In his time as city attorney, Chet Adams has seen his share of action and after the coming election he is hoping to return for more.

“You don’t get bored,” Adams said of why he loves his profession. “Every day is a new challenge. Every lawsuit is different. The problems are not routine. You have to analyze things. And I love to win. That gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Adams' tenure as city attorney has had its bright spots as well as its dark times, which he says he will address through the course of the campaign. As voters prepare to decide on their choice for city attorney, Adams said he welcomes any questions and promised honest answers.

“The public wants to know what my qualifications and experience are,” Adams said. “Why should I be city attorney?”

Adams said he believes his record as an employer would stand up to public scrutiny.

“I would welcome anyone to call into this office, anonymously, and ask, ‘What is this guy like and how are you being treated?,’" Adams said. “And they don’t have to tell me.”

He also said that his experience and accomplishments would contribute to his public appeal during election season.

“I am giving people my accomplishments,” Adams said. “I believe my accomplishments speak for themselves.”

Adams’ experience in the legal field began in 1979 after he graduated from California Western School of Law in San Diego, Calif., with his law degree. Adams had done his undergraduate work at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. Amid a slew of other odd jobs, he was working as a truck driver in Nevada and was offered a job by district attorney Cal Dunlap.

In 1987, Adams became the deputy district attorney for Washoe County. He served in that capacity until 1991 when he became chief deputy city attorney for the city of Sparks.

Adams references this experience as the best preparation for his tenure as city attorney.

“I don’t know if there is anything that could prepare you for being the city attorney,” Adams said. “But I guess the most practical experience I had was as chief civil deputy. That gave me an idea of what issues are involved on a municipal level. I received an introduction to the workings of the city council. I think in order to be a city attorney you need a working knowledge of how the city operates.”

Adams was elected as Sparks city attorney in 1997.

During his time in that position he has advised the city to settle a $100 million lawsuit by Red Hawk Land Co. — a decision for which he received public criticism. He has also been honored as the Sparks Chamber of Commerce’s member of the year in 1998, successfully orchestrated legal negotiations between the city and RED Development and been the brunt of some misconduct accusations.

In December 2006, the Sparks City Council hired an outside attorney to investigate allegations of professional misconduct by Adams. The investigation reports concluded that Adams had been involved in a relationship with a subordinate in the city attorney’s office. In June 2007, a former city of Sparks employee, Mary Stacy, filed a suit against the city claiming that Adams and a former deputy city attorney created a "hostile and offensive" work environment as a result of "sexual misconduct and retaliatory hostility." The case is still being litigated.

The city of Sparks, not Adams, was named as the defendant in that suit.

“I am very much aware of the criticisms of me being made in my personal capacity for decisions I have made in my personal life,” Adams said. “I will be the first person to admit that I have made mistakes. We live in a society where people make mistakes. The question is, do you learn from those mistakes.”

Adams said that he hopes the campaign for city attorney will be characterized by professionalism and understanding.

“I hope what will characterize the campaign is a professionalism that will help the voters understand what the qualifications of each candidate are and make an informed decision,” Adams said.