Sam Dehné
Candidate for RenoMayor

"Let's put integrity back into city hall."
"Let's put democracy back into city hall."
www.renocitizen.com
SAM ASKS THOSE PESKY QUESTIONS
ABOUT CURRENT GOVERNMENT ABUSES
Attention Reno Voters:
Is it right for a mayor to vote on the appointments of Airport Authority trustees who then almost immediately vote to give an Airport contract tothe mayor's private company?
Is it right for a mayor to give city money to EDAWN which does business with the mayor's private company?
Is it right for a mayor to approve secret backroom meetings to discuss multimillion-dollar decisions such as downtown redevelopment? Is it right to circumvent the Open Meeting law?
Is it right for a mayor to refuse to answer questions asked by citizens?
Is it right for a mayor to push the agenda of his powerful, special interest campaign contributors?
Is it right for a mayor to dispense large sums of tax dollars directly to political cronies who were, and are, instrumental in his elections campaigns... effectively causing citizens to fund his campaign with tax dollars?
Is it right for a mayor to think he has a "mandate" when he was elected by only 15% of the registered voters?
Note: Jeff Griffin's record speaks for itself. Such record does NOT warrant re-election.
MORE TO COME...
Platform
SAM's VIEWS ON SOME OF THE ISSUES:
GROWTH:
It must pay its way through impact fees. Taxpayers should not have to pay for growth impacts such as schools, roads, police, etc. The people should vote to approve or disapprove all major proposed projects such as the Silver Legacy and the Double Diamond Ranch. Growth should not be decided by the entities that profit from such growth.
CASINOS:
Reno can not compete with Las Vegas. We must promote our other local resources as well. We should have widescope public discussion of the future of gaming in the Truckee Meadows ... and perhaps decide to
limit its expansion.
JOBS:
Economic development in the Truckee Meadows should be carefully evaluated. New companies should be discouraged from coming here unless they offer ONLY quality jobs which will not require public subsidies for
their workers.
ROTTING ROADS AND POTHOLES:
The road situation in Reno is an insult to its citizens. City Hall must prioritize its financial resources. Propaganda machines must be scaled back and roads fixed. The people have had to complain for too long.
OPEN MEETING LAW:
The open meeting law should be strictly enforced and the so-called state ethics commission should be disbanded for conduct undeserving of public confidence.
POLICE:
A public vote should be held to decide whether a citizens' police review board is wanted by the people of Reno. I believe a majority of citizens DO want such a commission. The Council has definitely NOT managed the Reno Police Department in a responsible manner although our new chief, Mr. Hoover, seems to be a competent professional. The police department should NOT be a power unto itself.
SPECIAL INTERESTS:
We have to stop the big boys from making the decisions. Casinos and developers are important in the local economy, but they should not be permitted to undermine democratic due process and decision-making.
LOBBYISTS:
Lobbyists should not be permitted to run amok at city hall.
WASHOE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY:
This is the business of the people of Reno. Along with the Convention Authority, special interests should not be the ones who decide how these entities operate...and who suffers. Reno needs to take an educated look at the way it has allowed growth to become cancerous at the Airport... with ever-increasing noise, danger, blight and pollution.
EDAWN:
The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada should not receive taxdollar-support in any amount as long as its meetings are closed to the public. The mayor should not be on EDAWN's payroll.
TAXING CASINOS:
Taxes on casinos should be brought in line with reality... relative to the severe financial impacts they have on the community. These are engines that help drive Reno's growth; they must be held accountable and pay their fair share. Casinos should be taxed on gross revenues as is the case in Clark County.
COUNCIL PAY:
Reno City Council members receive enough pay and special "perks' right now. Period.
COUNCIL VOTING POLICY:
Each council member should be expected to abstain from voting on any issue that benefits his or her major campaign contributors... and/or especially HIS PRIVATE COMPANY AND CRONIES.
WATER CONSERVATION:
Citizens should be asked to use water wisely. However, water saved should not then go to further development ... unless specific projects are approved by the people of Reno. During periods when water is plentiful, good judgement as to water use should be the order of the day.
PUBLIC INFORMATION:
It is nothing short of outrageous for citizens to fund a million dollar city hall propaganda machine. "Actions speak louder than words." Any public funds that are used to "inform" the citizens should be distributed throughout the entire media of Reno. Reports originating from city hall should be balanced and objective, not slanted to serve the agenda of those city officials who are subservient to powerful special interests.
CHARTER COMMITTEE:
Membership should include more average citizens and should not be stacked with representatives of powerful special interests. Public input should be earnestly sought and honestly evaluated to identify problems in Reno government so the Charter may be amended to deal with such problems.
PUBLIC REFERENDUM VOTES:
Citizens should be able to trust the council to decide controversial issues in a manner that protects all the citizens... not just powerful special interests... but this is too often not the reality.
Public meeting referendums must be used more often to give direction to the council when deciding controversial issues. Citizens can understand public issues just as well as council members IF they are properly informed about the pros and cons of each issue.
The Council has the responsibility to fully inform the public about complex issues. But under current Mayor Griffin, it has demonstrated a pattern of failing in this mission... and has intentionally distorted the important issues it does report. Any public official who refuses to answer hard questions raised by citizens simply can not be trusted; Mayor Griffin is one such official.
TOWN MEETINGS AND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS:
Citizens should be permitted to discuss and decide major issues. Major decisions should NOT be made by the big boys. Hard questions asked by citizens should be given straight, honest answers by government
officials. Neighborhood councils should ELECT their leaders. Immediate neighborhoods (a few streets or blocks) should be permitted self-determination; growth projects should not be forced upon them by
outsiders. Reno officials should commit themselves to protecting property values.
MAYOR AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
The buck for "good" government should NOT stop on the desk of a hired city manager who is not directly accountable to the citizens of Reno. If the mayor were required to serve as chief executive officer, he would have no insulation against the many irate voters in Reno. The real authority in Reno government should NOT be with a hired person who affects the lives of Renoites; because he doesn't have to explain himself to them.
THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS:
All key issues should be discussed at public meetings. They should NOT be discussed by the council in secret meetings prior to public meetings... using telephone conferences, less-than-quorum "briefings", email, memos, directives from special interest groups, or directives from lobbyists.
Note: Some supporters ask if this platform is an indictment of the present day folly of politics. You decide for yourself. What are the other candidates' positions on these issues?
[Paid for by Sam Dehné for Reno Mayor Committee.]
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