Weissinger ends bid for his old seat

GARDNERVILLE - Former Douglas County commissioner Steve Weissinger, who resigned his seat Jan. 1 after a misdemeanor embezzlement conviction, has given up his run to regain the post.

After meeting with potential opponent Jim Baushke, Weissinger said he decided the two men agreed on many issues and that he didn't want to put his family through a potentially difficult campaign.

"I met with Mr. Baushke over the course of the last 10 days and he assured me that this campaign was going to be run on issues important to Douglas County," he said. "His position on some of those issues was similar to those I consider important."

Weissinger officially withdrew his candidacy with the Douglas County Clerk's Office on Tuesday afternoon, the deadline for candidates who don't want their names on the ballot.

"After talking about it in detail with my wife, I thought it would be in the best interest of myself and my family to withdraw from the race," he said. "Potentially, in four years, if I have the desire to serve and people think I've rebuilt that bridge of trust, then I might consider running again."

Among the issues Weissinger said he was concerned with were preservation of open space, stopping Indian Hills' incorporation and access to public lands.

"We just had a nice friendly conversation," Weissinger said. "I knew he will make the best decisions for Douglas County."

Weissinger and Barney's, the drive-through convenience story he was managing, parted company on Monday. He had no comment about leaving the store.

He was accused of taking money from the Raley's supermarket in South Lake Tahoe where he was a manager and had worked 14 years. He served seven days in jail for misdemeanor embezzlement.

Baushke was appointed to replace Weissinger on the commission. With Weissinger's withdrawal, Baushke will not face any opponent in the November election. Baushke was unavailable for comment.

Three Douglas County commissioner seats are up for election. Only one race, for commissioner Bernie Curtis' seat, will go to the primary on Sept. 7. In that race three Republicans are vying to run against a Democrat and an Independent American in the November general election.

Commissioner Kelly Kite faces a Republican opponent, Edith Webber, in the general election on Nov. 2.