News
ENLARGE
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Don Epstein is running for his second consecutive term on the fire board. The following is a comprehensive look at his biography, qualifications and philosophy regarding the fire district.
Epstein, 75, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He spent his career in education, teaching high school and college level classes and serving as a school administrator.
He spent his vacations skiing all over the United States. In 1990, when he and four close friends came to South Lake Tahoe to ski, he fell in love with the place. He and his wife — Bea Epstein, who serves on the Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees — moved to Incline Village in 1995 and have lived here on a full-time basis since.
Epstein soon became an active member of the community, coming to Tuesday North Lake Tahoe Bonanza meetings, joining the Rotary Club of Incline and Lions Club and participating in the Incline High School Boosters Club, the Incline Crab Feed and Golf fore Education.
“I've always maintained that I owe a community, not the other way around,” he said.
He said the most important aspect of his role with NLTFPD is to ensure the community is adequately protected.
“Look at the houses in this community,” he said. “They are all made of wood and located in the middle of a forest.”
Epstein believes in an aging community such as Incline, the district's Emergency Medical Team is important. He calls NLTFPD “the best fire department in the country with the fastest response time to fire and medical emergencies.”
He said the board is there to provide district personnel with “everything they need to protect the citizens of this community,” but said the district does not spend money for the sake of spending money.
Epstein said he believes in transparency and said he tries to make himself available to the public to answer questions.
“I tell people, ‘ask me what you want, but you may not like the answer,'” he said. “Whatever the answer is, it will be an honest one.”
Epstein believes defensible space is important for residents to incorporate into their property maintenance.
“I always say, if you don't (conduct defensible space) it won't only be your house that goes up, but the whole neighborhood,” he said.
Epstein also believes in the necessity of forest management, including pile burning.
“We have to clear up the forests,” he said. “The forests should look like they did in 1890. We need to get rid of the fuel that creates wildfires to keep the community safe.”
Epstein cites budget constraints as the biggest challenge for the fire district, especially if the Village League to Save Incline Assets wins its tax-revolt lawsuits against Washoe County. The county already has said it will take some money from the fire district to pay for any refunds it has to cover.
“Chief (Mike Brown) is working two jobs; Assistant Chief (Greg McKay) is working two jobs, and they're doing well,” Epstein said. “We have to continue to be efficient.”
Epstein said his four years experience on the board qualifies him for another term.
“I care about the fire department,” he said. “I make sure things are done right. I am as qualified as anybody else currently on the board. People should vote for the person they think will do the best job. I have proven I am capable of doing a good job.”
Epstein, 75, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He spent his career in education, teaching high school and college level classes and serving as a school administrator.
He spent his vacations skiing all over the United States. In 1990, when he and four close friends came to South Lake Tahoe to ski, he fell in love with the place. He and his wife — Bea Epstein, who serves on the Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees — moved to Incline Village in 1995 and have lived here on a full-time basis since.
Epstein soon became an active member of the community, coming to Tuesday North Lake Tahoe Bonanza meetings, joining the Rotary Club of Incline and Lions Club and participating in the Incline High School Boosters Club, the Incline Crab Feed and Golf fore Education.
“I've always maintained that I owe a community, not the other way around,” he said.
He said the most important aspect of his role with NLTFPD is to ensure the community is adequately protected.
“Look at the houses in this community,” he said. “They are all made of wood and located in the middle of a forest.”
Epstein believes in an aging community such as Incline, the district's Emergency Medical Team is important. He calls NLTFPD “the best fire department in the country with the fastest response time to fire and medical emergencies.”
He said the board is there to provide district personnel with “everything they need to protect the citizens of this community,” but said the district does not spend money for the sake of spending money.
Epstein said he believes in transparency and said he tries to make himself available to the public to answer questions.
“I tell people, ‘ask me what you want, but you may not like the answer,'” he said. “Whatever the answer is, it will be an honest one.”
Epstein believes defensible space is important for residents to incorporate into their property maintenance.
“I always say, if you don't (conduct defensible space) it won't only be your house that goes up, but the whole neighborhood,” he said.
Epstein also believes in the necessity of forest management, including pile burning.
“We have to clear up the forests,” he said. “The forests should look like they did in 1890. We need to get rid of the fuel that creates wildfires to keep the community safe.”
Epstein cites budget constraints as the biggest challenge for the fire district, especially if the Village League to Save Incline Assets wins its tax-revolt lawsuits against Washoe County. The county already has said it will take some money from the fire district to pay for any refunds it has to cover.
“Chief (Mike Brown) is working two jobs; Assistant Chief (Greg McKay) is working two jobs, and they're doing well,” Epstein said. “We have to continue to be efficient.”
Epstein said his four years experience on the board qualifies him for another term.
“I care about the fire department,” he said. “I make sure things are done right. I am as qualified as anybody else currently on the board. People should vote for the person they think will do the best job. I have proven I am capable of doing a good job.”
Fire board 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 |
