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Mountain Times: Dry out, then vote

Norm and Alan Nicholls
Special to the Sun

TRUCKEE/TAHOE, Calif. and#8212; Gather your wife, children, the animals two by two, and get ready for the Ark! As you have probably guessed, I am writing this column on Sunday amid the torrential rain. Hopefully we are getting some wet glop on top, but it was 50 degrees this morning at 7 a.m. Only the parting of the clouds will tell the story.

I began the morning by filling out my absentee ballot. It took me well over an hour due to the number of offices to be filled, the large selection of candidates, and of course ballot measures which I always hate to tackle. (Why doesnand#8217;t a yes mean yes, and a no mean no?).

Thanks to the and#8220;Sierra Sunand#8221; for its coverage of the campaign debates, candidate profiles and to new Managing Editor of the Sierra Sun, Kevin MacMillan, for his efforts and leadership toward this end. Although I was not in total agreement with the Sunand#8217;s endorsements in his editorial last week, I know Kevin spent much time examining the positions of and#8220;alland#8221; the candidates prior to making those endorsements.



If you have not already looked at your sample ballots, you might want to get started. This is not the type of ballot you go into the voting booth and#8220;cold turkey.and#8221;

Comment: I noticed in a couple of cases that groups of candidates have decided to band together in a united effort to win multiple seats on a particular board. This has worked successfully in the past (i.e. the airport board), but I personally do not support the practice. I feel each candidate needs to be considered individually. I also believe that in the case of incumbents, if they (and the board they sit on) have done a good job, they should seriously be considered as your choice to continue, rather than endorsing a person or group who and#8220;promisesand#8221; to make things better. Enough said, enough politics, vote November 2.



Thanks Andy Holmer: I was pleasantly surprised to see that Andy Holmer has announced his retirement from his position as Superior Court Judge. I am also jealous, as he and I are very close in age.

I remember the first time I was summoned for jury duty in his court when he was the Municipal Court Judge here in Truckee. Some 5 or so years earlier, I had served on a and#8220;hung juryand#8221; (when Judge Pifer was the judge) so I thought I would and#8220;probablyand#8221; not have to serve again.

When my name (number) was the second selected, I thought to myself that I would be and#8220;out of thereand#8221; before noon. After Judge Holmer went over the list of duties and responsibilities of a juror, he asked us to raise our hands if we felt that there was a reason that we could not or should not serve.

I raised my hand enthusiastically and when he got to me I explained that I had served on a jury some years back that was unable to come to a conclusion. Instead of saying and#8220;youand#8217;re excused,and#8221; he smiled, and then calmly asked: and#8220;Well Norm, donand#8217;t you think that you can objectively listen to all the evidence in this case, listen to the courtand#8217;s instructions, and do your best to come to a satisfactory conclusion?and#8221; and#8220;Yes your honorand#8221; was the only response I could come up with that wouldnand#8217;t make me look like a complete idiot.

Then I thought one of the attorneys would release me during their challenges. But, no such luck and I served on that jury, plus two others, under Andyand#8217;s term as judge. The jury in each case did come to unanimous conclusions and I believe that justice was served.

Thanks Andy for your service, and may your (semi) retirement be a happy and productive one. I also think it is great that you will have more time with your teenage kids during these wonderful, yet challenging, years. They grow up quickly … enjoy!

Also goodbye to and#8220;E. Christinaand#8221; Dabis: Before you write your check for your Nevada County property tax bill to E. Christina Dabis, Tax Collector, be aware she has retired and her office of Nevada County Treasurer and Tax Collector is on your ballot. I wonder how many tax payers will automatically put her name on their tax check as we have for many, many years. Will they bounce? I always liked the way her name rolled off my tongue, and I was always challenged to fit her name and title on the payee line of my checks.

Norm and Alan Nicholls of the Nicholls Real Estate Group are affiliated with Dickson Realty at 11500 Donner Pass Road in Truckee.


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