Terry Tiernay has visited every continent on Earth except Antarctica, worked for Naval Intelligence and claims family roots in Austin, Nev., where his great-great-grandfather mined for silver and for whom Tiernay Creek was named.

Now Tiernay, a Palomino Valley resident, is hoping to take on the challenge of county leadership. He is running as an Independent against Republican incumbent Washoe County Commissioner Bob Larkin and Sparks Democrat Gary Schmidt on a platform of growth issues.

One of Tiernay’s top priorities, should he be elected, would be the creation of two additional county districts and commission seats. In 2007, Gov. Jim Gibbons certified Washoe County’s population at just over 418,000. Tiernay has argued since June that the commission is bound by Nevada law to create the seats but the commission has been under the decennial census count. Larkin said in June the provision of the decennial census and certification of the population prevents changes from occurring before 2011.

“I’ve talked with (Commissioner) Kitty Jung and she’s said, ‘Well, it can only be done after the 10-year census, and by the way it’s real expensive,’ because commissioners get $54,000 with benefits,” Tiernay said. “One thing I would do is do away with each commissioner’s $10,000 discretionary fund and do away with the lobbyists the county hires.”

Tiernay said it should be the responsibility of the commissioners, not the lobbyists, to represent the constituents during the state’s legislative sessions.

Tiernay asserted in June that the Board of Commissioners and the Nevada Legislature should approve the creation of two additional county districts and commissioner’s seats, but has been opposed by the commission and, he said, attempts to contact Washoe County District Attorney Dick Gammick has gone unanswered.

Tiernay since has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, but said the organization has declined to take the case.

“The ACLU said they have limited resources and that it really was more of a constitutional issue than a civil rights issue, and even though they take constitutional cases, it’s not going to make an impact nationwide,” Tiernay said.

Also concerning growth, Tiernay said new development should pay for itself through impact fees, which he described as “disjointed.”

“To pay for growth for 2040 as we grow from 400,000 to 600,000, current residents are going to pay to accommodate more people on the road,” he said. “That one, I’m totally against unless we see some movement.”

Tiernay said he would push for a comprehensive plan formulated by school, fire, police and county budget workers to improve the county’s infrastructure.

He’s also considered the flood plan and said if elected, he would not force an increase in sales tax to raise additional money for the project.

“I’m afraid the county commission is going to ask the Legislature again for a supervote mandate like we had the first time, where if four out of five commissioners vote for it, it is imposed upon the people instead of it going to the ballot,” he said, stating it would put a “squeeze” on taxpayers.

Roads, particularly Pyramid Highway, would be another topic he would address, he said.

“It’s a mess,” he said. “Once people see Kiley Ranch starting to dump more (cars) on (Pyramid), they might wise up and protest Spring Mountain and Palomino Valley.

“What I’ve always advocated is up by the (Spanish Springs) high school, I believe there is another way to get out of the Spanish Springs valleys by keeping it west and sending it south until it reaches McCarran (Boulevard). There are other ways with alternative routes."

Tiernay said he’d also push for more citizen participation in government meetings and have the cities’ citizen advisory councils elect their representatives rather than have commissioners appoint them to better reflect citizen views.

Tiernay said he comes from an extensive background of leadership, especially with his military background. He is retired from the Navy, and was raised in Honolulu as a self-proclaimed “military brat” by a father who also served in the Navy. Tiernay enlisted in 1965 at the lowest rank and served four years of active duty and four years in the reserves and remained in the service until 1993, making it a career “until it was no longer fun” and moved back to Nevada.

During his nearly 28 years of Navy service, Tiernay attended flight office school but just a week prior to receiving his wings, he was recruited by Naval Intelligence and served on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal as an electronic intelligence evaluation officer.

His career span includes many accomplishments. He prepared briefings for the Chief of Staff of the Vice President. He earned his bachelor’s degree in earth science, and master’s degrees in California. He also completed analyses for NORAD and U.S. Space Command

Tiernay has been married to his wife, Claire, for 38 years and has one daughter, Stacie.

He said he was “drafted” by friends and neighbors for the candidacy, but has an interest in helping make the budget decisions in tough times.

“(My friends) know that I’m fair, fairly well-educated, can see a problem and come up with some alternatives as answers,” he said. “I present the facts and let people have an input, so they saw me as good person to represent them.”

For more information on Tiernay, visit www.twtiernay.com.