City Council Ward 5 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.

Dan McCassie

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

Dan McCassie, age 54. Family – three kids, three dogs. Lived in Fernley 52 years. Occupations sales ad loans. Served 8 years on city council and four years on North Lyon County Fire Board, Chairman for Room Tax Board and chairman for the North Lyon County Fire Board.

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

Years of experience of government. Still have a lot of planning of growth, streets and traffic.

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

Trying to work with qualified people.

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

Fran McKay

Hello, Ward 5 voters. My name is Frances “Fran” McKay. I have been your representative for 3 ½ years, and it is my wish you will continue to let me serve you for another 4 years with my re-election. My campaign slogan is Knowing, Caring, and Being Involved.

I was born and lived in Illinois for 23 years where I had my first job at Illinois Bell Telephone, working in both their Traffic Dept and their Engineering Dept for 4 ½ years. I married my husband Ron, 52+ years ago. He is now a retired Navy veteran having served in the Vietnam War. He is also a 100% Disabled Veteran as a result of that time. We lived in Cal, Ill, Ga, Hawaii, Cal again, before finally being able to make our permanent home here in Nevada, 25 years ago.  

My working years have been in the field of Accounting and Sales. When my 3 sons started school, I started my lifelong dream of a college education which I finally achieved in September 2018. I never give up. In addition, for 7 years, I also owned my own Real Estate Office here in Fernley.

As I said earlier, Home means Nevada and Fernley is my home. I have been President of the Chamber of Commerce, twice as President of our Rotary Club, Sec-Treas of the Fernley Builders Association and still a member of these organizations. I also served for several years as Treasurer of the Fernley Rodeo Association helping to put on rodeos to help advance this rural lifestyle we enjoy here.

I am the Incumbent; I was elected in June 2016 as the council representative for Ward 5. During my time on the council, I have been readily available and have been able to help and resolve several of the citizens problems. 

My Accounting Degree and experience has been a great boon to understanding the financial operations of the city and preparing the budget. I was appointed to the original Arts and Culture Commission and the Room Tax Board where I again serve as the council representative on these boards. I am also on the Code Enforcement Task Force and heavily advocated for the free dump days for all the citizens of Fernley. I also served 4 years on the Fernley Planning Commission resigning only to take on my Current Position.

I see at least 6 main issues facing our city, namely Water and the Canal, the Event Center, Redevelopment, Smart Growth, Affordable housing, and the Census. 

Solutions to these issues are difficult, a council person has only 1 vote, however, if there is an issue affecting my constituents and all the citizens of Fernley, I will fight vigorously for this issue for a positive resolution for all. One of our issues we have been working on and will continue to work on for our city, is water and the continued use of our canal. I will continue to fight for smart well planned growth, affordable housing, our Event Center and  Redevelopment to make out town a place that is welcoming, clean and beautiful in order to attract events for entertainment and visitors to our city to bring more money into our local economy.

An especially important issue is to encourage everyone to fill out their census forms. It took me about 10 minutes to fill out online, a proper accounting of our citizens will be beneficial to bring more revenue to the city in order to get many of the things needed, done.

Finally, a particularly important thing I do for my community and all of the children in Northern Nevada is my involvement with Northern Nevada Project Linus. Since I became the Coordinator for the Northern area, my organization, with some great volunteers, have distributed almost 14,000 home made blankets and quilts to children in any crisis, trauma, or serious illnesses.

In summation, I would like the voters to believe that I will continue to seek knowledge to make our city a better place to live, I genuinely care about all of Fernley, not just Ward 5 and I will continue to be involved in my community helping whenever and wherever I can.

If anyone would like to know more about me, feel free to contact me at flmckay@charter.net.

Chris Ward

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

• I was born in 1956 and raised in Long Beach, CA by my single mom in a 27 x 8 ft. trailer where our only mode of transportation were bicycles.
• I married my high school girlfriend and had a son and daughter whom are now adults living accomplished lives.
• I worked numerous jobs during my first few years of adulthood.
• I worked as a civil servant for the Department of Defense at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Yuma Proving Grounds, and Fallon Naval Air Station
• I retired after 36 years of service in 2016 from the Department of Defense at Fallon Naval Air Station and am maintaining our forever home in Fernley NV.

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

• If I am elected to the City Council, I will do my best to move the city forward at a steady pace, and preserve the integrity of the city as a whole. 
• I will do my best to ensure the changes to our city are the best for all of our citizens. 
• I have lived in Fernley for just over 5 years and worked at NAS Fallon prior to retiring from Federal Government, DOD with over 36 years of service. 
• I do not have any financial ties to any entity in this City or the State.
• I do not have any relatives in this City or in the area.

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

• Water rates now and in the future.
• New Housing, how well thought out is it and what is the city getting back.
•  New Commercial, how well thought out is it and what is the city getting back.
• New police Department, How, What, When, and Why.
• Code Enforcement FULL TIME.
• Building Inspection FULL TIME.
• Roads and Infrastructure.
• Fences falling apart in unoccupied lots all around town.
• FREE Cleanup and Dump days throughout the year.

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

My many years of working as a civil servant for the Department of Defense has taught me some key skills, and I believe these are essential for a City Council member to have.  I have learned how to pay attention to detail, how to communicate both verbally and in writing, how to write contracts and inspect contractual work for a job well done, and how to spend and save YOUR government monies wisely.

Sincerely,

Chris Ward

FB: Ward for Ward 5 Fernley City Council

Cell: 775-378-3013

Auggie Rodriguez