PHOTOS BY HEIDI J. BERTOLINO / Special to the PVT David Holmgren, American Independent candidate for the Assembly District 36 seat, speaks at the Tonopah candidates forum Oct. 13. Seated behind him are opponents Republican Ed Goedhart and Democrat Laurayne Murray. Goedhart takes his stand among a group of other Nov. 7 election hopefuls. Nye County Commission District V candidate Dan Schinhofen speaks up in Tonopah. Advertisement

Tom Rust, 66, the only Pahrump town board candidate to show up at the VFW candidates forum Saturdayd night, said he would like to fire Pahrump town manager Dave Richards.

It was one of the eye-openers in a weekend of candidate forums that included events at the Tonopah Convention Center Friday night, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 10054 in Pahrump Saturday night and the Amargosa Valley Community Center Sunday night.

Rust's comment drew the ire of Pahrump town board chairman Paul Willis. "The first thing is to fire the town manager who you never met and never had a conversation with?" Willis asked.

"The man has usurped the authority of the town board with your permission," Rust replied.

In response to another question, Rust said Pahrump needs incorporation.

"I think a group needs to get together based on all the information they can gather and it should include naming the city," he said.

Pahrump Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill touted her 24 years of experience in the justice court, the last six years as the J.P. She accumulated 640 hours of judicial training.

Brisebill wanted to dispel criticism by her opponent during an earlier candidates forum, Kent Jasperson, about criminals being released on their own recognizance

"Bail is not punishment, it's to ensure appearance in court," she said. "I don't release people who are dangerous to the community unless I really have to."

Brisebill also disputed claims she didn't get along with people on her staff.

Jasperson, a 25-year veteran of the Nye County sheriff's department, said he spent those years reading the law, interpreting the law and enforcing the law. Jasperson said he took classes in criminal justice at the community college.

Beatty Justice of the Peace Gus Sullivan also received some criticism from challenger Bradley Lyle Hunt, during a candidates forum in Amargosa Valley. Hunt said the justice of the peace shouldn't hear cases involving sheriff's deputies he hired, people with that close a relationship would normally recuse themselves from hearing a case.

Sullivan, a 35-year Beatty resident, had been a Nye County sheriff's deputy for 27 years, retiring as captain when he was appointed to fill the vacant J.P. position in July 2005. Sullivan said he attended training at the National Judicial College.

Hunt said he has been a member of the Beatty General Improvement District the past eight years. He's also the Nevada Department of Transportation supervisor.

"I will be very hard on drugs and alcohol addiction. I'm a recovering alcoholic myself, I've been sober for 17 years," Hunt said.

Nye County Area Six School Board candidate Harold Tokerud was the only school board member to address the VFW Saturday. Tokerud said he received his masters degree from the University of Montana and moved to Nevada where he became superintendent of Esmeralda County schools in 1987. He retired in 2000 but was asked to be interim Nye County superintendent.

Tokerud said he supported the Nov. 7 school bond initiative, for which his taxes would amount to 75 cents per day. If anyone doesn't think the bond initiative is needed, Tokerud offered to take them to see the big student enrollments at Pahrump Valley High School, Rosemary Clarke Middle School and Manse Elementary School.

Tokerud, reacted strongly to a question about school board members interfering with the jobs of school employees. "Any time I get in your field tell me politely to get out. The board is there to hire a superintendent to run the schools."

Nye County Treasurer Gary Budahl, 49, said he has 26 years in public accounting experience, including six years working for Dan McArthur, Nye county's auditing firm. He was appointed in April 2005 to replace Pat Foster, who retired.

Budahl said he cut the amount of time the county's collections are posted from four weeks to two weeks, which with a $5 million investment would amount to an additional $10,000 interest.

"Everybody wants government to do more with less," Budahl said. He said the treasurer's budget has gone down from $550,000 in the year ending June 30, 2005, to $490,000 this current year.

Budahl's opponent, Lance Kriegh, said he's audited bigger companies than the entire county's budget, in a career which includes working for the Gaming Control Board. Kriegh took a jab at Budahl.

"My opponent is a member of this county's efficiency committee and really search your heart to think if Nye County is really efficient." Kriegh said.

"I want to vigorously pursue the collection of taxes and the sale of property secured for taxes," he said. "I try not to use my opponents youth and inexperience to my advantage."

Nye County recorder candidate Byron Foster mentioned his 20 years of computer experience and said he wants to put county records on-line, which he touted as a real convenience for Amargosa Valley residents. Foster said he promised not to put up campaign signs or take contributions.

His opponent Theresa Pate, said she's worked for the county recorder's office for 23 years, the last four years as chief deputy recorder. She belongs to the County Fiscal Officers Association and has the support of current recorder Donna Motis and former recorder Naoma Lydon.

But Pate said while the county needs a computer system, the recorder can't just go out and buy one, it has to be compatible with the county's system.

Nye County Commission District Five Republican candidate Pete Liakopoulos told the audience at the VFW Pahrump Valley needs a water and sewer system, along with reliable electricity, to attract businesses.

Liakopoulos also touted his tax deferment plan for seniors and veterans, so they only pay property taxes when they sell their home. The water and sewer system could be paid for by issuing bonds, which he said would be paid off by businesses moving into the valley.

"You will bring in enough revenue when you bring in businesses to pay for these bonds," Liakopolous said. "As far as homes that are existing, you're going to have a fee if you hook up to water and sewer."

Democrat Jan Bearss said she retired to Pahrump from Michigan and will be a full-time commissioner, part of what she called her "put citizens first" campaign. The county needs industry to balance the number of residents moving into Pahrump Valley, Bearss said.

"We're going to become a bedroom community where nothing is generated for our community," she said.

Non-partisan district five candidate Dan Schinhofen said he has three children who own homes in Nye County, what he called an investment in the county. Schinhofen said he'll get all the information before he makes decisions and be accessible at his town office.

Schinhofen criticized the Focus Property Group deal.

"We did not get the best deal. Commissioners were rushed into that," he said.

Nye County Commission District Four candidate Andrew "Butch" Borasky, a member of the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission, said the county needs to draw up a long range plan.

His opponent, Charlie Anzalone, said he's 78 but feeling younger every year. While some candidates talk about attracting business, Anzalone said politicians can't force business to come.

"If we create the right atmosphere business will come. Right now we don't have a very business friendly environment," he said.

Anzalone also spoke in favor of hard zoning Pahrump and attacked the cost of hiring consultants.