Let's move forward

This is in response to Lieseke's letter to the editor ("Political distortions," July 26, PVT).

Lieseke, if you noticed, I put these (???) behind the CSI lab. Maybe that's because I've only seen the +$300,000 lab on your web page and, only after I read your response to my letter, and I've lived here for nine years.

So, Mr. Facts, how many times was that high-priced lab truck used when you were sheriff here in Nye County?

Now let's get to the "rants" you didn't address, Lieseke. How many wrecks has Sheriff DeMeo been in with his sheriff's car? Maybe the voting public should look up your record for those "rants."

Now I hope you and the voting public also read the front page of this same paper, "Sheriff warns that personnel cuts likely." More of my "rants," right, Lieseke?

Then you go on to state, "The old saying if a lie goes unchallenged, it becomes the truth and so it has for Gregersen and so many others." Yet you didn't even write about my other "rants." What about my "rants" with your Sheriff's Card program. The lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Card holders that tried to use them to get on planes with their guns by flashing their Sheriff's Card or trying to get out of speeding tickets with that lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Card.

Why didn't you give Sheriff DeMeo the files of the people holding those lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Cars after the election? Isn't that the same program Sheriff DeMeo ended when he was first elected as Nye County Sheriff? Or is that just another one of my "rants?"

Now, Mr. Facts, why is it you just can't seem to remember how many of those lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Cars were handed out by you? You seem to remember other things from years ago. Sounds like bad record-keeping to me Lieseke. Or did you just hand them out like they were candy?

Why don't you tell all us voters what type of training they had to get those lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Cards? And, if they were trained, who paid for the training, so we the voters and taxpayers know what earned them the right to carry a lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Card.

You gave them out while you were the sheriff of Nye County. As a voter, I feel you owe us some answers for your actions. You made the decision to hand out those lucky Lieseke Sheriff's Cards to these people. Do you think that was in the best interest for the voters and taxpayers of Nye County?

Kind of staying away from those "rants," huh, Lieseke, or are you saying those are lies too?

Here's a "rant" fact for you, Lieseke: You didn't leave the Nye County Sheriff's Office. We, the voting public of Nye County, voted you out.

Lieseke, maybe the voters of Nye County just couldn't stand the type of attention you brought to our Sheriff's department and the Town of Pahrump during the Binion murder trial.

Boy, wasn't that a real positive note for the Town of Pahrump and Nye County? I don't think so. Oops, is that another one of my "rants," Lieseke?

Then you bring up a case that is being looked into by the FBI (your words) without stating all the facts about the case and you tell me the things I wrote are "rants." Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black? I've listened to you speak and most people write the way they speak, so who really wrote your letter to the editor, Lieseke?

I've been a registered Democrat since I was 18 and I'm voting for Mr. DeMeo, who is a Republican.

Now, if you read my last letter, I stated we all need to forget about the party crap. But then I am interested in moving Nye County and the Town of Pahrump forward, so it can be positive for all who live here and not just the lucky ones.

Richard Gregersen

DeMeo has my vote

Let me begin by saying that I have been a resident of Pahrump for almost nine years. I have seen many changes in this valley, some good and some bad. I was a resident in the valley during the second term of Wade Lieseke.

I was literally taken aback and very troubled when I heard that Mr. Lieseke was again running for the office of sheriff of Nye County. I truly believed that he had gotten the message in the 2002 election year, when the voters of Nye County made their choice to choose a new sheriff.

I had worked during the 2002 election year and, let me tell you, everyone inside the election room and the people standing outside waiting for the election results were quite excited to finally have a sheriff, which our county desperately needed, who would make a difference and who would truly care about Nye County.

I can't help but wonder if Mr. Lieseke is assuming that, with the mass influx of new residents in the valley, his less than stellar reputation would not follow him in the next election and he would again be elected as sheriff.

I have heard people say that when Mr. Lieseke was sheriff, there was none of the graffiti in the valley. How quickly people forget that the population of this valley then until now has increased dramatically since Mr. Lieseke was in office. Our sheriff's office has a shortage of officers due to the lack of funds (thank you commissioners) and with the valley growing like it is, the sheriff's office can only do so much with the manpower that it has. Put the blame where it really belongs. It definitely does not belong with Sheriff DeMeo.

I received Mr. Lieseke's flyer in the mail the other day and I was going over the points that he said he would supposedly do if elected. I'd really like to know just how he plans on putting officers back on the street.

The officers are already on the street, but with such a shortage of officers now in relation to the increased population in the valley, it again falls back to the commissioners, not Sheriff DeMeo.

In May 2005 at a commission meeting, Mr. Lieseke talked against the increase in deputies, quoting misinformation from unknown sources regarding the sheriff's budget and the need for increased sheriff personnel.

Mr. Lieseke is intending to "stop the practice of forcing citizens to file police reports online." My, where did Mr. Lieseke pick up that tidbit of information?

I personally had to call the sheriff's department and report a vandalism problem. The officer came to my home, took time to take pictures and the officer then asked if I had a computer and he mentioned that I had the choice of either filing the report online or he could take the report at that time. I requested that the officer take the report and he did so.

There possibly are officers out in the field that are less than cordial to our citizens. Don't put the blame on Sheriff DeMeo. Unless he hears of officer complaints from the citizens and these situations are brought to the sheriff's attention, he can't rectify the problems.

Mr. Lieseke intends to "reduce the response time to calls." I'd like to know how he's going to do that with the existing staff of officers. Again, the Sheriff's Office is at the mercy of the commissioners.

Overall, the Sheriff's Office is responding to each and every call in a manner time permits. Calls for service are responded to by case priority. The most serious (life threatening, auto accident with injury and or traffic blocking, cases in progress, etc.) are responded to first, cold cases then follow. The deputies are dispatched when they are available to respond.

It is common knowledge via the newspapers and TV news broadcasts that Mr. Lieseke gave the owner and other personnel of Front Site, as well as many other citizens of this community (Nye County), special deputy status. The owner of Front Site was given a letter on Nye County letterhead allowing him to carry firearms on commercial airlines. This is totally in violation of FAA laws.

Is this the kind of sheriff we need in Nye County? Does Mr. Lieseke feel that the laws are made for other people, not him or some of his chosen friends?

During the 12 years that Mr. Lieseke was sheriff, he had numerous auto accidents involving county vehicles. This type of driving cost we, the taxpayers, countless dollars.

Why did Mr. Lieseke feel the need to write the newspaper article trying (again) to exonerate him regarding the Binion silver theft a few years ago? I'm sure most of the citizens had forgotten about it until they read it again in the newspaper. What are you afraid of Mr. Lieseke?

I, for one, would like to have a sheriff with integrity, who is honest and hardworking. A man who is devoted to and genuinely concerned for the citizens and community in which he lives. Tony DeMeo has my vote. How about yours?

Sharon Otellio

Ruined for years to come

In 1998 the Town of Pahrump had more than 100 volunteer firefighters; at most house fires, 20-25 would show up. They were a hard, tough group and did a good job.

During that same time the retired union firefighters were also doing different jobs assigned by the chief. I was on the hiring board when the 21 people were hired. At no time were they ever intended to take over the fire department. They were to augment the volunteers.

When Chief Lewis was hired, the town manager and town board allowed him to fire the volunteers as well as force out the retired union firefighters.

I ran for the town board. The Fire Department was my main agenda item. I bitterly complained to both town managers, Peggy Warner and Dave Richards about the surplus fire equipment that was being sold off because we had no surplus fire equipment.

Because of the size of Pahrump, 400 square miles, they need a minimum of 12 pumpers. No one listened.

The retired union firefighters tried to get good used equipment from our departments in Oregon for a song and were shot down. I personally went to Portland and was given a fire truck. All I needed was a letter from Peggy Warner: She would not sign for it.

People like Jane Wisdom, Tim Levitt, Jim Mutton: They continually prevented us from getting any help.

The casino fire at Mountain View sealed the fate for the Pahrump Fire Department's full first alarm assignment. Two ambulances, one fire engine with five total people was the worst mistake that could have been made. Thirteen million dollars loss; the main point that any chief should know is the loss (ISO) insurance service office does not like loss.

That casino fire has crippled the Pahrump Fire Department for years to come. It will take millions of dollars now to straighten out what would have cost $800,000 before.

Here in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., the union, volunteers and retired firefighters all work together for the betterment of the whole city.

We continually educate the mayor, city council and city manager on fire protection activities.

Charles M. Taylor

Private fire protection consultant

Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Give voters some respect

Even though I am in the business of promoting events, I have come to hate election time.

We, the general public, are so bombarded with candidates shoving slings and arrows and other nasty jibes about their competition at us from all avenues that it makes the whole voting process seem distasteful.

So many candidates seem more concerned with casting the other guy in a bad light that they say nothing about what they will do that would be any different. Some candidates, or their supporters, have even taken to soft-spoken threats or warnings to people and businesses that they had better vote a certain way.

My mother taught me that when you want to consider having a relationship with someone - and this goes for our "public relationship" with elected officials as well as business partners or romantic liaisons - look at how they treat the people they don't like in the world - or their families - or their competition.

From that you will learn the worst behavior they are really capable of.

They may treat you one way when things are good, when you are on their side, but you will know how low they will go when things are not good. Is that "low point" still acceptable to you?

How a person acts in bad times is a lot more indicative of their true character than how they act when things are good. You have to assume that in any relationship, someone is going to be upset with the other - that is life. I'd like to know how this same "sweet talking" politician is going to still treat me/us with the same amount of courtesy when I/we disagree with him or her.

All of this back-stabbing of the "other guy" tells me that the guy/girl doing the stabbing would easily stab me or anyone else if they were displeased at them also.

I personally want an elected official who is going to do the best and right job for the position he/she is elected to, regardless of whether he/she is my friend.

I want to know that my worst enemy in town will get the exact same treatment I get from this official. I don't expect every person running for office or who has already served to be perfect and have nothing to feel bad about.

In all of eternity there has only been one person who was perfect - that means that every person out there running for office, or who has already served, is bound to make a mistake and screw up somewhere. We all learn and improve by our mistakes. It would be better for all sides if the populace were more open, forgiving and allowed our officials to be imperfect.

Then, perhaps, officials in office wouldn't feel the need to hide their errors, and we can work together on fixing them instead of covering them up.

I guess what I am trying to say is: Candidates - we don't need to know why you don't like the other guy. It is obvious that you think you can do a better job or you wouldn't be running. Just tell us what you can or will do - allow us to be intelligent people who can listen, learn and make our own decisions.

And if you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to win the confidence and majority vote of your constituents, please remember that you work for all of us - not just the ones who voted for you. You might try working extra hard on those who you feel were against you - to show them that you can do the job you won.

I love this town and just wanted to put in my two bits.

Lisa HollemaN