Special Election Loses the Day Again in Reno Despite Lorton and Brekhus Pleas, Public Support
A poll we conducted above on Twitter gave overwhelming support for a special election to choose a new Ward 5 representative. The results were similar over on our Instagram.
Mayoral candidate Eddie Lorton and Reno councilwoman Jenny Brekhus pushed for a special election to fill the Ward 5 seat abruptly emptied by Neoma Jardon’s decision to become Executive Director of the Downtown Reno Partnership. After some hesitations from Mayor Hillary Schieve and councilwoman Naomi Duerr, though, Council ended up voting for an appointment process instead.
Speaking first and then after the vote, Lorton said a special election with mail-in ballots could have been figured out for cheap, if there really was a desire to pursue such an option, instead of “appointing another yes person.”
Brekhus missed the vote as she had a previously scheduled medical appointment, and the Council ignored her plea to have the body wait for her return to hold the vote.
When she was present, Brekhus said she would prefer focusing on her own ward rather than spending hours mired in “political decisions.” She also called the appointment process a “political farce.” She said a special election would force candidates to go through “humble demands” of meeting people in neighborhoods, rather than politicizing with people already in power.
Schieve said she had been leaning on the special election side, but after the city clerk said it would have to wait until after the 2022 election cycle, she changed her mind. Duerr said she was “stunned” with the slow timeline which was presented (see graphic above), but also ended up voting for the appointment process, in the spirit of the “team.”
At-large Councilman Devon Reese, who benefitted from the appointment process to initially get his seat, as did his predecessor David Bobzien, said that calling appointments “anti-democratic” was false. The city clerk commented it’s been over 30 years since Reno has held a special election.
Two years remain in Jardon’s term, which now means Ward 5 residents won’t have an elected representative, but rather an appointed one, until 2025.
Our Reporting Highlights This Week
Our Last Motels of Reno series went to the Easy 8.
Our humans of Reno series profiled a buckaroo with a banjo along the Truckee River.
Our #keeprenogreen series showcased a UNR researcher trying to help save local plants.
Our #heroesofreno attention went to organizers of a space camp and a music entrepreneur helping local musicians.
Our podcast concluded a series highlighting local bands with a spotlight on Blind Fortune, including snippets of their recent music.