Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rally Draws Crowd (cont)

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"I will be there and will try to bring a consensus with the people on the court."

Purtle reminded the audience the county has lost the Nevada County Hospital and, recently, the local garment factory. "We are economically disadvantaged. Are we going to elect leaders to move us forward to do nothing?" he asked.

William Mullins was the only candidate for JP district 5 to show up.

He said he served district 1 for six years before moving out of the district, but is interested in the county.

Mullins told the crowd he is on the Nevada County Rescue Unit and does volunteer work.

"I want to see the county grow," he said.

As a member of the NCH board of directors, Mullins said he will work to get something in the defunct hospital. He told the audience there is "something on the stove," and hopes there will be good news from it soon.

Mullins' opponent is John Henderson.

Alderman candidates were next up, with no one on hand from ward 1 position 1.

Dennis Pruitt, running for the seat in ward 3 position 1, said in the 40 years he's lived in Prescott, he's seen a lot of changes -- some good and some bad.

"The issue I'd like to touch on," he said, "is we need some kind of health facility here. When the hospital closed, it was drastic for all of us. When we see the ambulance heading for Hope, we hope it's no on we know."

Pruitt said Prescott needs a place for doctors and nurses.

He also said the area needs to find opportunities so it can keep its young people here. "Our young people are leaving," Pruitt said. "There's nothing here for them.

"If we work together, we can bring industry to Prescott and Nevada County, and I'd like to be part of it."

Karen Ward followed, telling the crowd she grew up in Rosston and has lived in Prescott most of her life.

"I've been in health care for more than 20 years," she said. "The loss of NCH was regrettable, but we're doing all we can to bring health care back to the community.

"I'd like to be on the council and work to get a 24-hour emergency care unit here."

Ward said, if elected, she will solicit the input of her constituents, be at all meetings and be prepared to do the business at hand.

"I feel something wonderful is in store for Prescott," she said. "I'd consider it a privilege to serve on the council. If elected, I accept the challenges that lie ahead. I want to see Prescott grow."

Two of the three candidates for ward 4 position 1 were on hand to speak at the rally.

Donna Wingfield took center stage first. She said she'd like to return some of the happiness Prescott has given her for the last 14 years and would work hard to help develop the area's economy.

Joe Johnson was next, saying he's worked for Potlatch for 17 years and graduated Prescott High in 1971.

"I want to be part of Prescott's politics and do what's best for Prescott," he said. "I'm not here to pay lip service."

Candidates for Nevada County Judge were next.

Coach Jack House told all he's been a coach for the past 15 years, married for 16 years and has three children.

He said his duties as an instructor at Nevada school don't allow him to make a door-to-door campaign.

"As a coach, I've learned to deal with people," he said. "I've learned if you treat them fair and with dignity, things go smoother.

"There are some serious problems in the county."

He said with low revenue from taxes the county has two choices to get more money coming in. One is to raise taxes, but, he said, people are paying too many taxes now. The other way is to increase the tax base by putting more people to work.

House said, if elected, he will work with other agencies to help everyone he can.

"I'm not too proud to ask for advice. If I don't know what to do, I will try and find out. I will do what's best for the people of Nevada County. "I can't go house-to-house and campaign because of my job," he said. "But, if elected, I won't neglect that job either."

James Roy Brown talked of his wife and two children, telling all he is a native of the county.

Brown said he was county assessor from 1971-74 and was circuit clerk from 1975-80.

In his job with a petroleum company, he said, he's learned a lot from other counties across the state.

"I won't make any changes until I se a need to," he said. "If you do it wrong, it takes a long time to correct.

"I will work with the quorum court and other county offices to do the best job I can at being a good judge."

Candidates for sheriff were next, with Steve Otwell first to the plate.

"It's been a long race," he said, "and I'm new at this."

Otwell told the throng he was born and raised in Emmet, with no desire to live elsewhere. He said he's done plumbing work with his father and worked for Potlatch for 14 years.

"As sheriff," he said, "I promise to be fair and honest to everyone.

"When you go to the polls, I want you older people to remember asking the young people to get involved. I want to be involved.

"I'm not promising to solve all the problems we have, but I have some ideas I thing will work."

Incumbent Harold Vines was next. He talked of his 29 years of law enforcement experience, and told the people he can't go door-to-door this year because he can't afford to spend the time away from the job.

"I can't neglect the job," he said. "It's more important for me to work as sheriff now than knock on doors.

"We have one of the finest groups of deputies the county has ever had," he continued. "They are dedicated and work until the job is done."

Vines said when he took office, he knew drugs were the biggest problem in the county.

However, since taking office, he and his deputies have ran 15 warranted drug searches, making arrests in all 15 cases. Additionally, he said, the NCSO has confiscated drugs, money and weapons from these raids.

There has been one murder in the county during Vines' tenure, and, he said, the NCSO had a suspect in custody before the body was found. The suspect is serving a lengthy sentence in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Vines reminded the audience of Narco, the agency's drug dog, being added under his leadership. The dog, he said, has been an asset to the department.

The sheriff said he's made changes which have resulted in the county saving $64,000 per year.

In addition, he said, an Explorer post has been established with the NCSO, and he is currently checking on getting a DARE program instituted in the area schools.

Vines said his department will keep the pressure on drug dealers, and told the voters to cast their ballots for the candidate they think will do the best job.

After Vines, Themious Lindsey spoke.

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