With absentee ballots already in the mail, voting has begun for local Nevada County Supervisor, Placer County Supervisor, Nevada County Superior Court Judge, and a North Tahoe lodging tax renewal.
Anderson Unopposed
Truckee town councilman Richard Anderson is running unopposed for Nevada County Supervisor, although candidate Michael Rogers’ name will still appear on the ballot since he withdrew from the race after the deadline for withdrawing had passed. Rogers has endorsed Anderson for supervisor.
Despite running unopposed, Anderson said, “It is important for me to earn the vote,” and he has been attending candidate forums and running a full-fledged campaign.
The Nevada County Supervisor seat is held by former Truckee Mayor and Councilman Ted Owens, who is not seeking a third term.
Montgomery Challenged by Four
Placer County’s District 5 Incumbent Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery is being challenged by four candidates, including three candidates with the last name Johnson.
Montgomery’s district has also changed during redistricting, adding in Auburn, which altered the makeup of the district’s electorate. Montgomery’s challengers all come from the western slope of the district.
Candidate Richard Johnson is a retired forest ranger and Placer County Planning Commissioner from Auburn. Gary Johnson is a retired police officer from Weimar. Mark Jonathan Wright is a software engineer from Colfax, and Jerry Johnson is an Auburn police investigator.
Placer County absentee ballots were mailed Monday, May 7. More than 60 percent of Placer County voters complete absentee ballots and return them within one week, as opposed to going to the polls.
Anderson Faces Smyrnos for Judgeship
Incumbent Nevada County Superior Court Judge Tom Anderson is being challenged by George Smyrnos, former Nevada County prosecutor.
Anderson has served on the court since 2007. Smyrnos began working as a prosecutor in 1986, and to date has completed more than 100 jury and court trials. He worked in the Nevada County District Attorney’s office for six years.
Measure F: TOT
On the June ballot, North Lake Tahoe voters are being asked to renew the Transit Occupancy Tax, better known as TOT, that funds North Shore public improvement projects and services. Called Measure F, the 2 percent tax is paid by lodging guests when they spend the night at a hotel, inn, or vacation rental; North Shore residents are not taxed.
All of Placer County has an 8 percent TOT tax that goes back to the county, but in 1996 North Lake Tahoe residents voted to add an additional 2 percent (for a total of 10 percent) to fund projects that benefit the community. The 2 percent tax was renewed in 2002, and Measure F is asking North Lake residents to renew the tax again.
Since the tax was first instituted in 1996, it has funded more than $30 million in projects. These include beaches and parks like Commons Beach, the Squaw Valley Community Park, and Heritage Plaza; trails such as the new bike trail in Tahoe City and the West Shore Olympic Nordic skiing trails; transportation projects like the North Lake Tahoe Express Airport Shuttle and bus shelters; and infrastructure including the Tahoe City Fish Hatchery Interpretive Center and Kings Beach Core Commercial Improvement project.
“The TOT is really a terrific benefit to visitors that come here as well as people who live here,” said Ron Treabess, the director of partnerships and community planning for the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.
The North Shore receives $2.5 million a year from the 2 percent TOT tax, which the community would lose if Measure F is not approved. If Measure F passes, it will be in place for 10 years.
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