Get Ready to VOTE!
Primary election voting starts this week for four Reno City Council seats.
Today’s Brief includes a guide for participating in the upcoming primary election, which is just around the corner. In fact, mail-in ballots have already started to arrive in area homes, and in-person early voting starts on Saturday, May 25.
That makes this the optimal time to educate yourself about the election and the candidates, and make sure that you and all of your Reno friends turn in a ballot. Of course, the 2024 election involves much more than Reno City Council, but since my focus here is local government, I will only be discussing that race in the Brief.
My guide to participating in the Reno City Council primary election follows below, right after a quick preview of this week’s meetings.
City Meetings for the Week of May 20, 2024
This week’s full calendar of Current and Upcoming Meetings can be found here. In addition to the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency Board (5/22), they include meetings of the Arts and Culture Commission (5/20); Ward 2 NAB (5/21); Recreation and Parks Commission (5/21); Truckee Meadows Stormwater Permit Coordinating Committee (5/23); and Youth City Council (5/23).
Click on the meetings page to access all agendas and associated materials.
The agenda for the Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Reno City Council meeting is here. As usual, I encourage you to browse through it for issues that interest you. Instructions for submitting public comment are found at the top of the agenda. Some items that caught my eye this week include these:
C.1 - Adoption of the Final City Budget for FY 24/25. Staff report here.
C.2 - Santerra-Quilici Properties Condition Amendment. Staff report here.
C.3 - Resolution to issue General Obligation Sewer Bonds with max of $70M. Staff report here.
D.5 - Contingency funds for fencing in South Reno to improve safety for the traveling public and horses in an amount not to exceed $600,000. Staff report here.
Now let’s talk about voting!
Reno City Council 2024 Primary Election Guide
Readers of The Barber Brief know that my overarching goal is to inspire residents to participate in the political process at the (often-neglected) local level. In every Brief, you’ll find me urging you to read upcoming agendas, contact your representatives, submit public comments, and do everything you can to get your voice heard, especially with respect to development-related issues.
There is no more consequential step in that process than electing the individuals who represent us on the Reno City Council.
And this is a big year. In 2024, four Reno City Council seats are up for election, representing the newly-configured Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6.
The Reno City Council wields enormous power over the shape of our city and its quality of life, with development-related duties that include the following:
Appointing the members of the Reno Planning Commission, the Reno City Charter Committee, and other important boards and commissions.
Selecting, hiring, and reviewing the Reno City Manager.
Approving Development Agreements and street abandonments (as the only local body to vote on either).
Casting the deciding vote on countless decisions regarding changes to the Reno Master Plan and Land Development Code.
….and much more.
Turnout in primaries is typically very low, but it is critical in these Council races because for each ward, only the two City Council candidates who receive the most votes will proceed to the general election in November.
If you are a registered voter in the City of Reno, you should be receiving your mail-in ballot this coming week, so it’s important to be as prepared and informed as possible. I’ll have information on the timeline and logistics below, but first, a few words about which ward you will be voting in.
How has redistricting affected your ward assignment?
The 2024 election is the first to be undertaken using the new City of Reno ward boundaries that resulted from last year’s redistricting process. Those new ward boundaries are in effect for the purposes of this election, but will not go into effect for all other purposes until the results of the General Election in November are finalized.
You can look up your current and future wards by accessing interactive maps found on the City of Reno website. That webpage features the old ward configuration on the left and the new configuration on the right. You can move around on each map with your cursor, zoom in and out, and click on each ward’s outline to view its current representative and the year when that ward’s Council seat is next up for election.
To see what ward you will be living in for the 2024 election and beyond, use the “New Six-Ward Map” (on the right). Click on the little magnifying glass (the search icon) found at the top right. Enter your address, and the map will then zoom to that location. Click on the map and an outline of your ward will appear along with a box that lists your new ward, its representative, and the next election date for that seat.
Obviously, the redistricting process has impacted this City election in a number of ways that can be a bit confusing. Here’s some info that might help clear it up.
You may be voting for a City Councilmember to represent a ward that is different from your current ward. That’s because all of the ward boundaries have changed to some extent (some more than others), and Ward 6 is an entirely new ward carved out of south Reno. That means that you may, for instance, currently live in Ward 2 but will be voting for a Ward 6 Councilmember.
Some sitting Councilmembers are running to represent a different seat than the one they currently hold. That’s because Reno will no longer have an At-Large Councilmember, and the home addresses of sitting Councilmembers may have changed wards.
You may not have a City Council race on your ballot. That’s because in Reno, you can only vote in the race for your own ward’s representative, and the City Council seat corresponding to your new ward may not be up for election this year. If you live in Reno and DO NOT see a City Council category on your ballot, then you live in the reconfigured Wards 2 or 4, which are not up for election until 2026 (and are currently represented by Naomi Duerr and Meghan Ebert, respectively).
You can read up on the whole redistricting process on the city’s webpage here, which also has a Frequently Asked Questions section that you may find helpful.
Who is running for Reno City Council in 2024?
Now that you know which ward you are voting in, you need to do your homework to learn as much as you can about the candidates running for that seat. In order to do that, you have a number of resources at your disposal.
First off, here’s some key information you should know:
Reno City Council races are NONPARTISAN. That means you can vote for anyone who is running to represent your ward, regardless of your registered party affiliation or theirs.
The Washoe County Registrar of Voters has info on candidates for Reno City Council races (and all other primary races). Visit the Washoe County Registrar of Voters 2024 Election Page (you have to scroll down a bit to see the Reno City Council wards). The County also provides a platform for candidates to provide statements, if desired, on the Candidate Profiles webpage.
Information on candidates can also be found on the Ballotpedia website, where some have completed a survey about themselves, their values, and positions. You can view the Reno City Council section here.
All Reno City Council candidates’ Declaration Forms (their filing documents) can be found on the City’s 2024 Election page here.
You can find all the candidates’ submitted financial information including Contributions & Expenses (C&E) and Financial Disclosure Statements (FDS) on the Secretary of State website here.
Let’s move on to information about the candidates for each ward. For our purposes here, I’m citing media platforms that have invited all of the candidates to answer questions or to sit for interviews and I’m also providing links to candidate websites, when available. If you know of a candidate website I have not included here, please let me know and I’ll add it to their name.
Some candidates also have written and more will write their own opinion pieces for various media platforms in the weeks to come. I recommend following the outlets included in my Citizen Guide (and others) to view these as they become available.
RENO CITY COUNCIL WARD 1 - 2024 PRIMARY CANDIDATES
“Election 2024 guide: Here are primary candidates for Reno City Council Ward 1” (Reno Gazette-Journal)
“Reno City Council Ward 1: Incumbent, 7 others vie for new downtown seat” (News4) Click links to candidate names within this article to view individual interviews.
Ward 1 Reno City Council Candidate Websites
Lily Baran: https://www.votelilybaran.org/
Matthew DeMartini: https://votedemartini.com/
Darrin Freeman: https://trh.nfp.mybluehost.me/
Jessica G. Glover: https://leadrenowithlove.weebly.com/
Frank Perez: https://votefrankperez.com/
Arturo Rangel: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557714573480
Kathleen Taylor: https://taylorforreno.com/
Tom Van Ruiten: https://www.votetomreno.org/
RENO CITY COUNCIL WARD 3 - 2024 PRIMARY CANDIDATES
“Election 2024 guide: Here are the primary candidates for Reno City Council Ward 3” (Reno Gazette-Journal)
“Reno City Council Ward 3: 4 candidates challenging appointed incumbent Miguel Martinez” (News4) Click links to candidate names within this article to view individual interviews.
Ward 3 Reno City Council Candidate Websites
Juergen Hoehne: https://juergen4nevada.com/
Nate Lance: no candidate website found
Miguel Martinez: https://votemiguelmartinez.com/
Denise Myer: https://www.myer4nevada.com/
Cliff Young: http://votecliffyoung.com/ (listed on County Candidate Profile page but not active as of 5/19/24). Official Candidate Declaration form listed website as https://cliffyounglaw.com/
RENO CITY COUNCIL WARD 5 - 2024 PRIMARY CANDIDATES
“Election 2024 guide: Here are primary candidates for Reno City Council Ward 5” (Reno Gazette-Journal)
“Reno City Council Ward 5: At-large incumbent, 3 others in race to represent northwest Reno” (News4) Click links to candidate names within this article to view individual interviews.
Ward 5 Reno City Council Candidate Websites
Sheila Browning-Peuchaud: https://sheilaforward5.com/
Brian M. Cassidy: https://cassidyforreno.com/
Devon T. Reese: https://www.votereese.com/
Tara C. Webster: https://www.votetarawebster.com/
RENO CITY COUNCIL WARD 6 - 2024 PRIMARY CANDIDATES
“Election 2024 guide: Here are primary candidates for Reno City Council Ward 6” (Reno Gazette-Journal)
“Reno City Council Ward 6: First election for new district, 7 candidates in open race” (News4) Click links to candidate names within this article to view individual interviews.
Ward 6 Reno City Council Candidate Websites
Brandi Anderson: https://www.brandiforreno.com/
Michaelangelo Aranda: https://www.arandaforreno.com/
J M Darcey, II: no candidate website found
Mike Grimm: https://www.grimmreno.com/
Tom Heck: no candidate website found
William Mantle: https://www.renoward6.com/
Roy Stoltzner: https://www.royforreno6.com/
How, When & Where Can You Vote in the Primary Election?
For information on how to register to vote, or to change your registration, consult the Nevada Secretary of State’s Online Voter Registration page. You can also find information on the Washoe County Registrar of Voters “Register to Vote” page.
To check the status of your voter registration and access your Reno ward assignment (plus district assignments for other races) and mail-in ballot status, visit the Washoe County Registrar of Voters “Washoe County Voter Registration Lookup” page.
For more information on Mail-In Ballots, consult the Washoe County Registrar of Voters page titled “Vote from Home: Mail-in Ballots.”
For more information on Voting in Person, consult the Washoe County Registrar of Voters page titled “Vote In Person.”
A complete timeline for the 2024 election can be found on the Washoe County Registrar of Voters website here. Here are some of the key dates:
May 25-Jun 7, 2024: Early Voting. This period is for early in-person voting. A map and list of Washoe County’s in-person Vote Centers and Ballot Drop-Off Locations can be found here.
May 28, 2024: Deadline to request a mail ballot
June 11, 2024: Primary Election Day
June 15, 2024: Deadline for the County to receive completed mail ballots through the USPS (must be postmarked on or before Election Day)
That should cover the basics for voting for City Council in this primary election. Now get out there (or sit down at your kitchen table with your mail-in ballot) and VOTE!
The Latest in Development News
Downtown Makeover had some interesting tidbits about downtown Reno this past week, including reports on the imminent sale of the downtown Cinemark Movie Theater and plans to introduce an array of new businesses, spaces, and amenities to the ground floor of the Montage condominiums.
This is not breaking news, but I’ve been in a bit of denial about the announcement that our beloved Sundance Books & Music is permanently closing at the end of May. Sundance has of course been a staple in the Reno community for 39 years, since its days on Keystone Avenue. It’s honestly difficult to imagine Reno without it.
I have participated in countless events at Sundance, not just as a customer but as an author, taking part in readings and special events like the Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl. I want to express my boundless thanks to owner Christine Kelly for her dedication, inspiration, and friendship through the years. And I want to encourage all of you to visit Sundance at least one last time before they close for good on May 31, 2024. They’re located at 121 California Avenue and open from 10am to 6pm every day until May 31, and all store inventory is now offered at a 20% discount. Please stop by, use your gift certificates, sign the guest book, thank their staff, and say goodbye.
Oh, and just in case you’ve been wondering how many days it’s been since Jacobs Entertainment promised City Council to reveal their 10-year Master Plan “in 60-90 days,” the answer is 186.
Thank you, Subscribers!
Lastly, today I want to express my deep gratitude to all who subscribe to The Barber Brief, whether through a free or optional paid subscription. Your support keeps me going, and I am so grateful for each and every one of you. In fact, I was thrilled this week to have been certified as an official Substack bestseller!
And now I have a favor to ask: Can every person who is reading this edition kindly share The Barber Brief with a friend and recommend that they become a subscriber, whether free or paid? Let’s see if we can expand the readership by another thousand this week and get more residents informed about our local primary election and other critical issues affecting Reno residents. Thank you and have a wonderful week!
Be sure to check out my Citizen Guide for helpful resources and links for anyone hoping to become more informed and engaged in issues related to urban development (& more) in Reno.
As always, you can view this and prior newsletters on my Substack site, subscribe to receive each new edition in your email inbox, and follow the Brief (and contribute to the ongoing conversation) on X, Facebook & Instagram. If you feel inspired to support my writing and research with a financial contribution, you can sign up for a paid subscription through my Substack site or contribute to my Venmo account at @Dr-Alicia-Barber or via check to Alicia Barber at P.O. Box 11955, Reno, NV 89510. Thanks so much for reading, and have a great week.
Thank you for the information on City Council candidates. Is there a place to go to find information on the State Board of Education (district 2); the School Board Trustee (district E); School Board Trustee (District G at-large)??? Please respond to vjc6875@yahoo.com