Youth should not be an issue in this campaign

It is irritating and upsetting to see the sniping letters in this column against Mr. Spires and his family, from people who, I suspect, do not even know Blaine and may have never met him. I know Blaine Spires. He is a good man who can effectively help lead this county as we move into an uncertain future.

In 1993, when my family first moved to the Valley from California, Blaine and his dad Brad were there to help us unload the moving van and move into our new home. We did not even know them, but we did not have to ask for help. That's the kind of family they are. They would give you the shirts off their back.

Over the last 15 years, I have watched Blaine grow from a responsible young man and neighbor, into an honest, truthful, hardworking, trustworthy, intelligent and accomplished adult.

Blaine was born and raised here, went to Douglas High, running the Student Peer Court, and then to UNR where he excelled at both graduate and undergraduate studies. This year he married Lauren, the love of his life, who teaches our Valley kids at Minden Elementary School.

Blaine is sensitive to the need for affordable workforce housing, i.e., housing for our police, firefighters, teachers, children and grandchildren who would like to live and own homes here. With two incomes, and the housing downturn, Blaine and Lauren were just able to afford a home of their own, which they moved into together. They could have lived elsewhere, and made more money, where housing is cheaper, but they chose to make their home and life here.

Blaine has spent much of the last two years teaching political science to students, including students from Douglas County, at UNR, where he was asked by tenured faculty to stay and get his master's degree, instead of going to law school.

This year, while getting married, moving into a new home, and holding down a full-time job, Blaine has been campaigning and going house-to-house to meet with and hear from the people of this county who he wants to serve. What other candidate has been as stretched in their quest and desire to serve this county?

Some are complaining that Blaine, at age 24, is too young for office, or lacks life experience. If you do a Google Internet search for "youngest mayors," there is a list of about 27 mayors who have been elected, between the ages of 18 and 23 years old, in states as diverse as Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, Arizona, South Dakota, New York, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Michigan.

One young standout listed is Rusty Hammer, elected in 1975, at age 21, as mayor of Campbell, Calif., the original home of eBay. In 2003, at age 23 (younger than Blaine), Luke Ravenstahl won a seat on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania City Council. Pittsburgh, Pa., with a population 334,563, is the 20th largest metropolitan area in the U. S. In 2006, at age 26, Luke was named Mayor of Pittsburgh. In 2007, at age 27, Ravenstahl won a special interim election for Pittsburgh Mayor, where he serves today.

Then there are the young state governors. Stevens T. Mason, starting at age 19, led Michigan's struggle for statehood. He was appointed in 1831 by President Andrew Jackson as Acting Territorial Secretary at age 19 and became acting Territorial Governor in 1834 at age 22. He authorized a census, one of the requirements for statehood, and convened a constitutional convention. Michigan voters approved the state constitution and elected Mason its governor in 1835, at age 23. Because of a dispute with Ohio over Toledo (called the "Toledo War"), Michigan did not become a state until 1837. Mason was easily re-elected as governor in 1837, at age 25, and served until 1839. Mason, Mich., the county seat of Ingham County, is named for Mason. Also, Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas at age 32.

I do not believe that age should be an issue in this election. The measure of a leader should be his or her, 1) understanding of the issues, 2) intelligence, 3) wisdom to know what is right, and 4) courage and inner strength to do the right thing. I believe Blaine has all these gifts. Ironically, in view of the age debate, one of Blaine's passions is to preserve county funding set aside for the new senior citizens center and make sure that the center is actually built and the funds not diverted to some other county budget need. He told me recently of his visit to our current senior citizens center and of his perception that there is a serious need for improved facilities.

Blaine Spires is a vibrant and successful young man, firmly committed to the best interests of this County and its residents. I believe him to be open minded and not beholden to any special interest group. He is a man of faith, open to counsel and is a quick learner as well as a team player.

Blaine did not solicit this letter. You can find out more about him at his website: www.spires4commissioner.com.

If elected, Blaine will have just one of five votes as a county commissioner, but I believe he can be a consensus-builder on the board, as we face so many difficult and divisive issues as a county. Blaine Spires has my vote for this election. I hope you will give him yours and a chance to help lead this county into the future.

n J. D. Sullivan is a Minden attorney.