WINNEMUCCA — Primary Election Candidates’ Night was held Wednesday (May 5) to allow candidates to address the voters. However, other candidates without a primary were given the opportunity to address the crowd, as well (see page 2).

The candidates were given one question in advance and a ten-minute time limit, so there was ample opportunity for them to answer the question and outline their qualifications for the job they're seeking.

 Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:  Kilgore and Rorex

Incumbent Sheriff Ed Kilgore will face challengers Andy Rorex and Bob Davidson Sr. in the primary. Davidson did not attend the event. The office of sheriff is non-partisan.

The prepared question:  Today kidnapping children terrorizes families across America. Jacy Lee Dugard was abducted from a Lake Tahoe neighborhood while walking to the school bus stop in 1991. She was then kept hidden for 18 years from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. As the leader of law enforcement in Humboldt County what steps would you implement to prevent this crime here.

ED KILGORE responded by promoting the importance of educating students about the danger strangers pose through existing program, such as DARE.  He also noted the near-future implementation of Reverse 911, which will notify the community when children are reported missing so potential witnesses and law enforcement may work together quickly.  He also pointed to continued Amber Alert training as vital as well as the HCSO’s attendance at the FBI’s training for recovering abducted children.

Kilgore used a portion of his allotted time to review the goals he set when elected four years ago. He said he made it a goal to improve the relationship between the HCSO and Winnemucca Police Department, which is now much more positive and professional, he said. He also targeted increased training as a goal and the HCSO currently makes 100 hours of training available to each deputy. The training was primarily held in Winnemucca, he noted, to save cost and to allow more personnel to attend.  In addition, Kilgore said he made it a goal to aggressively combat the problem of drugs in the community through programming.

Kilgore promoted the Humboldt County Search & Rescue team and noted the savings to the community from the all-volunteer team who pays for their own equipment and vehicles. Kilgore also noted the increased patrol in rural communities.

ANDY ROREX pointed out that approximately 2,185 kids are reported missing in the US every day.  He said it’s important to have programs in the schools that bring the students and law enforcement together with programs like DARE and Stranger Danger. He said law enforcement must also work to educate parents and to that end attend community events like Health Fairs in order to reach out to more parents. He said parents need to ask their kids questions; that it’s okay to ask them questions. He said parents want to respect the privacy of their children, but in so many cases involving a missing child law enforcement will ask the parents, “Who does your child hang out with?” – and the parents don’t know. 

In addition, Rorex said he supports the fingerprinting and photograph programs. As a parent he acknowledged the difficulty of keeping up with a kids growth, but the importance of having the most recent photos available in case the worst should happen and a child goes missing.  In addition, Rorex said he supported the SO’s current efforts to create maps and grids of the county for faster searches and said he would make that available to any law enforcement agency in the county who needed it – especially in the case of a missing child where cooperation between law enforcement agencies is so critical.  He said when it comes to the safety of kids in the community, what’s important is prevention, preparation, and cooperation.

Rorex used some of his allotted time to outline his qualifications for the job of sheriff. He went to work at the HCSO in 1995 and has since worked every department within the SO, at the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team,  and is currently a patrol sergeant. He said his goal was to see that all his guys go home safe.

 Humboldt County Commission Seat E

The campaign for Humboldt County Commission is a partisan race. As no Democrats filed to run, the two top GOP vote-getters will proceed to the general election after the June 8 primary.

The prepared question:  The federal government and the State of Nevada are currently short of funds; however, that is not the case in Humboldt County.  The Nevada Department of Education has been referred to as ‘The 800-pound gorilla’; therefore, budget cuts will be inevitable. As a commissioner what obligation to you have to local children?

MEL HUMMEL said in tough economic times he points to a lesson he learned on his ranch; mainly, he just can’t afford to buy every single thing he’d like to have. In addition, he said ranchers have long depended on each other for equipment-shares and that cooperative effort could be used between the county and the school district. While he didn’t feel the county would be able to supplement the district for the money they’re sure to lose during future budget cuts, perhaps there were ways for the commission to help with events and other one-time expenditures.

Hummel used a portion of his allotted time to tell the audience he decided to run for office as a way of giving back to the community.  He noted some of the organizations he currently volunteers with – including the Humboldt County Search & Rescue Team, of which he’s an original member. 

While Hummel and his wife are ranchers, he told the crowd he has many ties to mining. His family owned a mine in the Jackson Mountains and his wife worked at Apex/Sleeper Mine, the proceeds from which helped them purchase their ranch. Hummel said he’s a supporter of mining and would not support increased taxes that hurt the industry.

RICH BROWN began by noting Humboldt County is not flush with money and had to fall back on cash reserves to make the budget balance this year.  He said it was important to set goals to deal with the school’s budget deficit, but the school board would have to do that themselves as Humboldt County cannot direct them how to deal with the problem and has no representation on the school board. 

Brown used some of his allotted time to answer a poll sent out by anonymous sources asking about the landfill.  He said the community notification system (concerning public meeting notices) was adequate and based on NRS statutes. He said that for 23 years organizations like the Humboldt Development Authority has been trying to get the community involved in development decisions. However, the community has not made it a practice to show up.  As for the commissioners being involved in negotiations, Brown pointed out they are involved in host-agreement negotiations but the DA’s Office deals with the business or industry first (to work out any liabilities).  Brown said he would not be able to answer any specific questions about the landfill on the advice of his attorney because he has been subpoenaed in connection to the federal lawsuit against the county.

Brown has been on the Planning Commission for 13 years. On a question from the audience he said he would be supportive of new regulations requiring ATV owners to license their vehicles. The problem is that ATV riders are sometimes irresponsible; for example, they kick up too much dust near residential neighborhoods. Without license plates, neighbors have no way to report the actions to authorities.

JIM FRENCH  responded to the question by noting all public officials have an obligation to the kids.  However, with high unemployment and foreclosures there will come a time when there is a severe reduction in services in the public and private sector. The reductions will put all local governments in a position of having to prioritize the most important programs.  For example:  will the district increase class sizes in order to keep programs?  French said local governments must take action now to reduce spending and increase revenue (where possible) before the budget crunch hits the county.  Whatever action is taken, French argued, there must be considerable public input beforehand.

In outlining his resume for the public, French noted he worked for 34 years with the Nevada Department of Wildlife as a wildlife biologist.  He retired in June 2009.  He brings the perspective of someone who has worked with a number of different government agencies on land-use issues and noted his experience  will lend itself well to the county commission.  He continued and said his job with NDOW allowed him to work with development, reclamation, wildfire issues – just to name a few.

French told the crowd if elected he intended to follow the advice given to him by his father; that is, always put integrity first. All good leaders have integrity and a heart for service, he noted.

JOHN ARANT  said the county commission has an obligation to the students and agreed the looming budget crisis would hit the schools the hardest. He added the first thing the county owes the students is a solvent local government and going into debt to help the kids won’t help them. Essentially, Arant said, the county’s rainy day fund must be protected for future hard times.  Arant said the county, city, and school district must identify those areas where they can share costs.

Currently the owner and operator of The Martin Hotel, Arant said he worked for 30 years in the private sector in  the technology and banking fields and brings considerable managerial experience to the table.  He added his experience included budget and hiring/firing responsibilities.  He pointed to The Martin as one of his successes and noted under his ownership the restaurant progressed from a business experiencing tough times to one that has been reviewed by the New York Times, CNN, and media worldwide.

Arant pledged to protect the environment, promote jobs and growth, and protect the infrastructure. He also guaranteed fiscal responsibility.

MARSHALL KELLER pointed out where education is concerned he has a dog in the fight since his young children attend Humboldt County schools.  He noted the schools are aware that tough times are coming and have been preparing, which was the proper course of action. He said during tough times the schools may not be able to offer some of the programming they have now, but the important things was to keep those core classes every needs in math and English. Keller said he’d also like to see more vocational/technical education.  He added it was essential for leaders to promote and protect mining, which in turn keeps many in the county employed.

Originally from Butte, Montana, Keller was on active duty in the US Navy and is currently in the Navy Reserves.  Now a geologist employed in mining, Keller said he and his family have made their home in Winnemucca and intend to stay. He noted now was the time to make the infrastructure strong, in advance of tough times ahead, and keep urban sprawl under control because it’s expensive for the county to maintain roads and provide public safety once urban sprawl begins.

Keller said it was important to him to protect and maintain the western heritage.  As more and more Californians look to Nevada as a cheap place to retire, Keller said it will be important to hold onto our values and not recent residents drive change that long-term westerners will not appreciate.

BILL DOUGLAS is a licensed teacher and brought the perspective of someone who has taught all over the county as a substitute teacher.  While budget cuts are inevitable, the community should be involved in the process, Douglas said, and promoted the idea of a educational task force to examine the issue. The task force would include representatives from existing boards and outlying schools.  He said the task force would bring fresh ideas and a new perspective.  It might be, Douglas said, that some classes in the outlying areas with just six or seven students would have to be cut and classes combined.

The challenge, Douglas noted, was the federal government places certain expectations on schools – who then must pay for the programming. As an example, he pointed to No Child Left Behind, which has attempted to set a standard all US students must meet, but which added a substantial financial layer to the schools budget. Douglas said there are many such regulations on the schools that must be considered.

Douglas said he is honored by the trust placed in him as a teacher by the community.

 Humboldt County DA:  Russell Smith

The office of Humboldt County DA is a partisan one. In the Republican race is the incumbent, Russell Smith, and the challenger, Matt Stermitz. The top GOP vote-getter after the June 8 primary will go on to face Mike Macdonald, running on the Democratic Party ticket, and Kevin Pasquale, on the IAP ticket.  Matt Stermitz did not attend Wednesday's GOP Primary Election Candidates' Night.

Prepared question:  One of America’s most famous trials was  the 1995 trial of OJ Simpson for murder. One writer referred to it as ‘A great trash novel come to life” and another one called it “the trial of the Century”.  Precedent setting cases such as t his one are vital to our judicial system What is your opinion?

RUSSELL SMITH said its important to examine community values when considering how to move forward with a case. While some cases may be settled through negotiations, some cases are such that community values require the DA’s Office to move forward with prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.  As an example, he pointed to a Humboldt County case involving a man who was convicted of killing his infant son, which the defendant appealed. Smith said appeals are important because they make the law more clear.

Just finishing up his first term in office, Smith said he has honored by the trust of the people given to him four years ago.  He said he moved the DA’s Office from one that gave too many great deals to defendants in order to avoid criminal trials to one where defendants are charged and prosecuted appropriately at trial.

Hospital Board Seat A:  Hammargren

The campaign for Hospital Board Seat A is a nonpartisan one. Everyone can vote for this office and the two top vote-getters will move on to the general elections. Bill Hammargren is the incumbent; the challengers Jennifer Eldridge and Dave Gorley did not attend Candidates' Night.  There was not a prepared question for this candidate.

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