YOUR AD HERE »

Election 2010: Hemig, Laliotis to continue utility district cost-control mission

Jason Shueh
Sierra Sun
Ron Hemig, left, and Tony Laliotis have been re-elected to the Truckee Donner Public Utility District board.
ALL |

TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Without missing a beat, Truckeeand#8217;s utility district incumbents, now officially re-elected, declared they will continue to keep the district progressing on its core issues.

Truckee Donner Public Utility District Directors Ron Hemig and Tony Laliotis said Wednesday they are both committed to keeping utility rates low, creating needed infrastructure and promoting conservation, while also continuing current programs.

Hemig and Laliotis said they saw election results as proof of performance and proof the relationship and rapport the district has with the community is positive.



and#8220;I think what really matters to the public and the customers is performance and I donand#8217;t think you could argue with the last four years of the public utility districtand#8217;s performance and#8212; probably the best story that Iand#8217;ve ever had to tell,and#8221; Hemig said.

Though he and his family were following results online late Tuesday, Hemig said he officially learned of his win upon waking at 5 a.m. Wednesday, a moment Hemig said was both encouraging and educational.



and#8220;For me, the old guy serving for four terms and now my fifth and final, this was a case of the moment I knew what I was going to be accomplishing over the next four years because I am on a mission.and#8221;

Hemig said he wants to instill continuity within the district so current board members can take with them his knowledge of past events after he finishes his term.

and#8220;I knew exactly what I wanted to accomplish, and Iand#8217;ve got a particular mission in mind with the young and smart and very capable directors like (Tony Laliotis) in terms of making sure they download everything I have in my head in four years,and#8221; Hemig said. and#8220;Iand#8217;m concerned about the loss of history and continuity.and#8221;

Laliotis said Hemig and rest of the directors will continue to push the districtand#8217;s programs and accommodate present and future needs.

and#8220;I think cost controls are a priority with the economy,and#8221; Laliotis said. and#8220;I think, second, we need to look at our infrastructure and realize itand#8217;s not getting any younger, and infrastructure planning is going to be one of the key topics to consider.and#8221;

Asked whether he had any intuition of election night results, Laliotis said he never assumed anything until final voter numbers were published.

and#8220;I didnand#8217;t think it was secure at all,and#8221; he said. and#8220;I ran in 2008 and came up short … So I learned from my mistakes in 2008 and applied that to this election and I think it paid off.and#8221;

In Nevada County, Laliotis had a significant lead at 33.2 percent, with Hemig at 26.56 percent and Susman at 14.45 percent.

In Placer County, Hemig saw 23.6 percent of votes, and saw Laliotis 23.1 percent, followed by Josh Susman in third with 19.8 percent.

Laliotis said promoting a campaign message of past results was critical.

and#8220;I think that both Ron and I were elected as incumbents shows that the general majority of Truckee and of the district feels like the district is being attentive offering programs, helping people conserve and generally being transparent and open,and#8221; Laliotis said.

Susman said Thursday he has had a little time to digest results, and though he is dismayed, he is not discouraged.

and#8220;Iand#8217;m a little dismayed with the results, yet I think the town will do fine with the incumbents on the public utility district,and#8221; Susman said.

Susman pledged he would serve in whatever capacity the community asked of him and not to count him out of the utility districtand#8217;s 2012 election.

and#8220;Itand#8217;s two years from now and weand#8217;ll see,and#8221; he said. and#8220;… Iand#8217;ll be back.and#8221;

Challengers Dan Warren and Sara Lynn Allen finished fourth and fifth in Nevada County, with 17.3 percent and 16.2 percent of the votes, respectively. In Placer, Allen finished fourth with two more votes than Warren, who finished last.


Support Local Journalism

 

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.