The run-off for Justice of the Peace took center stage at Friday's candidate's forum hosted by the Incline Village /Crystal Bay Republican Women.

Candidate Bo Pollard went on the offensive, saying his opponent Alan Tiras views election to the Incline Justice Court as an entitlement for his past community service.

Pollard charged that Tiras has inflated the value of his experience in a criminal courtroom as a judge pro tem.

"From 1994 to the present, records show my opponent served as judge pro tem 27 times," Pollard said. "That's about twice annually. Of those 27 appearances, only six were even on criminal days."

Pollard called attention to his own background, noting his 12 years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer.

"A judge has the job of ensuring the fairness of the process," he said. "One cannot do this in our court without a well-rounded understanding of the criminal law."

Tiras countered, noting the overwhelming majority of criminal cases heard in the local court concern traffic violations, and that only 1/2 of 1 percent involve other criminal offenses.

He emphasized his administrative and business experience as well as the importance of working closely with local law enforcement and judicial agencies.

Given the tone of the Pollard-Tiras race, one might easily forget that they are both registered Republicans.

They were the only candidates to square off, since event organizers decided only registered Republicans would be able to address the audience from the podium.

As such, Incline Village General Improvement District board of trustee candidates Ed Gurowitz and Tripp Hudson - who were both in attendance - were not allowed to speak.

Virginia Durgin, president of IV/CB Republican Women, said national bylaws prohibit them from allowing any non-Republican to make an official address.

Non-Republicans were allowed to speak at a previous forum.

"(The letter) came right after the last event," said Durgin. "I took some grief from some of our members who felt strongly that we should restrict our podium as the bylaw requires.

" I spoke individually with all the other candidates (Hudson and Gurowitz) earlier this evening and they used the social hour to mingle and introduce themselves to the public."

Durgin acknowledged each of the non-Republican candidates by name towards the end of the evening and asked each of them to stand in turn.

IVGID vice chairman Gene Brockman was the only IVGID candidate to make an official address, and focused his remarks on the financial issues facing the district. Brockman noted his opposition to district involvement in building affordable housing.

"The question we need to ask ourselves is 'what do we need to change in order to stay the same?'" he asked.

IVGID chairman John Bohn was unable to attend the forum, but stated through a letter that his top priorities were ensuring the completion of effluent pipeline and opposing "all efforts to get around the deed restrictions on our beaches."

Undersheriff Mike Haley made a low-key pitch for his candidacy for Washoe County Sheriff, describing his 26 years of service and key endorsements.

"I wanted this community to know that In would get on that replacement immediately and get someone who had served in the village before," Haley said of Lt. Steven Kelly, who took over command of the substation when Cmdr. Gregg Lubbe retired last week.

Other candidates who spoke included both of the Republican candidates for the local Nevada Assembly seats - Ty Cobb of the 26th and James Settelmeyer of the 39th, Washoe County District Court Judge candidate Patrick Flanagan, public administrator Don Cavallo, Incline Village constable Joe Kubo, and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District board candidate Don Epstein

Libertarian county assessor candidate Tom Koziol was also in attendance, but could not make an official address.

Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.