Hopefuls add names to JP applicants' list

Three more hopefuls have joined the pool of candidates seeking to be appointed East Fork Township Justice of the Peace by Douglas County commissioners following this week's resignation of Judge Jim EnEarl.

Applicants who filed this week include:

Mark Owens, 51, Gardnerville Ranchos, autoCAD draftsman and survey instrument operator;

Laura Valentine, 48, Gardnerville Ranchos, business owner, clinical program planner, rural clinics and services, Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services;

Erik A. Levin, 51, Minden, Douglas County deputy district attorney.

That brings to nine the number of applicants for the job that pays $103,417.60 a year.

Commissioners are set to appoint EnEarl's successor following the close of applications on Aug. 20.

The board is to discuss Thursday how they want to handle the process, and to consider a 30-day contract with Senior Justice Steven D. McMorris to handle duties until a successor is named.

Owens, who also volunteers at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, said he worked for Owens Engineering in Gardnerville from 1991 until the office closed in July.

"I am a very honest, trustworthy and open-minded individual who has spent the last 25-plus years in the engineering and surveying field which has required me to meet with clients, deal with problems, attend meetings with county and state officials, and make decisions (some difficult) in addition to doing the field work," Owens said in his application.

Owens said he had "great rapport" with people and enjoyed helping people.

"Solving problems is something I could do well," he said.

Valentine said the job would be an opportunity to give back to Douglas County where she has lived most of her life.

"Although I have never worked as a justice of the peace, I have held many jobs over the years which have required varying degrees of responsibility and the ability to make important decisions that impact other people," she said.

Valentine said she played a key role in coordinating homeless prevention and assistance services and writing federal grants with community stakeholders.

"Without this level of cooperation from many entities, Nevada would have lost out on over $6 million of federal funding," she said.

Levin has worked for Douglas County for two years.

Prior to joining the district attorney's office, he served as senior deputy attorney general from June 2005 to July 2008.

From April 1999 to June 2005, Levin was deputy district attorney in Nye County.

Levin said he has practiced law in the justice and district courts of eight Nevada counties as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

He earned his law degree in 1993 from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and is a member of the Nevada and California bar associations.

"I would appreciate the opportunity to now apply my background, skills and experience as East Fork Township justice of the peace," Levin said.