Lance Whitney, a passionate candidate with a plan to bring positive change to Elko!

By Karen Heine

Northeastern Nevada is the largest gold producer in the United States, third largest in the world.  The Elko area was built on the mining industry, and it is the gold mines which, to a large extent, drive the economy today.  Lance Whitney, who is currently employed as an assay lab technician at Newmont Gold Company, believes strongly in Elko’s future. That’s why Whitney ran for mayor of Elko in the June 5th, 2007 election.   He feels that Elko has some serious problems which demand action by a serious candidate. He is that serious and passionate candidate. 
Whitney is not deterred by the fact that he is a 27 year old, gay man who is born and raised in Elko running against incumbent Mike Franzoia who is serving his fourth term as mayor of Elko. Franzoia’s first campaign for mayor focused on the roads in Elko and the surrounding area, and ten years later, the roads are still Franzola’s primary concern, says Whitney.  Having served on the Elko Planning Commission for several years, Whitney feels he knows the ins and outs of the city; he knows what hasn’t worked. Whitney wants to rekindle a spirit of cooperation and enthusiasm in local government. He has a Five Point Strategy for stimulating Elko County’s economy and sense of community:

First, Whitney plans to ensure that infra-structure revitalization is fully funded and remains fully funded to improve roads and other structures in need of attention.  Second, Whitney targets drug and crime prevention, identifying crystal meth and graffiti as real problems facing Elko today. He intends to open a dialog with local law enforcement agencies and the Vitality Center to search for solutions to these issues. Third, Whitney has identified Elko’s economic development and diversification as an area which needs more consideration. He wants to guarantee that Elko increases the amount of retailers by bringing new business to Elko. Whitney will address the citizens’ complaints of “if only we had a …” by inviting new retail and manufacturing. He is also concerned that the area begins to plan for a future after the mining of local natural minerals diminishes. He is encouraging responsible growth and diversity since approximately 70% of those employed in Elko are affected by the gold mines. Fourth, he is promoting youth and family recreation. Whitney believes in increasing local activities aimed at Elko’s youth so that young people feel involved and valued as part of the community. He also believes that by increasing activities available to youth and families, people feel a sense of belonging and citizenship. Fifth, Whitney advocates community prosperity and posterity, the glue which links the other four points together.
            In order to make his Five Point Strategy successful, he plans to re-organize local government to improve efficiency. He wants to infuse a sense of cooperation and community by appointing a communications liaison to help unite Democrats and Republicans and other groups which seem divided.  Since the City Council meetings run during the lunch hour, appointing a Parliamentarian to keep the meetings running smoothly will encourage more citizens to attend and participate.  He would create some new subcommittees, such as an “Events and Fund Raising” committee to provide some new thoughts on energizing local events-- his fourth point in the strategy to revitalize Elko. Another subcommittee that he avidly supports is a By-laws committee to revise some of the antiquated laws still in existence.  He is also eager to explore the possibility of a Recycling program for Elko County. These are only a few of the ideas he described with ardent enthusiasm.  He seems to have the energy and ardor to make anything happen.
            Whitney was inspired to become involved in politics during the 2000 election when he began by helping Celia Gould run for Lieutenant Governor in Boise, Idaho.  He believed in her ideology and vision. In 2003, he returned to his hometown of Elko and began a door-to-door campaign for John Kerry. He joined the Elko County Democratic Central Committee, the governing board of the local Democratic Party.  He wanted to get involved because he felt many people were disenfranchised in Elko County. He saw a lack of organized structure in the Democratic Party with a great deal of bickering between the Democrats and Republicans.  While he was serving on the Central Committee, Whitney became friends with Dorothy North who had been the chair of the party for over twenty years, and he realized that the party needed an infusion of new blood, that it needed youth and vigor, and that it needed to rejuvenate its local image. Last summer, Whitney was elected as the Vice-president of the Elko Democratic Party. The party sparked more interest and succeeded in turning out the vast majority of the registered voters at the last election. Whitney was unanimously elected Chair of the Elko Democratic Party three months ago, and in that time the attendance at the Central Committee meetings has tripled. The last meeting was the largest in their history. 
            Lance Whitney has experience as an executive assistant working for Paramount Pictures on such projects as The Stepford Wives and Domestic Disturbance.  As the Chair for the Elko Democratic Party, he is playing a large role in revitalizing its image, both by going door-to-door and increasing media coverage. He and the vice-president of the party have created a new web page. He has coached the Elko Speech and Debate team, leading them to third place in Northern Nevada forensics this year----third only to the powerhouse of Reno High School and the private school Bishop Manogue. He is a passionate motivator for his competitors, and they respond by challenging themselves to outperform his expectations. He has the power to inspire people well beyond what they believe are their capabilities. He sees the best in everyone.  “I’m a listener,” claims Whitney who believes that open dialogues are key factors to success whether political or personal. He is also willing to look at other models that are working in other places. But, as a relative newcomer to politics, Whitney thinks his strong suit is his ability to think outside the box which is critical to the conception of new solutions. Whitney chose to run for mayor because, he says, “We need a change.”  His youthful face and sincerity make it clear that he means what he says: “I’m honest…I believe in doing what’s right for voters, for citizens.”  He welcomes the effort that being mayor would require; he loves a challenge, and he exudes the confidence and vitality required for the job.
Whitney is an Elko High School graduate whose overall goal as the future mayor of Elko is to see his hometown thrive and prepare for the changing future by planning for responsible growth and infra-structure, diversifying economics to meet the needs of the future, and attracting new retail businesses.  This strategy, Whitney hopes, “Will keep Elko from becoming a ghost town like other mining towns in Nevada.”
Kristian Forland, his Campaign Manager, often urges Whitney to be more aggressive about seeking funds to finance his campaign.  Whitney says the best way to support his campaign is to consider a donation which would help him buy the radio time, yard signs, and brochures he needs to reach the public and give them a choice. You don’t have to live in Elko to feel this is a valuable cause, and any amount of contribution will show our community’s support for Lance Whitney as future mayor of Elko. To find out more about the Elko County Democrats, go to www.elkocountydemocrats.org  or e-mail him directly at lwhitney@elkocountydemocrats.org.

Postsript:  Lance did not win his bid for Mayor but I have assured him that we are proud of him for trying and if not this race he’ll win the next one and if he lets us know a little further in advance we can all help him.  After all we are “family.”
Laura Grotz - Editor