John
Mason in Winnemucca www.kwnaradio.com
May
20 , 2004
Since
not many statewide candidates come to Winnemucca to campaign,
we're especially appreciative of those who do. Nevada
Supreme Court Justice Candidate John Mason came to Winnemucca
Monday and Tuesday and visited with locals as well as the
news media. Mason has an amazingly varied background
with experience in several types of businesses as well as
a law degree from one of the most prestigious law schools
in the country, UC Berkeley Law School, where he graduated
third in his class. One of the businesses he has been
involved in is Blockbuster Video - in fact, he bought the
land and developed the Blockbuster Video store here in Winnemucca,
as well as the ones in Elko, Fallon, Carson City and a number
of other places. Because he's been in business in rural
Nevada , he says he understands the issues important to our
portion of the state and won't forget that every decision
made by the state supreme court affects the whole state, not
just Las Vegas and Reno . "I've invested and operated
in the rurals; I've seen the good times and the tough times."
he said.
Mason
has specialized in entertainment law - not only being legal
counsel to a number of well-known entertainers, but managing
their business interests as a CEO. Those entertainers
have included Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, and Shakira.
He has also represented large companies such as Univision
Communications, Inc. and their executives. He has been
the director of entertainment and broadcasting companies.
He's been a member and a chairman of the Nevada Film Commission.
He currently serves on the President's Committee on Arts and
the Humanities.
Mason
has not served in an elected judicial position before, though
he currently serves as Judge Pro-Tem of Douglas County Justice
Court . But he points out that nearly half of the Justices
who have served on the Nevada Supreme Court have not been
career judges. Currently all 7 members of the Supreme
Court are career judges, and Mason said that's exactly why
someone with a different background is needed on the state
supreme court.
He
describes himself as a "strict constitutionalist",
and says he some of the decisions the Supreme Court made during
the past year overstepped the boundary into legislating from
the bench rather than interpreting the law as Nevada 's Constitution
is written. Mason said, "Research led me to conclude
that the Court too often ignored the will and interests of
the people and the meaning of the law itself."
He added, "I took particular offense when the Court said
that people did not understand what they were voting for (twice!)
when they decided to amend the Nevada Constitution.
Mason
and his wife Bianca have seven children and he says that gives
him a very clear view of the challenges families face.
He says he is willing to give up his law practice because
he believes the Nevada Supreme Court needs to focus on protection
of the constitution. He said, "I am running for
the Supreme Court Seat E because, all my life, I have believed
that anyone who is unhappy with the system should try to change
it."
In
the past, that belief has led him to volunteer his time to
helping candidates he believed in run for political office
- He worked on President Bush's Campaign - as well as Jim
Gibbons'. He has served on the National Republican Party
and was elected to three terms as Chairman of the Nevada Republican
Party.
He
said his campaign focus will be to bring the Nevada Supreme
Court back to the fundamental purpose for which it was established
- to interpret the constitution and laws of the state, not
to remake them. He quoted the Nevada Constitution, saying
"All political power is inherent in the people.
Government is instituted for the protection, security and
benefit of the people; and they have the right to alter or
reform the same whenever the public good may inquire it."
Saying he believes strongly in those words, he added that
he is troubled, as he knows many others are, by the lack of
effect those words have had in some recent Nevada Supreme
Court decisions.
Mason
is running for Supreme Court Seat E - currently held by Deborah
Agosti.
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