Churchill Commission candidates tout experience

The only two candidates running for the county commission’s District 3 spoke Wednesday at the monthly luncheon of the Churchill County Central Republican Committee.

This is the only county race being contested before the primary election next week. Both the school board and Mosquito, Vector and Noxious Weed Abatement Board did not draw any competitive races to their nonpartisan positions.

Early voting ends today, and voting for the primary election is Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fallon Convention Center.

Carl Erquiaga and Bill Slentz, both Republicans, gave an overview of their qualifications and accomplishments before answering questions.

Erquiaga was first elected in 2008 and is seeking his third and final term on the county commission because of state term limits. The longtime county resident said the position is about getting the job done.

“We have balanced every budget during the last eight years without raising taxes,” Erquiaga said of the commission. “This is an everyday working job to do things for the people of this county, and it’s not always easy.”

Erquiaga focused on his experience on the commission, saying institutional knowledge is lost if an office changes hands.

“I have the experience to do the job...and I have invested the time and services,” he said.

During his two terms on the commission, Erquiaga said he has been involved with improving health and the fire department, the museum and library in addition to supporting the construction of a new senior center on South Maine Street. Furthermore, Erquiaga said he and his fellow commissioners have been involved with the Bureau of Land Management’s new land management plan.

Slentz touted his experience as a businessman and former member of the Churchill County School Board. Slentz and his family moved to Churchill County 37 years ago.

“I have owned and operated five businesses in the county — successful businesses,” Slentz said.

Before he retired, he began Oasis Online, which his son now owns and manages. Slentz said he believes in old values when a handshake meant something and when giving one’s word is still good.

“Politicians forgot that when you give someone your word, you keep it,” Slentz said. “They also forgot they serve the people.”

Slentz said the community has been good to his family, yet he said the county and commissioners could be facing troubling times ahead, especially with the United States government.

“The problem is with the federal government. They want to take over more and more of our lands,” Slentz said, adding the feds are using the pretext of protecting wildlife for the additional land grab.

Slentz said he has been studying information he received from the county manager on the county’s resource plan and public lands regulations and plans. He said the management of federal lands could be better handled by state government that from those in Washington, D.C.

If elected, Slentz said he would use common sense when making decisions.

“I would listen to all sides,” he said. “You don’t always know what everyone thinks.”

Slentz has a wide variety of experience from serving on various committees ranging from Gov. Brian Sandoval’s technology board to being elected president of the school board and the Chamber of Commerce.

“I have extensive experience in business and technology,” he added.