The Appeal asked candidates to address two questions in our column, so I’ll start with the first: “Why are you qualified for the position you are seeking?”
As I wrote in my first introduction column, I joined the Army at 18 as a Private and spent 24 years in law enforcement, intelligence, and special operations units. I worked my way up through the ranks, attended night school to earn a degree to qualify for Officer Candidate School (OCS), and finished my Bachelor’s degree while working as the Special Security Officer for Colin Powell (yes, I learned how to multi-task). I earned the Special Forces tab (green beret), was a distinguished graduate of OCS, finished in the top 10 percent of my class while earning a Master’s degree, and graduated Army Command and General Staff College. I participated in the Cold War, the war on drugs and the war on terrorism. I’ve been a peacekeeper, nation-builder, and executed national policy all over the globe. I helped write national security strategy and shape foreign relations as a very small cog in the large wheel of national security policy development.
Over the years, I led small teams, large units, balanced multi-million dollar budgets, and participated in the multi-billion dollar intelligence budget cycle. I retired as a Major in 2002 and entered federal service as a civilian in national security organizations. My last two years of service were as the federal DHS intelligence advisor to Nevada’s homeland security program to combat terrorism, organized crime, and human trafficking.
My 35 years of service reflect a broad world view and real experience in the practical application of leadership, problem solving, collaboration, and budget management, in highly complex environments. Additionally, I was privileged to serve with and be mentored by some of the best leaders and brightest minds in national security. I was selected to serve in these organizations because I consistently demonstrated the qualities expected of all leaders in positions of responsibility: to do the right thing, be fair, and be accountable for my actions.
When these leaders asked for someone to do the hard work and take the critical jobs, I said, “Send me!”
Today, I’m speaking to the most important people in Carson City, our voters, and I’m saying again...“Send me!”
If we are to make a better Carson City, we will do it together with principled and responsible leadership. However, I don’t consider the position of mayor as a leader of the people. I believe the mayor is the leader of our city government and the representative of the people. As your mayor, my job is to implement solutions for your needs. For these reasons and many more, I believe I’m qualified to be your mayor.
The second question The Appeal asked was “How do you envision Carson City in 2025?”
In my vision of Carson City 2025, we address our need for critical infrastructure, affordable water, sewer, and roads in the neighborhoods where we live, work, play, and go to school, FIRST.
We will partner with the private sector to extend digital broadband to our commercial corridors. Government and industry will share a strategic plan to build and maintain infrastructure that enables current business and attracts new ones. Our city will have diversified growth that adheres to our Master Plan. Our debt will be manageable, and centered on critical infrastructure improvements and voter approved discretionary spending. We’ll have a government that is both efficient and responsive to our citizens and employs automation effectively to improve public service. Private industry will lead the process of bringing tech training and trade skills to our youth to fill our own market needs. The downtown will be a part, not the center, of our fabric of life. The city will not compete with or undermine the private sector.
We will seek opportunities to outsource services using cost-benefit-analysis, and divest city property that will generate revenue if returned to the tax rolls. Moreover, we will have 5-10-and 20 year strategic plans that identify essential resource requirements and the cost to obtain them. Carson City will be a small town community with a strong identity and a responsible government that reflects the core values of its citizens.
Today, all of us share a common dilemma...We cannot expect the people who created the broad range of complex problems that afflict our city to somehow find the solutions we need to fix them. I believe our people and our neighborhoods are the most important elements of our city.
I believe our future is bright only if it’s affordable. But what I believe is less important than what you believe. If you believe it’s time for real change, time for a better Carson City, and time for your voice to be heard, I need your vote for Mayor. Send me!
Chris Carver can be reached at chris@chriscarver.org and www.chriscarver4mayor.org or (775) 720-6423.