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After wrestling with county finances and fiscal turmoil for more than one year, incumbent Nevada County supervisors Hank Weston and John Spencer both said Monday they will run for office again in the June 2010 primary.
In separate announcements, both said Nevada County's economic challenges were their highest priority, and they wanted to continue setting policies to keep county government solvent.
“In this time of great uncertainty, our only chance to navigate through this mess will come with the stability of experience and honesty,” Spencer said in his announcement.
“We need to position ourselves to get through this financial crisis and be on solid footing when the economy finally turns around,” Weston added.
Hank Weston
Weston, 66, represents District 4 covering Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, and the San Juan Ridge.
Weston has been in the area since 1989, is the former area unit chief for Calfire and former Grass Valley fire chief.
He was elected to the supervisor post in the 2006 primary, landing more than 50 percent of the vote against Martin Harmon and Gordon Beattie.
The county's fiscal situation will only get worse and needs full diligence, Weston said.
“Next year is going to be bad,” he said, based on preliminary tax revenue projections. “We have to tighten down and figure out other ways to do business.”
That could mean outsourcing of county services; the county is currently looking at outsourcing management of the libraries and animal control, Weston said.
“We'll look at everything,” Weston said. “We would not be doing our jobs if we don't look into every alternative possible” for funding and running county government.
Regarding private management of the financially challenged libraries, “other options” are available, Weston said. “Our (library) staffing was at 13 employees before they got the (sales) tax and after that, it went up to 31.”
With the library now at 22 full-time equivalent positions, now would be a good time to look at “reconfiguring” the positions, Weston said.
“I believe, when it all shakes out, we can get savings,” Weston said. “We'll have some cuts, maybe in hours.”
Weston said he was most proud of “being a part of a board that kept the budget balanced.” He is also proud of “being accessible” and not turning his back on any issue constituents call him about.
John Spencer
Spencer, 62, represents District 3, covering the Grass Valley area. He moved here in 1977 and has been a professional surveyor for 42 years.
Spencer was elected in the 2004 general election, beating Bruce Conklin and Linda Stevens after Supervisor Drew Bedwell resigned due to cancer. He was re-elected in the 2006 primary, beating Terry Lamphier.
“We need to be very conscious of where we spend our money and how we're doing it,” Spencer said. “It's what's happening right now with the library.”
Spencer has received numerous notes on the library situation, most of them against hiring a private company to manage them.
Although he hasn't made up his mind on the issue, “I'm inclined to listen to the community,” he said.
Still, outsourcing is possible for other sectors of county government Spencer said. Consolidation of services is also possible, with the county and its cities already looking at combined fire, police, planning and public works services.
“Things in the future could be quite different (from) we're used to in order to save ourselves,” Spencer said.
“We'll ultimately do what we have to do to make it work.”
Getting government off the backs of business would also bode well for county economics, Spencer said.
“I'm always interested in the regulatory environment, which needs to be more flexible for business to be created.”
If county regulations need to be changed to reach that goal, then they should be altered, Spencer said.
“Projects don't have to take so long,” Spencer said. “We need to be able to cut time out of the process.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4237.
In separate announcements, both said Nevada County's economic challenges were their highest priority, and they wanted to continue setting policies to keep county government solvent.
“In this time of great uncertainty, our only chance to navigate through this mess will come with the stability of experience and honesty,” Spencer said in his announcement.
“We need to position ourselves to get through this financial crisis and be on solid footing when the economy finally turns around,” Weston added.
Hank Weston
Weston, 66, represents District 4 covering Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, and the San Juan Ridge.
Weston has been in the area since 1989, is the former area unit chief for Calfire and former Grass Valley fire chief.
He was elected to the supervisor post in the 2006 primary, landing more than 50 percent of the vote against Martin Harmon and Gordon Beattie.
The county's fiscal situation will only get worse and needs full diligence, Weston said.
“Next year is going to be bad,” he said, based on preliminary tax revenue projections. “We have to tighten down and figure out other ways to do business.”
That could mean outsourcing of county services; the county is currently looking at outsourcing management of the libraries and animal control, Weston said.
“We'll look at everything,” Weston said. “We would not be doing our jobs if we don't look into every alternative possible” for funding and running county government.
Regarding private management of the financially challenged libraries, “other options” are available, Weston said. “Our (library) staffing was at 13 employees before they got the (sales) tax and after that, it went up to 31.”
With the library now at 22 full-time equivalent positions, now would be a good time to look at “reconfiguring” the positions, Weston said.
“I believe, when it all shakes out, we can get savings,” Weston said. “We'll have some cuts, maybe in hours.”
Weston said he was most proud of “being a part of a board that kept the budget balanced.” He is also proud of “being accessible” and not turning his back on any issue constituents call him about.
John Spencer
Spencer, 62, represents District 3, covering the Grass Valley area. He moved here in 1977 and has been a professional surveyor for 42 years.
Spencer was elected in the 2004 general election, beating Bruce Conklin and Linda Stevens after Supervisor Drew Bedwell resigned due to cancer. He was re-elected in the 2006 primary, beating Terry Lamphier.
“We need to be very conscious of where we spend our money and how we're doing it,” Spencer said. “It's what's happening right now with the library.”
Spencer has received numerous notes on the library situation, most of them against hiring a private company to manage them.
Although he hasn't made up his mind on the issue, “I'm inclined to listen to the community,” he said.
Still, outsourcing is possible for other sectors of county government Spencer said. Consolidation of services is also possible, with the county and its cities already looking at combined fire, police, planning and public works services.
“Things in the future could be quite different (from) we're used to in order to save ourselves,” Spencer said.
“We'll ultimately do what we have to do to make it work.”
Getting government off the backs of business would also bode well for county economics, Spencer said.
“I'm always interested in the regulatory environment, which needs to be more flexible for business to be created.”
If county regulations need to be changed to reach that goal, then they should be altered, Spencer said.
“Projects don't have to take so long,” Spencer said. “We need to be able to cut time out of the process.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4237.
