James Robertson is interviewed for a 2009 story in the Nevada Appeal.
James Robertson, who was mayor of Carson City when the city and Ormsby County consolidated in 1969, died June 13.
He was 94.
Robertson was the last surviving former mayor whose service predated consolidation. He was the one who spearheaded that effort. He said in a 2009 interview that consolidation reduced waste and duplication of governmental services.
Robertson also worked to move parking off downtown Carson Street and clean up the area. Removing parking was met with some objections from businesses that feared it would reduce customer traffic.
Limited parking was reintroduced to downtown when Carson Street was remodeled a few years ago and narrowed to two lanes after the bypass from Arrowhead to Fairview opened.
He served six years as mayor but declined to seek re-election when new elections were called following consolidation.
During his tenure, the city grew from about 8,000 to 15,000. The current population of Carson City is more than 55,000.
Robertson also worked to keep elected city positions nonpartisan.
“There’s not a place for party politics in local government,” he said.
The 1960s was also the period when many of Carson City’s streets were paved.
Robertson owned furniture stores in Carson City, Reno and at Lake Tahoe.
