State Assembly District 40: Williamson - Two-year budget cycle hobbles state

Assembly candidate Robin Williamson says the current economic and budget crisis is an opportunity to create long-term solutions but that doing so will change how governments work in Nevada.

"We can't keep doing these two-year cycles," she said. "Hopefully with new people in there, there is going to be a new perspective on where we want to be instead of just cutting and pasting to survive."

Williamson, a Democrat, said the state can't just cut to erase the projected $3 billion shortfall.

"I'm not pro-taxes; I just know how to add," she said.

She quoted Debbie Smith of Sparks, the projected chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, as saying, "we have a two-year budget and enough money for one year."

She said there aren't easy solutions because, "Nevada has done an excellent job of handicapping ourselves and not allowing the quick and easy."

Williamson, who like her opponent Pete Livermore has been on the Board of Supervisors 12 years, said there are other ways of fixing the budget than just raising taxes.

"We need to listen to employees for their suggestions on how things should be done," she said. "But first we have to have some clear leadership at the top from the governor."

Williamson, currently the president of the Nevada Association of Counties, said that organization is looking into some potential solutions.

"We're looking at what functions could we take over that might not break us but would help the state," she said.

As an example, she said Carson City could consider taking over management and control of Marlette Lake, which provides water to both Carson City and Virginia City.

Williamson said many of those sorts of ideas will require giving Nevada's counties more control over their finances and policies.

"Senator (John) Lee has talked about giving counties operational home rule or functional home rule," she said.

Under existing law, what local governments do, how they do it and how they pay for it is heavily controlled by the state.

"It's ridiculous to expect an organization that meets every two years (the Legislature) to have complete oversight over an institution."

She said the current economic situation is a good opportunity to change that.

"We all want the same things," she said. "We all want good schools, good jobs. We want our environment protected and we all want our governments to work together."

She said she would support more public/private partnerships. She said she also believes in supporting and strengthening economic development statewide.

"We have to figure out how to create programs that support themselves," she said. "Government is going to look a lot different."

She said the changes Nevada needs to make will require long-term solutions.

Williamson said that means keeping an open mind to new ideas and being willing to work with everyone.

"Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and start talking to each other," she said.

To that task, Williamson said she brings a strong understanding of how local government works and what local officials need to do better - not only in Carson City but statewide as head of NACO - to the challenge.

Livermore and Robin Williamson are competing for the seat being vacated by Democrat Bonnie Parnell.