Reno City Council General Election Info

Plus upcoming City meetings & workshops and updates on past actions

It’s a light week for City of Reno public meetings, as you can see on the Meetings webpage, with just two scheduled. I’ll go through those quickly and provide updates on a few other matters, and then we’ll move on to discussing the upcoming election as it pertains to Reno City Council.

First up, the Ward 3 Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) meets on Tuesday, October 1 at 5:30pm, when one of the projects scheduled for discussion is the planned expansion of the Grand Sierra Resort. According to the application, it will include “a 10,000-seat arena, community ice rink, four-level parking structure, and casino expansion to connect to the arena.” The meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall, but you can also register to watch online here.  

Rendering from the Grand Sierra Resort CUP application

The Reno Planning Commission meets on Wednesday, October 2 at 6pm. That online agenda with supporting materials can be found here and you can watch and participate online by registering here. Their agenda includes a presentation from the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and review of a proposed Starbucks at Firecreek Crossing (at the former site of Boston Market).

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Updates from past City Council meetings

If you’re curious about the outcome of any of the items discussed at City Council meetings, the City publishes  “Meeting Highlights” on their “Newsroom” webpage. You can view the latest edition regarding the September 25 Council meeting here.

These highlights are great, but I also wish the City would provide more advance notice of meetings with a link to the agenda and selected highlights, to promote greater civic participation on the front end. Right now we’re lucky if we get a Facebook or Instagram post the previous day. Hint, hint.

More coverage of past Reno City Council items:

• The Reno Gazette-Journal reported on the sale of the CAC in “Council finalizes Reno's 136-unit affordable housing deal for former homeless shelter” (Jaedyn Young, RGJ, 9/25/24).

• This is Reno reported on a delay in action regarding fee reductions for the Stoker by Vintage Apartments plus other housing-related items in  “Affordable housing project postponed after residents complain about property manager” (Kelsey Penrose, This is Reno, 9/28/24).

• This is Reno reported on another past Council action in “NV Energy sues City of Reno over power line requirement” (Bob Conrad, This is Reno, 9/26/24). The suit pertains to a Planning Commission decision that would require NV Energy to extend its power line across private property. NV Energy appealed it, and City Council denied that appeal on August 28, so NV Energy is now suing the City.

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Paradise Park Master Plan Workshop

The City of Reno has scheduled a workshop to present two conceptual designs for the Paradise Park Master Plan on Monday, September 30 at 4:30pm at the Paradise Park Activity Center, 2745 Elementary Drive.

Detail from one of the concepts for the Paradise Park Master Plan

The concepts were derived from a survey conducted by the Parks and Recreation Department, and the workshop is intended to help determine community preferences for amenities, locations, and size of renovations and new park features. You can also fill out the online Paradise Park Master Plan Survey before Monday, October 14.  For more information, visit the project webpage.

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Get Informed: The 2024 Reno City Council General Election

The General Election is rapidly approaching, including races for four Reno City Council seats: Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6.

Here are some key dates from Washoe County’s 2024 General Election timeline:

• October 2:  sample ballots to be mailed to voters and posted online

• October 16: deadline for the Registrar of Voters to send out mail-in ballots (which you’ll receive unless you’ve opted out)

• October 19-November 1: in-person early voting.

• November 5: Election Day

You can find a lot of relevant information regarding the Reno City Council races in my 2024 Reno City Council Primary Election Guide published before the primary elections last May, including links to candidates’ registration forms and more.

As I wrote there, it’s important to understand that the boundaries of all wards will change as of November 5, and that the new Ward 6 was added with the elimination of an At-Large Council position. That means that two seated Councilmembers—Devon Reese and Kathleen Taylor—are running for different seats than the ones they currently hold. That makes them sort of incumbents (since they are current City Councilmembers) but not exactly, since they’re running for different seats. Here’s a detail of the new six-ward map (because the City of Reno extends so far to the north and south, Wards 4 and 6 extend off this image on the top and bottom, respectively).

The new City of Reno wards (detail from the Ward Map webpage)

You can look up your current and future wards on the city’s Ward Map webpage where the old five-ward map is at the top and the new six-ward map below that. Or you can go straight to a large version of the new ward map here. Enter your address in the search window of the new six-ward map to see which ward you’ll have the opportunity to vote for. (If you’re in Ward 2 or Ward 5, you don’t have a City Council election this year, as those wards are represented by Naomi Duerr and Meghan Ebert, respectively, and Mayor Schieve is entering the final two years of her final term).

In my list of resources below, I’m including media coverage and results from the primary elections. Far fewer people vote in the primaries than in the general election, so we are likely to see the total number of residents voting in each ward race increase dramatically. But I still think it’s illuminating to see how the votes broke down in the primary election, and what percentage of those who turned out voted for whom.

Mark Robison of the Reno Gazette-Journal has put together Q&A articles about each race, with a breakdown of information about each candidate, so be sure to check those out. I’ve provided the corresponding links to those pieces underneath each race below.

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Reno City Council Ward 1

• Frank Perez (https://votefrankperez.com/)

• Kathleen Taylor (https://taylorforreno.com/)

The boundaries of Ward 1 have changed considerably in the redistricting. It includes downtown, and notably, no longer includes the Old Southwest/Newlands Heights—the furthest south it runs is now California Avenue. It includes Northeast Reno and has a little jog out to the west between West 4^th Street and Interstate 80, plus UNR and some neighborhoods to its north.

The incumbent for Ward 1 would be Jenny Brekhus, but she has termed out. Kathleen Taylor was appointed to the Ward 5 City Council seat in 2022 after Neoma Jardon resigned. Because Taylor lives in a part of downtown that used to be Ward 5, but will now be Ward 1, she is running to represent Ward 1. She owns a company that handles public/stakeholder outreach for public works and infrastructure projects (including RTC Washoe). Frank Perez works for the City of Reno as a code compliance officer.

Here’s the new Reno Gazette-Journal Q&A for Ward 1. This includes 3 issues they’ll focus on; age; education; occupation; political experience; political affiliation; family; money raised in 2024 (with a link to the Secretary of State website); and biggest donors.

Two pieces published before the primary election feature interviews with all the primary candidates, including Frank Perez and Kathleen Taylor:

• “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.

PRIMARY RESULTS: A total of 3,536 residents voted in the primary election for Ward 1. Although appointed Councilmember Kathleen Taylor won the largest number of votes for any individual candidate, more than 70% of those who voted in the primary did NOT vote for her. That’s pretty significant for someone who is currently serving on City Council.

• Kathleen Taylor: 29.13% (1,030 votes)

• Frank Perez: 24.1% (852 votes)

• Another candidate: 46.77% (1,654 votes)

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Reno City Council Ward 3

• Miguel Martinez (https://votemiguelmartinez.com/)

• Denise Myer (https://www.myer4nevada.com/)

Ward 3 includes a lot of east Reno, on the south side of the Truckee River, extending westward through MidTown and south to McCarran Boulevard/Mira Loma. Martinez was appointed to the Ward 3 City Council seat in 2022 after Oscar Delgado resigned. Denise Myer is retired.

Here’s the new Reno Gazette-Journal Q&A for Ward 3. This includes 3 issues they’ll focus on; age; education; occupation; political experience; political affiliation; family; money raised in 2024 (with a link to the Secretary of State website); and biggest donors.

Two pieces published before the primary election feature interviews with all the primary candidates, including Miguel Martinez and Denise Myer:

• “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.

PRIMARY RESULTS: A total of 3,471 residents voted in the primary for Ward 3. Of those, appointed Councilmember Miguel Martinez received 49.52% of the vote and Denise Myer received 21.55% of the vote. That means that just over 50% of primary voters in Ward 3 selected someone other than the seated Councilmember.

• Miguel Martinez: 49.52% (1,719 votes)

• Denise Myer: 21.55% (748 votes)

• Another candidate: 28.93% (1,004 votes)

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Reno City Council Ward 5

• Brian Cassidy (https://cassidyforreno.com/)

• Devon Reese (https://www.votereese.com/)

Ward 5 didn’t change a great deal in the redistricting. It’s still west Reno; it just doesn’t extend quite as far east as it used to. Devon Reese was appointed to the At-Large Council seat in 2019 after David Bobzien resigned. He was elected to the At-Large Council seat in 2020. With the elimination of that seat, Reese is now running to represent Ward 5—his first time running to represent an individual ward. He is a labor and litigation attorney. Brian Cassidy is the owner of Junk King Reno.

Here’s the new Reno Gazette-Journal Q&A for Ward 5. This includes 3 issues they’ll focus on; age; education; occupation; political experience; political affiliation; family; money raised in 2024 (with a link to the Secretary of State website); and biggest donors.

Two pieces published before the primary election feature interviews with all the primary candidates, including Brian Cassidy and Devon Reese:

• “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.

PRIMARY RESULTS: A total of 8,899 residents of Ward 5 voted in the primary. Of those, current At-Large Councilmember Devon Reese received 37.14% of the vote and Brian Cassidy received 27.45% of the vote. That means 35.41% voted for neither one of them. As in Wards 1 & 3, the seated Councilmember earned less than 50% of the vote.

• Devon Reese: 37.14% (3,305 votes)

• Brian Cassidy: 27.45 % (2,443 votes)

• Another candidate: 35.41% (3,151 votes)

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Reno City Council Ward 6

• Brandi Anderson (https://www.brandiforreno.com/)

• Tom Heck (https://www.electheck.com/)

Ward 6 is brand new, carved out of parts of south Reno that formerly included Wards 2 and 3. It extends from part of McCarran Boulevard southward to city limits. Neither candidate has served on Reno City Council before or held any elected office. Brandi Anderson is a small business owner and marketing consultant. Tom Heck is retired.

Here’s the new Reno Gazette-Journal Q&A for Ward 6. This includes 3 issues they’ll focus on; age; education; occupation; political experience; political affiliation; family; money raised in 2024 (with a link to the Secretary of State website); and biggest donors.

Two pieces published before the primary election feature interviews with all the primary candidates, including Brandi Anderson (both) and Tom Heck (News4 only):

• “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.

PRIMARY RESULTS: A total of 7,300 residents of the new Ward 6 voted in the primary, which featured a large field of candidates. Of those, Brandi Anderson received 43.3% of the vote and Tom Heck received 14.78%. That leaves more than 40% who voted for another candidate (there were seven total), so we’ll have to see who those voters (and everyone else who turns out) gets behind in the general election.

• Brandi Anderson: 43.3% (3,161 votes)

• Tom Heck: 14.78% (1,079 votes)

• Another candidate: 41.92% (3,060 votes)

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Additional Thoughts on the Reno City Council Races

So beyond learning a bit about their backgrounds and what they say about themselves, how can you go about deciding which candidate to support in your ward’s City Council race? Obviously, it depends on what’s important to you. You might be interested in their endorsements or campaign contributions. You might be concerned with how they treat others on the dais or in the community. And I certainly hope you’re interested in their ethical record and how they feel about the issues you value.

To assist with that evaluation, we can benefit from the fact that three of these four races feature a sitting Councilmember whose votes, actions, and words constitute a track record you can examine and evaluate. Recently, whenever City Council votes have been split 4-3 or 5-2 (which frequently occurs), Councilmembers Taylor, Reese, and Martinez have generally voted together.

In a highly unusual circumstance which I’m pretty sure is unprecedented for Reno, all three sitting Councilmembers seeking election this year—Taylor, Reese, and Martinez—were initially appointed rather than elected to City Council, something the City of Reno Charter Committee tried to address this year by requiring a special election rather than appointments, should City Council seats become unexpectedly vacant with a significant amount of time remaining in the term. (Recent Charter Committee member Margo Piscevich recently wrote this piece about City Council’s decision not to move that committee’s recommendation forward to the Nevada state legislature.)

On an individual basis, you can search for news coverage of their actions. In addition to general searches, try searching local news platforms for councilmembers’ names. Many reports feature direct quotes from Council meetings; This is Reno’s articles are particularly detailed in that regard. You can also consult my Citizen Guide for other media outlets to consult. And I’ve written about individual members’ actions and votes in my Briefs, too (you can search the Archive here).

Is there a specific issue or vote that you want to revisit? Scroll down to “Archived Meetings” on the City’s public portal, where you’ll find links to minutes from previous City Council meetings. They’re usually not terribly detailed, but can at least provide a vote tally. If you’re not sure when an item was discussed, you can visit the Public Records Search webpage and enter in what you know, to try to find it. And all Council meetings held in recent years can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel.

Beyond that, talk to your family, friends, and colleagues. Ask others who you know pay attention to the issues that come in front of City Council for their thoughts. Who are they supporting, and why? If you like some but not all of what a seated Councilmember has done, is it possible that a newcomer could accomplish all the positive things you like without the negative things you don’t? Social media can be problematic, but it’s also one of the few places residents actively engage in discussions about City Council and related issues with each other. Feel free to use the comment section under the online version of this post, too. Here’s the link to that.

Lastly, seek out these candidates for yourself. There’s still time for residents to make personal contact with anyone running for Reno City Council before the election. It’s the most accessible elected office there is, so take advantage of that. Make a conscious decision to be an informed voter. Reno’s future depends on it.

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.

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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.