City Council Ward 2 candidates

Editor’s note: With the unlikelihood that there will be public campaign forums during the lead up to this year’s primary election, The Fernley Reporter has submitted a questionnaire to candidates for offices that represent Fernley.

All candidates were asked the same questions, with the freedom to answer in whatever manner they choose. Responses to those questions will be grouped by each office they are running for, and will be published as they are received. All responses have been edited only for spelling and punctuation, and no content has been changed. In addition, all candidates are responsible for their own comments, and any false or misleading statements are the responsibility of the candidate and not The Fernley Reporter.

Candidates will be listed alphabetically, as their names will be listed on the ballot.

Donald Parsons

1. Describe who you are and where you’re from, your background, work history, experience, community service, etc.

Fernley has been my home for my entire life. The only exceptions are my time in the U.S. Army, which was three years, and three years at the Nevada Youth Training Center as a construction teacher. I’ve been married to the same woman for 52 years. I have three children, 11 grandchildren (eight of them are currently in the Lyon County School District in Fernley). I have over 46 years general contracting and construction industry experience which includes: oversight of large projects as a project manager, constructions quality control manager, general contractor, site manager, estimator, and general superintendent. I have been instrumental in the complete development of complex vertical and horizontal construction projects at the city, state, and federal levels.

2. State why you are running and what qualifies you for the office you are running for.

With my previous experience sitting on the Fernley Town Board and City Councilman for Ward Two, I believe that I would be an asset to the City of Fernley.

Due to the proposed growth that is coming our way, and my experiences in the construction development industry, I have the ability to help the City of Fernley develop the growth in a manner that will be complete and comprehensive to cover all the issues that this growth will bring.

3. What are some of the main issues you believe the board you are running for faces, and what are some of your solutions?

We, as the city, need to address all the issues growth creates so that it does not adversely affect the existing citizens in Fernley. The areas we need to pay close attention to are water and sewer, roads and easy transportation corridors throughout the new developments as well as the existing structure. Police protection, Fire protection and Emergency medical care and possibly long-term care within city limits are also a prime consideration. With this additional growth, it is also going to affect Schools and Social Services. A good education is very important to people who are moving into our area to live or work.

4. What else would you like voters to know about you and what you would try to accomplish if you are elected?

I have assisted large scale developers in addressing and resolving various issues required by governing agencies to complete projects, such as adherence to building and development codes, navigating application and hearing process, and guiding projects to successful completion. I am highly familiar with all types of construction including, government, institutional, retail, industrial, residential single and multifamily. Because of this experience, I bring excellent skills to all projects I am involved with. I have been an entrepreneur, owning my own construction company. I have worked throughout the United States. This broad base of experience has enabled me to develop the highest level of Developer/Contractor relation skills. These skills are invaluable in running efficient construction projects and are critical to their continued success.

Shellie T. Severa

1. Describe who you are and where you’re from, your background, work history, experience, community service, etc.

My name is Shellie Severa and I was born and raised in Cedar Rapids Iowa. After graduating from high school and joined the United States Air Force. I am a disabled veteran and my military career took me all over the world. I have been involved in local government for over 20 years and have held the position of Grant Writer, Special Assistant to the Mayor and Military Liaison to the Mayor. My husband and I purchased our home in Fernley in December of 2014 and we split our time between Alaska and Fernley. I relocated full time in August of 2018, after I accepted a job with the U.S. Navy, and I work out at NAS Fallon. I was the Chairman of the FNSB Animal Control and served for 9 years. My husband relocated last August after retiring as a Captain with 27 years in the Fire Service and he is also looking forward to serving this community.

2. State why you are running and what qualifies you for the office you are running for.

I served my country proudly and not only do I want to serve the constituents in Ward 2, but I care about the well-being of all the citizens of Fernley. I have a lot of experience with local government from when I lived in Alaska and that knowledge and tremendous experience will allow me to make sure that the voices of the citizens of Fernley are heard. I have worked with Public Works, Transportation, Finance, Community Planning, Parks and Recreation and General Services to name a few. My experience in budgets and financial planning will enable the City of Fernley to continue to have a balanced budget.

3. What are some of the main issues you believe the board you are running for faces, and what are some of your solutions?

The proposal to line the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District canal through Fernley, this is one of the most pressing issues that face us. The draft EIS is available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=25717. As a community we must have our voices heard and we can make a difference. The Bureau of Reclamation is not looking at any of the other options and we need to first get the public comment period pushed back and work with all the citizens that this potential change could affect. The other areas of concern for me and other citizens, is public safety, roads, water treatment and sewers. Community input and concerns is what will give the council what is most pressing, and we will give answers to all your questions.

4. What else would you like voters to know about you and what you would try to accomplish if you are elected?

I think one of the biggest communication problems is we don’t listen to understand, we listen to reply. Communication and perception are huge elements to being effective, I believe in being transparent and open with the people that I am dealing with. Here are some things that I stand for, are we doing the right thing? At the right time? In the right way? And for the right reasons? That is what I will always consider while representing the citizens of Fernley. New ideas and new views are extremely important if our community is going to grow and we establish a sustainable infrastructure that will support that growth.

Felicity Zoberski

1. Describe who you are and where you’re from, your background, work history, experience, community service, etc.

My name is Felicity Zoberski, I am a business owner in Fernley NV, and a current resident. As a child my family lived in Fernley where I attended elementary school through my sophomore year of high school, my family then relocated to Reno. Five years ago I chose to return to my hometown, Fernley, to raise my family and establish my own business. I currently reside in Ward 2 with my husband Matthew, and three children, Lillianna (8), Annalynn (7), and Abigail (3). My husband and I opened Elevated Art Tattoo Parlor in August of 2017, and with the help of our community, Chamber of Commerce, and family, have thrived in the City of Fernley.

2. State why you are running and what qualifies you for the office you are running for.

I have a vested interest in Fernley and the community, and I have also been a planning commissioner for over 4 years. I am eager to take part in our city government in a different aspect. In raising three small girls in Fernley, I am passionate about the future of the city they are growing up in, as well as the other children in our community, that will one day inherit Fernley. I believe that at this point in my life I have obtained the knowledge and time to devote myself to the position of City Council Ward 2. Opening a business in Fernley has opened various doors for me. Conveniently the career I chose to pursue as an artist, brings me close to all different walks of life. Through conversations with my clients I have become aware of local issues, which has encouraged me to become more involved with our community. I have been blessed as a resident to call Fernley home, and I am confident in taking the next step to being actively involved in local politics.

3. What are some of the main issues you believe the board you are running for faces, and what are some of your solutions?

I believe that some of Fernley’s main issues have now shifted slightly due to the global pandemic that has impacted all of us, however we should still look towards the goals for previous issues with ambition and solutions to improve them.

Fernley has and will continue to experience growth. I believe that this falls heavy on a lot of our residents, worried that it will affect their family’s quality of life negatively. Being able to sustain the growth with our current infrastructure is one of our main concerns, especially with our water. With growth being one of my main concerns, I believe this also encompasses some of our other issues such as traffic (future roadway facilities), housing developments (being able to diversify our housing stock, without altering our city’s current identity, or impacting environmentally sensitive areas), obtaining our own police department ( public safety is a priority), and Fernley’s share of C-Tax (we are unable to accomplish as much with a limited conservative budget).

Currently our City’s master plan outlines a solid amount of solutions for a lot of the current issues we face. Being that this pandemic might mean an impending recession, I do not think that these are the only issues our town will be facing in the future. We will need to address our economic climate after Covid19 and have common goals to sustain our current residents and any growth the future of Fernley may have.

 4. What else would you like voters to know about you and what you would try to accomplish if you are elected?

Should I be voted into this position, I will focus on the wellbeing of our community, having effective relationships with, but not limited to, our citizens, community groups, and other elected officials. I am able to give my time to ensure that future development supports our existing community. I believe that having common goals and objectives with other council members for the betterment of Fernley is essential to maintaining a positive quality of life for our residents. In being a respectful listener, and keeping an open mind, I will promote responsible decision making to help evolve our diverse community. I am also aware that a strong ethical council is needed to support the best efforts of our city staff, and to give a voice to our residents. In closing, I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve the City of Fernley as it is the city my family and I are PROUD to call home. Thank You

L. Michelle de St. Maurice