Youngest candidate to challenge sole incumbent

A 24-year-old University of Nevada graduate student is challenging incumbent Douglas County Commissioner Doug Johnson.

Douglas County native Blaine Spires filed for District 3 commissioner on Monday afternoon.

"I was born and raised here, this is home," he said. "I majored in political science and I want to be involved in the future of the county."

Spires is the only Nevada native to file for county commissioner on Monday. He graduated from Douglas High School in 2002.

Spires is the youngest candidate to seek county office in recent memory, according to Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Griffin.

"I'm motivated and see it as an asset," he said of his age.

He said he feels the master plan should be the guiding document on growth.

"I think we have a fantastic future, we only ned to find a way to grow in a way that maintains a stable economy," he said. "We need to recruit firms by showing what a great place this is to do business."

Spires said it is important to maintain open space in the county.

"The open space is a gift and we need to thank the ranchers," he said. "They've had to work to maintain that opens space and we need to help them out for their hard work."

Spires is the son of longtime Minden residents Brad and Paige Spires.

He is engaged to Lauren Hayes, the daughter of former Planning Commissioner and 2002 county commission candidate Michael Hayes.

In 2005, Spires won the Pro-Am Runabout 1200 Stock category national championship in the APBA Western States Cup series in Benicia, Calif.