Intimidation 101, or AKA, How Dare You Take Beadles Money
This situation appears to involve complex local political dynamics and potential legal issues surrounding a city council election recount in Reno, Nevada. Based on the information provided, here are the key points:
1. Lily Baran narrowly lost the Democratic primary for Reno City Council Ward 1 by 15 votes.
2. Baran initiated a recount, reportedly funded by Robert Beadles with $50,000+.
3. This action seems to have caused controversy, with a former Reno city councilmember filing a complaint alleging campaign finance rule violations with the Nevada Secretary of State.
4. There's debate over whether campaign finance rules apply, as Baran is no longer officially a candidate after the election was certified on June 21, 2024, by the Washoe County Commissioners.
5. Baran reportedly faced pressure and threats of legal consequences over the weekend, due to calls, emails, texts, on June 29th and 30th, causing her distress, and fear.
6. She initially reached out to the Reno City Clerk on June 30th about ending the recount, due to the threats, but apparently changed her mind the next day after consulting legal counsel.
7. The City of Reno is claiming Baran's initial request to stop the recount cannot be reversed.
This situation raises questions about election procedures, campaign finance regulations, and the rights of candidates in close elections. It also highlights tensions within local Democratic Party politics, or more to the point why didn’t the Washoe Democratic Party support Baran “much” during the primary election.
There was no enthusiasm, it was more or less begrudgingly done. When the Democratic Party sent out their “canvass with us” emails, Baran was never first and foremost. When Baran had a fundraiser, it was lumped with other candidate’s fundraisers. Not an individual email as the Washoe Dems did for their darling, Commissioner Alexis Hill.
What did Baran do to the Democrats during the primary election? Who knows, but we know what she did wrong after the primary and that was to accept Robert Beadles money, and for that she was severely verbally punished.
With the presidential election getting a lot of press, after the debate, many Americans’ asking why aren’t younger people involved and wanting to run for political office. What has happened to Baran could be a primer for why not to run.
Picon ponders, why go after Baran? Could it be Lily Baran knows too much about Reno’s Community Assistance Center? Baran has been a constant commenter at the City of Reno Council meetings about what is going on with the CAC building over the past two years. Baran has called out former Reno City Manager Doug Thornley, as to why the building was allowed to descend into disrepair. Baran has legitimate questions, are the “powers that be” at the City of Reno afraid of what Baran might uncover if she becomes a City Council Member and they could not refuse her information or requests for public records, that they are famous for.
It is a legitimate question, does Lily know too much that would hurt, Mayor Hillary Schieve, No-Longer-At-Large and Reno Mayor-Want-To-Be in 2026 Councilmember Devon Reese, Councilmember Naomi Duerr, and Appointed Councilmember Miguel Martinez, along with Thornley. There have been odd happenings at the CAC and at some point, all will be revealed.