JOHN MCKENNA
Mailing Address: 4 Charleston Ct. Carson City, Nevada 89701-7676
Telephone: 775.883.2908
E-mail: JohnMcKenna4Ward3@charter.net
Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.
I am a certified public accountant with 30-plus years experience of successfully working with individuals, businesses, non-profits, and governments on financial and business matters. As a resident of Carson City since 1987, I served as a school board member from January 1993 to December 2008 and have been a volunteer member of several citizens' advisory committees including the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Debt Management Committee. Currently, I volunteer on the Audit Committee, charged with keeping an eye on the city's fiscal and operational management. Other community involvement includes membership in Rotary, FISH Board of Directors, and volunteering over 1,000 hours this year with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association building and maintaining the Tahoe Rim Trail. My extensive professional training and financial experience combined with service to the community demonstrates that I have the unique skills needed, in this time of extreme economic change, to be successful as your supervisor. My past success in meeting the needs of Carson City's citizens and the demands of my clients combined with effective leadership skills uniquely qualifies me for this position.
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
The most important issues are:
Dealing with the current economic downturn without making imprudent cuts to public safety or increasing any taxes.
Keeping the currently reduced size of the city budget as the economy improves.
Restoring depleted financial reserves.
Paying city debt early to reduce interest cost and reduce future taxes.
Increase citizen input into city decision making.
Reducing city operating and energy costs.
Maintaining and improving aging infrastructure.
Reviewing and modifying the focus and operations of the Redevelopment Authority to insure that it is benefiting all of Carson City and is accountable for its expenditures.
My belief is that small, efficient, unobtrusive government is best. Future economic development of Carson City depends on government focusing on its role as an essential service provider, not a party to every citizen interaction. Business is attracted to a safe community with a small, cost-effective government. Educated young people are attracted to this community when they are not paying for past decisions and can afford to shape the community that they want. Carson City is being forced to change - for the better. I want to make sure that these positive changes are permanent.
Why should voters choose you over other candidate?
Voters should select me because of the high level of needed skills and experience that I alone bring to the Board of Supervisors. My background of successful leadership and professional expertise in financial matters makes me uniquely qualified to lead the efforts to limit taxes while meeting your present and future needs.
A long-term outlook and strong evidence of increasing economic volatility strengthen my belief that Carson City government needs to become efficient and frugal. My successful record is one of active, creative, positive problem solving that has benefited this community.
My belief that everyone's opinion is valuable and contributes to the success of Carson City makes government more responsive. I deal with facts and make decisions based upon actual effectiveness - not opinion, emotion or political expediency. Leadership requires that problems be realistically faced and citizen based solutions be created. Blaming others is counterproductive and I keep it out of the decision process.
Voters should choose me because quietly, efficiently, frugally and independently I will apply my experience and skills successfully to make our city better.
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DAY WILLIAMS
Mailing Address: 1601 Fairview Drive #C, Carson City NV 89701-5860
Telephone: 775-885-8398
Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.
I get things done. During this campaign I have published a book, "We the People," with quotes from Presidents and many milestone American documents. I have practiced law in Carson City as a solo attorney since 1993. I've handled hundreds of cases. The cases have ranged from family law to business law to estate planning to civil rights to criminal law. I'm independent, and I will tackle hard cases when I believe my client is right. For example, in 2009 the power company planned to put unsightly high voltage power poles along Saliman Road by Seeliger School and my own backyard. I was told that you cannot fight the power company. We formed a neighborhood coalition and successfully persuaded the power company to install the power lines underground.
What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?
I favor a smaller, limited government and fewer taxes so that businesses can grow, hire more employees and contribute to their communities. We need more accountability in how our tax money is spent.
Our country and Carson City itself were built on vision, individual initiative, and private enterprise. We need to continue that tradition. While we are in a recession, local government must continue to meet citizens' needs for basic services such as law enforcement, fire protection, road work, water and sewer, and parks and recreation. More taxes and a bigger government will not solve our problems. Give businesses a chance to flourish, and they will. The local government can provide incentives to bring businesses to the area that will stay and contribute in the long run.
Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?
I bring analytical skills and legal knowledge to the table. I'm willing to speak out when the city moves in the wrong direction. I will listen to what the residents and taxpayers in this city have to say on topics that come before the board. I will push their vision of the city, not just my own vision.
Supervisors need to ask more questions than they do. They need to dig harder and to question the underlying assumptions of project proposals. The supervisors need a more unified vision of how to build Carson City for the future. For example, Carson City was named No. 3 in Business Week's Top 10 as an emerging arts community. Our arts community is an asset we can build on as a tourist attraction. Also, we have the resources to bring more light industry and "green" industries to the area. We should bring in those businesses, because they can fuel our economy.
I have an election website that states my opinion on issues facing Carson City. My campaign website, http://electday.info, has had more than 19,000 hits.