Supervisor candidates express agreements, differences over city issues
The candidates' forum put on Tuesday night by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce allowed the seven people running for Carson City Supervisor to define where they each stand on local issues.
The candidates included current Ward 4 Supervisor Molly Walt, and the two other people running for that seat, Jim Shirk and Amy Clemens. Vying for the open Ward 2 seat were Brad Bonkowski, Dennis Johnson, Stacie Wilke-McCulloch and Maurice White.
If you want the he said/she said account of the forum, you can check out this story, or go to ACCTV.org and watch the video.
There was a lot of agreement between the seven, especially on the need to create jobs in Carson City. And they all declared that they believe in not wasting tax dollars, and that they would spend it wisely to preserve the quality of life residents currently enjoy.
But where do they differ? That's probably the real question voters want answered.
On the hot-button issue of the Nugget Project, you have Supervisor Walt firmly in the yes column, while Shirk, White and Johnson were just as firmly on the other side. Wilke-McCulloch said she likes the project and wished the supervisors had moved forward with it, but then said they should put off the library part because the city doesn't have the money. Bonkowski said he likes the project, but not the funding mechanism, which puts him pretty much in the middle, too. Clemens had to leave before answering this question, after learning that a family member was injured in the TRE Fire.
Only Walt defended the recently enacted property tax hike that she and the current supervisors unanimously voted for last week. Being the only incumbent on the panel, Walt could have been an easy target for taking tough votes like that, but the other candidates mostly refrained from aiming their arrows at her.
With their answers, the candidates tried to portray themselves as who they want voters to know them as.
For Walt, she focused on being a team player who can work with the other supervisors.
Bonkowski stressed his business background and knowledge of commercial development, as well as his pragmatism.
Shirk talked about changing the dynamics of city government, and of being a full-time supervisor.
White highlighted his commitment to the city, evidenced by his attendance at hundreds of local meetings.
Wilke-McCulloch said she had no agenda, and wanted to do whatever the voters want.
Johnson talked about making tough decisions on the budget, and removing obstacles to development.
Clemens (in the short time she was there) stressed making the right investments in the city, but not raising taxes.
You can see more here:
Ward 2 Candidates
- Amy Clemens
- Carson City
- Carson City Chamber of Commerce
- Amy
- Business
- carson
- City
- Development
- Family
- fire
- funding
- Government
- hike
- Investments
- learning
- life
- local
- Maurice
- Maurice White
- Molly Walt
- money
- Moved
- need
- News
- nugget
- nugget project
- panel
- Preserve
- Property Tax
- Quality
- running
- Supervisors
- tax
- tax hike
- Taxes
- The Carson City Chamber Of Commerce
- video
- Voters
- WARD 2
- White
- Chamber of Commerce
- jobs
- Library