Quiet start to election season

There were no cameras flashing and no dramatic moments at the Carson City Elections counter. Just a few familiar faces as incumbents shuffled in to file paperwork Monday - the first official day of the election season.

"It's been quiet around here," said Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover. "We expected more people right at 8 a.m. So far, there have been no surprises."

By day's end, the only candidates to file were Carson City incumbents for mayor, a supervisor seat and two school district positions. However, candidates still have nearly two weeks to file.

In local balloting, Carson City voters will elect a mayor, two supervisors and three school district trustees.

Mayor Ray Masayko was the first to file paperwork at 10 a.m. Retired from Sierra Pacific Power Co., Masayko, 59, is seeking his third and last term.

A fiscal conservative, Masayko said he has several priorities in mind if elected for another four-year term, including the completion of the second phase of the Carson City freeway to Fairview Drive, funding for the V&T Railroad reconstruction and economic stability.

Former mayor Marv Teixeira, who served from 1989 to 1996 but declined to run for a third term then, has said he will be a candidate, but did not file Monday.

Supervisor Richard Staub, representing the southwest quadrant of the city, filed for re-election. His district, mostly east of Highway 395, includes the area bounded by Kings Canyon Road to the north and the Douglas County line to the south.

A lifetime Carson resident and attorney, Staub, 52, said, if elected, he would continue working with auto dealers to locate an auto mall within city limits. He said he is in favor of maintaining the city's low property tax rate and would continue his work on solutions to transportation problems.

During his four years in office, Staub has worked on transportation, traffic issues, growth management, preserving open space, the Carson City Airport Authority, implementing a citywide auditing process, and on youth and seniors boards.

Supervisor Shelly Aldean announced her candidacy last month, and is expected to file this week, Glover said. Since being appointed to represent the northeast sector in Ward 2, Aldean has worked with the auto mall planning group, on transportation, become a representative on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's Governing Board, and continued work on the city's economic strategic plan.

For the Carson City School Board District 5, John McKenna, 58, filed for re-election. He was elected in 1993. A certified public accountant, he was president of the board in 1996 and in 2003. He has worked with four different superintendents, and seen one school bond fail and two others pass. He took part in the redistricting of boundaries for each school site and helped prepare and implement the plan to put Fremont Elementary School on a multi-track schedule.

Joanna Wilson, 53, also filed to reclaim her seat for School Board District 7. She was elected to the board in 2000, replacing Gary Ailes when he retired after 12 years. She served as president of the board this year. Wilson has a master's degree and a law degree and is a stay-at-home mother of five.

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217. Reporter Teri Vance contributed to this report.

CITY ELECTIONS INFO

Filing deadline: 5 p.m. May 14

Where: Clerk-Recorder's Office, Carson City Courthouse, 885 E. Musser St.

On the Net: www.carson-city.nv.us/clerk/elections/index.htm