SPF 100 for Thin Skin: When a Mayor’s Suntan Line Outshines Her City Leadership

Mayor Hillary Schieve at her Spooge product launch.

In most cities, it’s considered a public service when a resident takes time out of their day to speak during public comment at a city council meeting. In Reno, Nevada, it’s starting to feel more like a public risk — especially if you say something that rubs Mayor Hillary Schieve the wrong way. Because these days, challenging Schieve’s decisions doesn’t just get you a polite nod — it might get you publicly accused, publicly shamed, and publicly dragged for… well, daring to participate in democracy.

Mayor Hillary Schieve calling out a local resident after they made a public comment during the city council meeting.

Let’s get something straight: the dais is not a throne, and Reno isn’t a monarchy. But lately, it’s feeling more like a kingdom where disagreement is treason, and the mayor governs with a bottle of suntan oil in one hand and a microphone in the other.

Mayor Schieve is currently moonlighting (or should we say sun-lighting?) as the founder of a new suntan line, Spooge — a branding decision that deserves its own article, preferably one published far away from the children’s section. While she’s launching her skincare empire, Reno is facing a not-so-cute $25 million budget deficit and a growing sense that city leadership is, at best, distracted — at worst, derailed.

Schieve has reportedly been absent from several council meetings. You know, the actual job she was elected to do. And when she does show up, she seems more focused on fighting critics than fighting for solutions. The city’s fiscal crisis? Affordable housing? Emergency services? Apparently, they can wait. What can’t wait is calling out a local resident during public comment for having the audacity to speak about accessory dwelling units and the mayor's other career endeavors.

Yesterday, during public comment — that sacred space where democracy gets its most raw, unfiltered voice — Mayor Schieve turned the spotlight not on city issues, but on a resident. The crime? Speaking up. The topic? Concerns about accessory dwelling units and the mayor’s frequent absences while promoting her Spooge line.

What happened next is the stuff of democratic nightmares: Schieve accused the senior citizen who had spoken of attempting to "dox" her.

Someone needs to point out to Mayor Schieve her address is on all her public documents such as the Secretary of State’s Nevada Financial Disclosure State she had had to file for over 10 years.

This wasn’t just inappropriate. It was dangerous. Because when a public official uses their power and platform to suggest, accuse, or shame a citizen from the dais, it sends a message louder than any policy statement: “Disagree with me, and I’ll come for you.”

This isn’t leadership. This is intimidation. And it’s unconstitutional.

Let’s be honest — the mayor’s lack of a formal college education isn’t the problem here. Plenty of brilliant, effective leaders have come from unconventional educational paths. The real issue is how Schieve appears to wield her position not with humility or a hunger to learn, but with defensiveness and disdain for anyone who questions her judgment.

Instead of focusing on data, outcomes, or community consensus, we’re watching a leader govern with impulse and grievance. Limiting public comment, publicly accusing private citizens, and operating more like an influencer than an elected official does not inspire confidence — it raises red flags.

Citizens must be free to speak, question, and challenge — especially when their city is in crisis. Public comment is not a gift from the mayor. It is a right protected under the Constitution. And when that space becomes hostile, it discourages engagement, silences criticism, and weakens democracy.

So here’s the real call to action: It’s time for Reno to demand leadership that knows the difference between public service and personal branding. Between healthy governance and unhealthy ego. Between holding the mic — and holding power accountable.

Mayor Schieve may have invested in Spooge to protect people’s skin, but it’s time she learned to develop a thicker one. Because governing a city isn’t about soaking up the sun — it’s about standing in the heat.