have extensive experience in management, administration and budgeting. As sheriff my job would be to manage and set policy and see that the deputies carry out that policy. I know what is right, fair and decent. I will listen to people and treat them with the respect they deserve.

Dave Dykstra

Address: P.O. Box 407,

Virginia City NV 89440

Telephone:775-720-3400

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

Born and raised in Las Vegas,

I moved to Storey County 19 years ago. Cumulatively, I have 35 years experience as a police officer and criminal investigator. This includes 21 years with Las Vegas Metro Police Dept., seven years as a Storey County deputy sheriff, 24 years as a master at arms with U.S. Naval Reserves (Navy military police), and three years as an investigator with the Nevada State Public Defender Office. I have always had two careers, the second being a licensed contractor since 1974, primarily doing remodels and commercial tenant improvements, with an occasional custom home.

I retired as a contractor in 2008 after working three years as the project manager for Mono County Department of Public Works. I have held various supervisory positions, managed budgets from a few thousand dollars up to $3.2 million, and grants from a few hundred dollars up to $2.5 million.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

The most immediate issue would be the pending budget and how to keep costs down, yet still function at a high level. I would restructure the department to eliminate the high ratio of supervisors to deputies, without letting any personnel go. This would require input from all staff before reorganizing, and recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of everyone. My second objective would be to re-establish a resident officer program for each community within the county, and thirdly, to bring back an animal control officer with our own animal facility. Lastly, to establish various specialty patrol functions for special events, such as a bike patrol, motorcycle (street and dirt) patrols, and ATVs for offroad events and patrolling our county's various remote areas.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

I feel I am the most experienced with exposure in both the public and private sector. I would make myself available to everyone, try to use common sense when dealing with issues, always act in a fair and unbiased manner, and fulfill the age-old police motto "To Protect and To Serve."

Steve Mizelle

Address: P.O. Box 134, Virginia City, NV 89440

Telephone: 775-233-4723

E-mail:steve@mizellefor

sheriff.com

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

Approximately 18 years of law enforcement and security. I am very well adapted to training and managing personnel.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

I would implement Community Orientated Policing and instill the mindset of "community always first."

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

I have the passion and commitment to build a Sheriff's Office that the community will be proud of. I will restore the faith of the people. I will stand beside the members of our community and if needed I will stand between them and any unlawful government action. I will protect them and defend their constitutional rights without hesitation.

John Tyson

Address: P.O. Box 528, Virginia City, NV 89440

Phone: 775-771-2745

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

I have been a resident of Storey County for 28 years, with more than 30 years in law enforcement, including two years as a successful police chief in Northwest Arkansas.

In addition, I was the Storey County range management officer and information officer for the county for 23 years. I was honorably retired in 2005.

I am a Vietnam veteran, having served with the U.S. Air Force as a sentry dog handler and am honorably retired from the Air Force and Army National Guard with more than 30 years total military service.

For the past 25 years, I have been an award-winning journalist for my program, "John Tyson's Journal," with KOLO-TV in Reno.

I currently live in Virginia City with my wife Patty and my two dachshund dogs.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

The most important issue in this campaign is to restore the trust between sheriff's administration and the line officers. This in turn will help to restore the trust and confidence between the community and the Sheriff's Office.

The other issue that needs to be addressed is training and retraining. I want my officers to not only be deputies enforcing the law, but to be goodwill ambassadors, and role models for our youngsters.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

This election is about trust. Who will you trust to take over the reins of the Storey County Sheriff's Office? Who will you trust to provide professional leadership based on sound judgment, and the wisdom that comes with age and experience?

Public safety is serious business, therefore you must have a law enforcement agency and sheriff you can be proud of and comfortable with. It has to do with protecting personal freedom, and freedom from fear of those who you've entrusted to protect and serve.

A vote for me will be a vote for the kind of sheriff you've always wanted.

STOREY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

William (Bill) A. Maddox

Party: Republican

Address: 216 North Harbin Ave., Carson City, NV 89701

Telephone: 775-882-1004

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

Deputy district attorney for Carson City from 1978 to 1981; district attorney of Carson City from 1981 to 1985; special prosecutor for Douglas County, Washoe County, and Esmeralda County; president of the Nevada District Attorney's Association in 1985. Nominated by Sen. Paul Laxalt and appointed by President Ronald Reagan to be the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada and served from 1985 to 1989; partner in law firm of Maddox and Walker in Carson City from 1991 to 2000. Private practice civil and criminal attorney 1989-2000; District court judge for Carson City and Storey County 2000-2009. Personally involved as attorney or judge in over 100 jury trials and several thousand court proceedings.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

Prosecuting criminal cases; representing county commission and other county commissions or boards and representing county in civil litigation.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

Experience and qualifications.

Dave Neidert

Party: Republican

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 889, Virginia City, NV 89440

Telephone: 742-2081

E-mail: david.neidert@gmail.com

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

I have spent almost my entire legal career as a criminal prosecutor - first as chief criminal deputy district attorney in Humboldt County (1992-1993), then as assistant district attorney in Pershing County (1993-1997), and finally as deputy and senior deputy attorney general (1997 to present). In Pershing County I was the prosecutor for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe, served as acting district attorney, and was general counsel to the Pershing County Hospital District. In both counties I advised the County Commission on a variety of legal issues.

As a prosecutor, I have personally handled cases ranging from speeding to capital homicide. I have argued death penalty and other cases in front of both the Nevada Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I co-authored a United States Supreme Court brief for a case decided this year.

Storey County deserves a career prosecutor with small-county experience. That's what I offer.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

Storey County residents deserve a district attorney who will zealously prosecute crimes and look out for its victims. They deserve a district attorney not afraid to take difficult cases to trial and one who won't plea bargain cases for the sake of expediency.

Storey County residents deserve a district attorney who will partner with the sheriff and other law enforcement in fighting crime - a district attorney willing to work with law enforcement to put together strong cases but one who will also remain an independent voice. One who will give candid legal advice to the County Commission, the county manager, and other county officials - a district attorney who will act as a zealous advocate not only in criminal prosecutions but also in the county's civil litigation.

Most important, Storey County residents deserve a district attorney who will listen to them and who shares their concerns.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

I am the only career prosecutor in the race, and have more years experience as a prosecutor than either of my opponents. As a prosecutor, I have spent my legal career seeking justice for the victims of crime and zealously prosecuting those who break the law. Storey County residents deserve someone dedicated to the proposition that the victims of crime should not be re-victimized by the legal system.

As district attorney, I will listen to people's concerns, and make myself both available and accountable to Storey County residents. They deserve to know the decisions I make on their behalf and have the right to ask me about them. I can't guarantee they will like my decisions in any given case, but I will gladly explain those decisions to them. In short, Storey County residents should have ready access to information so they can evaluate my performance.

STOREY COUNTY ASSESSOR

Anita Honea

Address: 2380 Cartwright Road, Reno, NV 89521

Telephone: 775-847-7296

E-mail: nitapita3@yahoo

.com

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

Working in administration for over 20 years and being a former licensed real estate salesperson for 10 years has given me knowledge in both commercial and residential development. I believe in honest and fair problem solving, and think my years of working with people have prepared me to be effective in addressing the public's concerns.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

Along with improving information, I will work toward providing education about the office, processes and procedures. I've always worked to find solutions to people's problems and will make sure to have an open-door policy in the Assessor's Office. I will run the office with complete transparency, accountability, and good stewardship.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

I have the knowledge, skills and abilities to meet the challenges of this office. I want a customer friendly experience for the taxpayer. Customer service is my No. 1 priority.

Larry Ryan

Address: 27200 River View Road, Virginia City Highlands, NV 89521

Telephone: 775-742-1898

Did not return questionnaire.

Jana Seddon

Address: PO Box 110, Virginia City, NV 89440

Telephone: 775-847-9222

Did not return questionnaire.

STOREY COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1

LARRY PRATER

Party: Democrat

Address: P.O. Box 165, Virginia City, NV 89440

Telephone: 775-847-0465

E-mail: lprater@powernet

.net

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

I am a licensed civil engineer in Nevada and California. My 45 years of professional experience includes an 18 month contract in Saudi Arabia as a construction manager, and project manager on several multimillion-dollar projects in the Reno area, including the Sierra Pacific office building on Neil Road, the Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant, and the Federal Courthouse on South Virginia Street. I currently own and manage a small structural design business in Reno. 

Thirty years ago my wife and I built our home in the Highlands, and soon after I took a position on the planning commission, then as a school board trustee, and finally as county commissioner. While on the county commission I represented Storey County on the Tri-county Commission for the Restoration of the V&T railway. In 1998 I was reappointed to the planning commission and have served there since.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

Storey County is unique, and probably one of the most diverse small counties in the nation. Our citizens enjoy the many benefits of rural and small-town life. At the same time the county is home to major regional assets like the historic Comstock Mining District, the V&T Railroad, and the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. 

If elected, I promise to do everything I can to protect our lifestyle and those important assets, and to discourage inappropriate intrusions such as the recently proposed Cordevista residential development and the wind farm above Virginia City. 

Additionally, our current uncertain economy demands that your local government practice cautious fiscal management. I would assure that our citizens hard-earned tax dollars are spent wisely and equitably.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

I believe my long and varied service to Storey County, coupled with my professional and business background, provide me with the knowledge and experience to best serve the interests of all of the county's citizens.

I also believe that through my prior positions I have established a reputation for objectivity, integrity, and fair-mindedness. 

I sincerely hope that the voters of Storey County agree, and vote for me in the upcoming elections.

Jack McGuffey

Party: Democrat

Address: 1721 Hart Road, Virginia City Highlands, NV 89521

Telephone: 775-847-7407

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

For over 25 years I've been in the mechanical design engineering field with many of those years as project leader and am currently director of operations and an officer of the board for Probing Solutions, Inc. located in Dayton. I've been with Probing Solutions, Inc. since 1995. I also have my own business called Sierra Design & Machine where I offer computer aided mechanical design, drafting and documentation services.

Because of my attention to details these positions have given me the experience maintaining tightly controlled budgets along with the management of several projects at once.

This experience can now be put to task as in today's economy all monies coming into the county and going out must be critically accounted for. I do this for a living. 

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

Refusing to raise taxes and keeping the budget under control and start focusing more on generating income by embracing the V&T Railway which will draw even more tourist dollars, broadening our tax base by helping more companies get into the TRI Industrial Park.

Being more frugal on our spending by requiring more of the smaller purchases to require formal quotes as the big ticket items do. This keeps our vendors/contractors honest and costs down. Again this is what I do for a living.

Five County Commissioners: Many of us living in the VC Highlands have always felt the need for our own commissioner to represent our community.

Upon knocking on doors in the Mark Twain district they feel even more left out of the loop. Rainbow Bend is not as concerned as they currently have a commissioner living in among them, but that may change in two years as term limits will take effect for his seat.

Why should voters choose you over other candidates?

Many voters in Storey County, like me, have concerns about some questionable tactics of past issues primarily with spending, hiring and appointments. This is not uncommon in small communities as everyone is under the microscope especially during hard economic times.

This election gives Storey County voters the opportunity to elect a candidate who, with a strong professional business background, bringing a fresh outlook with new ideas and non-bias opinions and decisions to the table.

As for my politics: I am a conservative Kennedy-era Democrat and rather than voting party line, I always vote for the candidate who has best earned my trust and support. I hope I can earn yours.