Del Carlo, Lafrance campaign for district 9

A race for a position not many people are familiar with will be on the ballots come November.

Board of Regents is the independent governing body who oversees Nevada’s public colleges and universities.

They oversee the budget and policy for the higher education system.

Two women from Incline Village are running for Board of Regents, District 9 that encompasses nine counties including Douglas.

Carol Del Carlo, a Republican, has been out in the community introducing herself to constituents and attending luncheons like the Douglas County Republican Women’s luncheon and the Sierra Nevada Republican Women’s luncheon.

“I want to run because I have the time, interest and opportunity,” said Del Carlo.

Del Carlo has degrees in business administration and human resources management, and worked for General Motors Service Parts Operation for 21 years.

Robert Davidson who was appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval and currently holds the seat she’s running for, is choosing not to remain in the position.

The 6-year seat is available until 2018, so whomever wins in November would have to run again for election at that time.

Del Carlo said if elected she would focus on career technical education, proper funding for community colleges and the cooperative extension program which she said helps support agriculture in rural counties.

Her opponent, Sara Lafrance, has experience in higher education, business, internal financing and software. “I really understand the whole concept of budget,” said Lafrance.

Lafrance and her husband owned a software company in the Bay Area for 23 years before selling the company and moving to Incline.

In 2011 Lafrance was named the UNR’s “Alumna of the Year” and was the commencement speaker for the colleges of engineering and science in May 2015.

Lafrance said since her district encompasses so many counties, she would like to focus on making education easier to obtain in rural counties.

“The further you get from the colleges, the harder it is to get an education,” said Lafrance.

Lafrance said she has been traveling to her various counties to better understand the educational needs of her district.

“With a technological boom of companies coming into the state looking for employees, it is vital there be appropriate training to meet the demands,” said Lafrance. “With what appears to be a swell of opportunity, it would be most unfortunate if we don’t train our own.”

Both candidates will be on the November ballot.