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Robert DeLong for Sparks Municipal Court Judge

Politics Is About Connection —
Not Hate-Filled Commercials

 

When I started my campaign door knocking for the afternoon, I rang the doorbell of a stucco home with a beautifully kept yard and a sign warning “beware of dogs.”  

 

A black lab immediately greeted me, while an older gentleman barked from behind the door, “How can I help you?” I introduced myself and told him that I was running for Sparks Municipal
Court Judge.

 

His obvious annoyance waned. “Wait, is it you — are you Robert DeLong?” I responded, “Yes sir.” The man proceeded to walk outside of his home, shake my hand, and thank me for coming to his door.

 

Once he realized that I was the actual candidate at his door, he was excited to chat. He wanted to share with me his concerns over drag racing on our streets at night and people driving with expired registration in our city.

 

The man shared that he had never had a judicial candidate come to his door in his 30 years of living in Sparks. But the light in his eyes diminished when he shared, “I am so sick of the political ads on TV. They’re almost impossible to watch.”

 

I agreed with him and lamented the level of political discourse
on television.

 

It’s sad that our view of politics has become so jaded by negative TV ads. Politics has become a battle of negative spin, rather than an exchange of ideas. Voters want to share with me their concerns for our community.

 

I am regularly asked about my plans for the Court, my qualifications and what can be done about pressing problems in our community. These concerns require a thoughtful conversation, not a 30-second commercial. The heart of politics is getting to know the voters and allowing the voters to get to know you. It has nothing to do with attack ads and spin.

 

Voters want to know about my background, experience and connection to Sparks. I’m always happy to answer their
questions, highlighting:

  • I’m a felony prosecutor with the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office.

  • I’ve been an attorney for almost 20 years, and I’ve spent my entire career in the courtroom.

  • I grew up in Sparks (I met my wife at Reed High School), and we’re raising our family in Sparks.

 

Voters also want to know about my plans for the Court. They are commonly concerned about repeat offenders, but they also want
to know if I have a vision for the Court. We then discuss a few of
my priorities:

1. Addressing recidivism: My priority is making sure individuals are held accountable for their crimes and complete their sentences. I will not be afraid to make the hard call to send someone to jail for a significant amount of time if they refuse to follow our laws. However, the Court should do everything in its power to ensure people don’t reoffend. This is accomplished by holding review hearings in every case and making sure defendants are connected with city and community services — and they’re not ignoring their obligations to the community. ​​

2. Providing better access to the Court: The Court needs to be brought up to date. There is no online access for the public, defendants, or attorneys, meaning the public can’t look at the docket and agencies can’t review the status of pending cases. Online access saves the public time and money, and the resulting transparency improves the judicial system.

3. Improving communication between agencies: The Court needs to have regular meetings with all stakeholders involved in the administration of justice, including the Sheriff’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Sparks City Government, and the Defense bar. These meetings can identify efficiencies and ensure that the public’s money is spent appropriately.

 

These are just some of the issues I’ve discussed with voters while knocking on the doors of Sparks for the last six months. I know firsthand that the Sparks Municipal Court can change people’s lives, and I want to be part of that process as a Judge.

 

The Sparks Municipal Court is a unique place where people can make a poor choice, but be turned in the right direction and hopefully never reoffend. I want to protect our community by holding people accountable for their actions, while striving to ensure that they do not come before the Court a second time.

 

I am proud to be engaged in the true political process — every knock on every door has the potential for connection, and an exchange of ideas with the voters, rather than the spread of misinformation through divisive TV ads.

Robert DeLong for Sparks Municipal Court Judge
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