Letters to the editor for Sunday, May 15, 2016

‘Naysayers’ not all that bad

In response to Susie Messina’s letter on May 5 in the Nevada Appeal: It always baffles me that if we don’t agree with the priorities of someone’s project (that we don’t get to vote for), we are called “naysayers.”

I remember when the Board of Supervisors wanted to force us to accept the City Center Project downtown. The taxpayers were not happy and we were also called the “naysayers.”

After a huge amount of work, the issue was put on the ballot and we voted against the project. An outcome everyone predicted. I believe this is the reason we did not get to vote on the downtown; the BOS believed we would vote against it.

Susie, you being the wife of Bonkowski’s campaign manager and also working side by side with Bonkowski’s significant other on the Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs I have just one question. Would you be considered a “naysayer” if the MAC hadn’t been coincidentally been made top priority on the list and already built before the ink was dry? The community gym we voted for on Question 18 in 1996 is not this new addition to the Boys and Girls Clubs we have today. It fact, it costs me more to use the MAC that I paid for than it costs them, and the Clubs hasn’t paid one cent for using it.

For the record, there are a lot of “naysayers” that do great work here in Carson City, we just don’t pat ourselves on the back and write a letter to the paper about it.

I do agree with one thing you put in your letter. You stated the downtown was a gamble. Yes, it is a gamble, and from a gambling gal, I don’t gamble with borrowed or other people’s money that will take me 30 years to pay back.

Sunni Enciso

Minden

To change status quo, get out and vote

Wow! Cheap shot from Andie Wilson on Jim Shirk. Perhaps the reason he did not vote for the infrastructure improvements motion was because the downtown corridor redesign was part of the project and totally unnecessary. Perhaps Supervisor Shirk felt the ROI was negligible and not worth the risk, but I can’t speak for him.

I have yet to talk with anyone (not counting the Triad) who was in favor of the corridor redesign, and yet it goes on. Guess we still don’t know what’s good for us after all these years (re: former Mayor Dan Flammer).

Also, I would like to thank Aaron West of Nevada Builders Alliance for making my upcoming voting decisions that much easier. I was not familiar with John Barrette, but given the information provided by Mr. West, I can now make an educated decision about the way I am going to vote for the Supervisor representing Ward 4.

And, on a final note, I don’t know if people realize there is a difference between having water and having water rights. You can have all of the water rights you can beg/borrow/buy/steal, but if there isn’t any water to back them up, they aren’t worth nothing. So, onward, ever onward toward whatever destiny awaits the citizens of Carson City.

Sorry, not the final note after all. My final note is, get out and vote if you aren’t happy with the status quo!

Hope Tingle

Carson City

Veterans in Politics endorses candidates

I am pleased to announce that two Carson City candidates have been endorsed by Veterans in Politics for CD2 and that the panel of interviewers; all being veterans of different political and military service backgrounds, have chosen to support these candidates based on their interview.

The candidates are Maurice White for Carson City Supervisor Ward 2 and Chris Carver for Carson City Mayor.

William Maltman

Director of Veterans in Politics CD2

Reelect Mayor Crowell, Assemblyman O’Neill

Thanks to the Appeal for publishing the primary candidate positions for free. It is difficult to ascertain the candidate’s background and positions, and your public service shows you are truly part of the community.

I also want to thank all of the candidates for running. Most people never step forward and run for public office. These citizens did. The Assembly 40 candidates, except for Mr. O’Neill, seem to be running for the approval of the Republican Central Committee members, which is different than seeking approval of the local rank and file Republicans and addressing their real life issues.

Mr. O’Neil has a clear vision and history of representing all the citizens of Assembly 40. WNC is thriving, and veteran issues are being addressed because of him.

As to the Mayor’s race, Mr. Crowell is the only business oriented candidate. I thank the others for their military, federal, state and local public service, but I feel they do not bring the proven skills needed by Carson City to the job.

Mr. Crowell’s private sector business experience combined with his local service (both elected, community involvement and nonprofit, which is in addition to his private business experience) and his proven availability to all members of the community make him the only candidate for Mayor that is qualified.

I suggest that you vote for Mr. O’Neil and Mr. Crowell because they have shown that they support this community and have done so effectively for years.

John McKenna

Carson City