Jim Galloway has been a standard in Lake Tahoe politics for more than a decade, with three terms as a Washoe County Commissioner and represented North Lake Tahoe and time spent on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Governing Board. Although Galloway is not running for re-election in the Nov. 4 race, he took some time to answer some of the Bonanza’s questions about his time in office and give advice to his eventual successor.

Q. You’ve been on the county commission for more than a decade now, representing Incline Village and Crystal Bay. How do issues that face the county affect these areas differently than other areas?
A. This area at Lake Tahoe is the most densely populated unincorporated portion of Washoe County and nowhere else is there such a difficult balancing process between environmental concerns and the basic public service needs of the population, such as fire safety, road maintenance, and public facilities.
Your county and commissioner work hard to make sure that as the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency seeks to protect and improve the Tahoe environment your quality of life, your property, and safety are also protected. That’s why I was a strong backer of top priority for reduction of excess forest fuels and reform of TRPA regulations so that the local fire professionals can deal more effectively with defensible space and the very real threat of catastrophic wildfire at Tahoe.
Because terrain, distance and weather conditions separate your community from the Truckee Meadows we must provide well-equipped stand-alone facilities to provide necessary services. IVGID has capably provided some of those services, such as your utilities and recreation facilities. I am pleased that on my watch the county has improved a number of essential services. The sheriff station and emergency dispatch were upgraded, new road equipment was purchased and a new road maintenance building was constructed. Maintaining this stand-alone capability must remain a top priority in the future. Residents must demand this.

Q. According to your Washoe County commissioner profile, you’ve never missed a regularly scheduled meeting of the county commission. How important is it for your successor to emulate this achievement?
A. Commitment to the job is the main thing. Attendance simply follows from that, because whoever is elected owes it to the voters to work hard and steadfastly over the long haul. County Commissioners are elected to just one job, for which there is no alternate. Commissioners are also appointed to serve on many other boards. I attend as many of those other meetings as I can, but when that is not possible the rules generally allow me to send an alternate in my place. By the way, the Web site should have been updated and my own record is no longer perfect. About two years ago I missed one regular meeting.

Q. Are there any special skills you’ve had to learn or develop during your time as county commissioner?
A. Remaining open to new information right up to the point when a vote is taken. Sticking to the issue at hand in discussions — nothing but the issue. If attacked personally, remain calm. Don’t get down into the gutter to fight — go back to the issue. Learning about the people I work for: names, who does what, whom they may represent, and where they are coming from — as people. I am an engineer and a physicist by training so this has been a challenge for me.

Q. What, in your opinion, has been your greatest success as county commissioner, in regards to the North Lake Tahoe area?
A. In terms of meeting basic needs, my greatest success for the area has been in the facility and policy improvements relating to public safety that I mentioned earlier — plus the Oriole Tanager pathway projects. But in terms of pure delight, the greatest success was the new library. This was the result of some fast shuttle diplomacy that I did between the county management and the library board after our Incline Village/Crystal Bay voters had clearly demonstrated that they could defeat a bond issue. As a result, the county agreed to do even better than the long delayed expansion of the old library. Instead, the old library was converted to county office space. This reduced county rent expenses. The rent savings, in turn, provided extra funds for the new library construction.

Q. In turn, what has also been your greatest challenge as county commissioner in regards to the North Lake Tahoe area?
A. Trying to get the best return for your tax dollars is an ongoing struggle. Over the years I have been successful but just recently I lost a round due to a surprise motion made at a recent city-county joint meeting. For years the two cities have sought county money to solve their problems with streets and other items. Under this pressure a majority of the commissioners unexpectedly voted to take a million dollars out of the county road budget for the unincorporated areas and to put it into an RTC fund that will mostly repair streets in the cities. I was the only commissioner to vote ‘no.’ I mention this now because I foresee even more proposals to divert county funds in the future. Political pressure from voters at the lake may prevent more such funding raids. This is an election year! Remember how Incline Village got the new library!

Q. There are two people running for your position in the Nov. 4 election. Do you have any advice or wisdom that you’d pass onto them?
A. Trust has to be earned. North Tahoe residents are savvy; they want your specific positions on issues, not vague generalities. Put those specifics in writing, on the public record, because promises made only in private are rightfully viewed with skepticism. If you have a record of decisions or accomplishments to back up your stated positions so much the better.

Q. In your opinion, what traits should voters look for in the next person to fill your seat?
A. Look for credibility and for independence from special interests and insiders, so that the overall public interest will come first when decisions are made. Look for a strong educational background. Look for career accomplishments and skill at serious communication and compare those to what you want in a commissioner. Look at the specific commitments on issues that the candidate has made formally, on the public record, and determine whether they fit your own priorities. Look at campaign contributors and the amounts involved.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?
A. It has been a pleasure and an honor to be your commissioner. This area is a true community in which I have felt at home — especially in the Christmas season when my wife and I browse the annual open house at Christmas Tree Village and run into so many friends and acquaintances. The many sharp-witted citizens here have certainly kept me on my toes over the years — especially at the Tuesday morning sessions at the Bonanza. Although much of the population is seasonal, there is a strong core of businesses and year-round residents that hold everything together. These engaged citizens maintain the great sense of community that makes this, one of the most beautiful places in the world, even more special to me.