CANDIDATES FORUM: The great state of debate

Office seekers give their views on issues of the day

Almost 200 people showed up for the biggest political event before the Sept. 3 primary, the Pahrump Democratic Club candidates forum Aug. 15, which featured speeches by numerous candidates of both parties, campaign handouts, a few political sideshows, complimentary cakes and plenty of red, white and blue.

The forum included appearances by statewide office seekers like Democratic Attorney General candidate John Hunt and the first Pahrump appearance by Democratic State Controller candidate John Lee. A full field of sheriff's candidates were on hand, in what was probably the highlight of the evening, and seven Pahrump Town Board candidates, while only two candidates appeared for the Nevada Assembly 36 race and Candice Trummell was the only candidate to show up from among four candidates in the Nye County Commission District 4 race.

By the time it was over, four hours and 45 minutes later, 38 candidates had covered issues ranging from incorporation to gangs to the dissolution of the hospital board. The crowd dwindled to 30 people including Ray Mielzynski holding the American flag and Don Cox, with a lizard named "Elvis" on his head.

District Attorney Bob Beckett began the speechmaking, saying he worked hard to develop a good district attorney's office along with his deputy district attorneys.

"Over the past two years these deputies have prosecuted crime and criminals, and we're winning. We have a high conviction rate and we're very proud of that," Beckett said.

The district attorney mentioned the two programs he's proud of -- the child protection program, which he said is funded 66 percent by state and federal grants and the hot check program, which is paid by the perpetrator.

His opponent, Brian Kunzi, said the district attorney's office should respond to changing issues in Pahrump, giving answers to problems like the continuing debate over Calvada covenants, conditions and restrictions

Kunzi said every question presented to the district attorney's office will be answered. "I will not be a district attorney Monday through Friday, eight to five," he said.

Kunzi raised the issue of plea bargaining.

"I have never ever as a district attorney offered a plea bargain without consulting the victim first," Kunzi said. "We have to have a strong deterrence and we do not do that by offering plea bargains."

"When I became a district attorney I saw plea bargaining as a necessary evil," Beckett replied. "If the elements of a crime are not there, you're not going to turn it into something it isn't."

"At times we have to plea bargain to get the bird in the hand," he said.

Kunzi charged the district attorney's office gets close to trial before discovering they don't have a case. "If you don't have your five elements of a crime they shouldn't be charged," he said.

Beckett said the number of civil cases filed against Nye County dropped dramatically in his term because he isn't afraid to tell commissioners not to do something. "We're telling them they can't do something because it'll blow up in their face."

Nye County Commission District 4 candidate Trummell quoted from President Kennedy's inaugural speech among some famous quotes used in her remarks: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

"Running for my fellow citizens, this is my sole agenda," Trummell said, adding she wasn't committed toward a particular person or cause until she's informed of the issues.

Trummell sought to dispel charges she lacked experience, saying she organized Pahrump Valley High School students to lobby the state Legislature for a high tech center.

"My honesty and character are unquestionable. I am not looking out for my interests, but everybody," Trummell said. "My detractors use my age as the only reason I'm not qualified to serve. I submit my age is an asset."

She closed with another quote, this time from Albert Einstein who said, "We do not solve problems with the mind-set that created them."

District 5 candidate Patricia Cox outlined three of the seven issues in her platform: master planning to identify residential, commercial and industrial areas; infrastructure like roads and retention basins; and model leadership. She said there should be a moratorium on variances and planning ordinances until the master plan is developed.

Cox mentioned her community service with the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce and Pahrump Valley Community Action Team. "I demonstrated through my community service that I have definitely walked the talk," she said.

Fellow District 5 commission candidate Marquis "Mark" Atkinson said he's retired and can devote more time to the job. Atkinson said the county hasn't tried hard enough to get grants for things like roads, parks and youth activities.

"I want to get enough grants to do all those roads in Nye County," Atkinson said. "We need to get rid of the dust. There are a lot of senior citizens here with emphysema."

The county also should try more to lure businesses into Pahrump, Atkinson said. "If you give them two years they don't have to pay taxes, then you can get jobs that pay $10 to $15 per hour," he said. "It completely amazes me all the roadblocks put in Wal-Mart's way to come out and build."

District 5 commission candidate Ed Bishop said he's been chairman of the Pahrump Town Board, a member of the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission and the board of equalization.

"You hear a lot about a master plan. We have a master plan. It's 26 pages. It was adopted on April 21, 1999," Bishop said. He said the county should give the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission six months to write a zoning ordinance or dissolve the board.

Bishop said Pahrump needs infrastructure. A large company couldn't locate here because they wouldn't have adequate water and sewer, he said.

Bishop was the only county commission candidate to bring up Yucca Mountain.

"I don't like Yucca Mountain but it's a reality, it's coming," Bishop said. He added if the county doesn't get motivated on this issue, "Clark County is going to get all the money. We're going to get the dump -- just like the test site."

Commission candidates were asked about dissolving the hospital board, a move all seemed to agree with. Cox and Trummell said since the state awarded a certificate of need to Rural Health Management Corp. to build a hospital, the board isn't needed. Bishop said there are six positions up for re-election on the hospital board but only two people are interested in running. Atkinson said the county doesn't need the hospital board and said the 25-bed hospital being proposed "is a joke" for what's needed in Pahrump.

County Auditor/Recorder candidates Donna Motis, the incumbent, and Genie Walker, kept to a businesslike discussion of qualifications. Motis outlined the auditor/recorder's function in recording land transactions, marriages, subdivision maps, death certificates and other records. But while it has records dating back to 1864, the county now faces the challenge of converting to a new computer system, she said.

"Change is not easy. We haven't had a new accounting system and payroll system in 12 years. We appreciate the patience of the public," Motis said.

Walker, a Pahrump Valley High School graduate who worked as a bookkeeper and auditor, said she became familiar with the functions of the auditor/recorder office through her work at a title company. Walker said she wants to expand services in Pahrump where there are a majority of the county's title companies.

Things began getting heated in the county treasurer's debate, which boasts a field of six candidates. Incumbent Pat Foster said when she took over the job, the idea of direct deposit in the Tonopah office was bringing 40 to 50 checks to the bank in the afternoon. Foster said it took three to four months to deposit some checks when she took office.

Treasurer candidate Virginia Reid said she had more than 30 years of finance experience, including 25 years in the banking industry, handling portfolios close to $300 million. Reid was excited about the new computerized treasurer's system saying, "the office here in Pahrump will be able to post their payments instead of sending them to Tonopah."

Reid said there's $1 million to $1.5 million in accounts not drawing interest. She pledged to bring unity to the treasurer's office by having a presence in both the Pahrump and Tonopah offices.

Treasurer candidate Tim Leavitt, an office manager for Ron Murphy Construction and Pahrump Town Board member, said he'll establish proper investment and banking procedures. Leavitt said deposits need to be made daily and said the Nye County treasurer's office could have a Web site like other counties where property owners can retrieve information.

The only Democratic treasurer candidate, Gary Budahl, said he received a degree in accounting and finance from Mankato State University and works for Dan McArthur, who handles government audits for a number of local entities.

"All of this work has given me the background and experience to fulfill the responsibility of the job," McArthur said.

Budahl said Nye County has $40 million in the bank. "If I can make an extra half-percent (interest) on that money that's $200,000 we don't have currently.

"I intend to improve community service, improve community service and improve community service," he said. "Everybody that comes to that window needs to be treated with courtesy and respect. I plan to do that."

Foster disputed the fact there was $400,000 sitting in the county treasurer's office waiting to be deposited. Reid replied that was information she was supplied by the treasurer's office. Budahl said there's no reason why county funds couldn't be deposited in a Pahrump bank.

Tony DeMeo opened the debate among the five sheriff's candidates saying, "There's a new sheriff in town."

"This administration is still in denial about public safety, deputy safety, training issues and citizen property rights," DeMeo said. He said he's tired of the county being No. 1 in burglaries in the state and having one of the highest crime rates.

"I'm sick and tired of this department saying to the public nothing is wrong when, during a rash of home invasions, this administration says on television, 'it's nothing, it's only a burglary,' " DeMeo said.

Sheriff's candidate Rick Marshall said he has been a resident of Nye County for 16 years and four years in Pahrump.

"I want to go back to common sense policing. I want to let employees make decisions in this agency," Marshall said.

Marshall complained two officers were assigned to the district attorney's office under the sheriff's department budget, while there were eight positions needed in Pahrump. The sheriff's department needs to expand volunteer services by reaching out in the community for volunteers while better pay and benefits need to be offered to salaried officers, he said.

The biggest issue in the last five years is the sheriff's department had an 89 percent turnover rate, Marshall said, noting 110 employees left the department. "A majority have been fed up with the sheriff's department and left."

Sheriff's candidate Don Lee said he has a master's degree in computer science, teaches high school government and spent 22 years in law enforcement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He pledged to establish a Youth Explorers program, add reserve deputies and a Search and Rescue team. Lee also wants to establish a Use of Force Board to review complaints against officers.

"We need a sheriff's department no one is afraid of," Lee said. "The sheriff's department is a servant of the citizens of the community."

"We have to bring the Constitution and the Bill of Rights back to Nye County," sheriff's candidate Ray "The Flagman" Mielzynski said, displaying his "Freedom Baton" consisting of the bill of rights wrapped around a motorcycle muffler. "The Constitution is the law of the land, not the bogus stuff going on in this county."

Mielzynski described the case of a homeless veteran jailed over Easter weekend for being a public nuisance and a good Samaritan who let a woman in his home fleeing a pack of dogs only to be arrested for drug paraphernalia.

"Every citizen is going to get a fair shake from now on," Mielzynski said. "The people are the boss. The sheriff and his deputies are the servants."

After Mielzynski's loud speech, Sheriff Wade Lieseke joked, "can you hear me, Ray? I don't know if your ears are still working OK, mine are kinda blown out!"

Lieseke said he's been sheriff the last 12 years, is a Vietnam combat veteran, University of Nevada, Reno graduate and achieved the highest level in Police Officer Standard and Training certification.

"I've dedicated my life to protecting our communities in Nye County," Lieseke said. "We have the best trained, best equipped, best manned sheriff's department in the state."

Lieseke said he's obtained more than $4 million in grant money, enough to fund 22 deputies. The Scorpion Task Force has taken down 32 methamphetamine labs and made 400 arrests, he said. The Nye County Sheriff's Department has the highest solve rate for a jurisdiction with more than 1,000 felonies per year, the sheriff said. Lieseke mentioned the programs for youth, like bicycle helmets and child safety seats, and programs for senior citizens, like defibrillators in patrol cars.

"We have safe streets, safe communities, safe schools in Nye County and I'm going to tell you, we're going to keep it that way," Lieseke said.

Lieseke said the deputies turnover rate only averages 13.95 percent per year, saying everybody leaves a job sooner or later. The sheriff said Nye County is competing with Henderson, North Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which pays deputies $13,000 to $15,000 more per year.

"That makes our officers ripe fruit to be picked by these other agencies," Lieseke said. "We cannot compete. It is very tough."

Marshall said only a few officers went to those other agencies and said, "That's an unacceptable attrition rate." DeMeo said until October 2001, the sheriff's department didn't admit it had a high attrition rate.

"This administration turns law enforcement officers out," DeMeo said. "I cannot deal with an agency that has no respect for the officials that serve."

Lee said officers were quitting because of administrators micromanaging the department. "Officers feel they're not being allowed in the decision-making process in the field," he said.

"The citizens are the first line of defense. We don't need any more cops," Mielzynski said. If the sheriff's department budget is $8 million the sheriff should live within it, he said.

While Lieseke said there isn't a gang problem in Pahrump and graffiti taggers were only "wannabes."

Lee said he taught alternative education which included a member of the 28th Street gang from Pahrump. DeMeo said when he worked for the sheriff's department he received a flier about seven active gang members in the community and added, "wannabes turn out to be gonna-be's."


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