News
ENLARGE
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Steve King is running for a seat on the fire board, his first attempt at running for public office. The following is a comprehensive look at his biography, qualifications and philosophy regarding the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.
As a young man beginning high school in the Bay Area, Steve King first glimpsed Incline Village while visiting his sister, who had relocated to the modestly sized resort community on the North Shore.
Nestled deftly into the northeast nook of the Lake Tahoe Basin, Incline made an indelible impression on King, who immediately determined the small community was the ideal location to live and work.
“I really like it here,” he said. “It's a small community where everybody knows everybody. It's nice and quiet. I don't think I will ever move.”
King has run a local Information Technology business, Wired Solutions, since 1998, after he graduated from Incline High School. He began the business out of his house and incrementally expanded moving locations twice over the last 12 years.
“I believe governments should be run like a business, with attention paid to revenues and expenditures,” he said. “I monitor my business' budget on a daily basis.”
King said his expertise in fixing computers and running a small business will benefit the fire district.
“I look for efficiencies,” he said. “I work with customers on a daily basis about how to maximize the money they spend.”
While King is mindful of individual property rights, he believes performing defensible space is the right and community-minded thing to do.
“I'm not for the fire district going around assessing fines for people who have not performed defensible space,” he said. “We need to educate people about its importance and perhaps help people through grants who can't afford it.”
King said pile burning is an important tactic in preventing wildland fires and keeping the forest healthy.
He acknowledges that the fire district is facing diminishing revenue streams and must creatively adjust the budget in order to maintain a high level of service.
“We will have to go through the budget line by line and identify things we can do without and yet at the same time avoid cutting needed services,” he said.
King said the emergency response time represents the fire district's greatest strength.
“If you are hurt in Incline, emergency responders are there within 30 seconds,” he said.
King said his nephew suffers from a seizure disorder and fire district responders have repeatedly arrived expeditiously on scene. He said a quick response time is essential in a town with an aging population.
King points to his work ethic as a salient qualification for public office.
“I am hardworking and I am very proactive,” he said. “I believe in responsible government without sacrificing services. I don't like overspending in my business, and I don't believe governments should overspend either. I want to bring efficiencies while ensuring (the fire district) remains top-notch.
“I like politics. I want to be involved in the community. I believe in giving back.”
As a young man beginning high school in the Bay Area, Steve King first glimpsed Incline Village while visiting his sister, who had relocated to the modestly sized resort community on the North Shore.
Nestled deftly into the northeast nook of the Lake Tahoe Basin, Incline made an indelible impression on King, who immediately determined the small community was the ideal location to live and work.
“I really like it here,” he said. “It's a small community where everybody knows everybody. It's nice and quiet. I don't think I will ever move.”
King has run a local Information Technology business, Wired Solutions, since 1998, after he graduated from Incline High School. He began the business out of his house and incrementally expanded moving locations twice over the last 12 years.
“I believe governments should be run like a business, with attention paid to revenues and expenditures,” he said. “I monitor my business' budget on a daily basis.”
King said his expertise in fixing computers and running a small business will benefit the fire district.
“I look for efficiencies,” he said. “I work with customers on a daily basis about how to maximize the money they spend.”
While King is mindful of individual property rights, he believes performing defensible space is the right and community-minded thing to do.
“I'm not for the fire district going around assessing fines for people who have not performed defensible space,” he said. “We need to educate people about its importance and perhaps help people through grants who can't afford it.”
King said pile burning is an important tactic in preventing wildland fires and keeping the forest healthy.
He acknowledges that the fire district is facing diminishing revenue streams and must creatively adjust the budget in order to maintain a high level of service.
“We will have to go through the budget line by line and identify things we can do without and yet at the same time avoid cutting needed services,” he said.
King said the emergency response time represents the fire district's greatest strength.
“If you are hurt in Incline, emergency responders are there within 30 seconds,” he said.
King said his nephew suffers from a seizure disorder and fire district responders have repeatedly arrived expeditiously on scene. He said a quick response time is essential in a town with an aging population.
King points to his work ethic as a salient qualification for public office.
“I am hardworking and I am very proactive,” he said. “I believe in responsible government without sacrificing services. I don't like overspending in my business, and I don't believe governments should overspend either. I want to bring efficiencies while ensuring (the fire district) remains top-notch.
“I like politics. I want to be involved in the community. I believe in giving back.”
NLTFPD race
A list of candidates running for the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District board of directors:
• Don Epstein • Steve King • Gene Murietta • Jim Mullaney |
