Is There Ever Too Much Disclosure?
Not at the City of Reno where there is almost no disclosure. Oh sure, at all the meetings often one of the councilmembers or mayor reads a disclosure statement, but we’ve had a difficult time remembering individuals not voting on an item because of a disclosed conflict.
Picon has received a number of emails from readers due to the marathon Reno City Council meeting on July 24, 2024, that lasted until almost 11:00PM due to the Mater Academy of Northern Nevada charter school proposed in North Valleys. The Reno City Council had a tie vote three YEA and three NAY to allow the school. Hence, Mater Academy is back on this week’s agenda, and hopefully the missing City Councilmember Jenny Brekhus will return to the dais tomorrow.
Last Wednesday, we all got to listen to a whole lot of comments and backbiting at one another on the dais or phone, from the Reno City Council members but that’s not the purpose of our article. We have questions about disclosures, and not a whole lot of time to delve into when a disclosure is mandatory. We question shouldn’t one always err on there is never too much disclosure, hence transparency.
Reno Mayor Wannabe Councilmember Devon Reese was vocally against Mater Academy, and we never heard a good reason why. Reese has voted for other North Valleys projects without traffic concerns. Did he suddenly driven to the area and realized traffic is horrific – so while Reese won’t stop voting for development in North Valleys, he will stop a school that kids could attend who live in the many developments he’s approved in the area. But, hey, Mater Academy doesn’t seem to have the contribution cash that developers do for Reese’s political campaign, and those of his pals like Alex Velto and Beth Smith.
It's interesting to learn that Mr. Reese and his business partner failed Assembly District 27 Candidate Alex Velto used the same firm for their campaign management, as did several schoolboard trustees, such as Beth Smith who is leading the charge against Mather Academy.
Mr. Velto also is the attorney of record for WPTA (Washoe Professional Technical Association) per their board meeting on February 7, 2024, Agenda Item II.a. “Voted to retain Alex Velto (Reese Ring Velto PLLC) as our attorney.”
Who are WPTA? From their website: “The Washoe Professional Technical Association represents the Professional & Technical employees of the Washoe County School District. ProTechs are involved in every aspect of the district's operations. While our roles fulfill a diverse array of needs, we are united in our support of WCSD students, staff, and families.”
Reno residents/taxpayers have no idea how the partners at Reese Ring Velto PLLC split up the monies the law firm brings in, so is Mr. Reese benefiting from Mr. Velto being the attorney of record for WPTA? Should Reese have disclosed Velto’s representation on July 24th?
We all remember the hoopla surrounding Councilmember Reese being reprimanded by state ethics commission for conflict of interest vote in March 2023. Since Reese is facing an opponent on November 5, 2024, why not be totally transparent and go on the record letting Renoites know there is no conflict by disclosing, you know, putting it on the record.
Where is the Reno City Attorney?
Picon also received this Supreme Court of Nevada Case No. 69385 from 2017 where Councilmember Reese represented the Washoe School Principals Association. Does he still? The WSPANV website was no help. We tried to track down board meeting minutes to no avail to learn who their attorney of record is. We’ve tried making phone calls and sending emails after last week’s Reno City Council meeting and have received no response from WSPANV.
Picon calls upon the Reno City Attorney’s Office to get to the bottom of who represents what and who benefits financially, and can we please get some disclosures from the guy who wants to be Reno’s Mayor before he votes tomorrow on Mater Academy.
