The Kate Marshall Factor
Picon read Eddie Lorton’s opinion in the Reno Gazette Journal and were hit with the age-old issue of power going to people’s heads. And we don’t mean Eddie’s. When a mayor and councilmember start thinking they’re untouchable, it’s definitely a problem. As the City of Reno Mayor’s term gets nearer to ending day by day, the plots being floated to aid her, and her allies, to stay in power and stay relevant are interesting.
First off, the key to hanging onto power lies in two words: strategic alliances. That is what Mayor Schieve has with Councilmember Devon Reese. This is a delicate balancing act, like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches, because the alliance can easily go south.
Picon has been reading This Is Reno over the last couple of weeks about questionable spending by certain elected and appointed officials. From the City of Reno, there has been no statement crafted, no explanation, no comment, making it appear the four affected individuals are trying to lay low and let the crisis pass.
As we posted, Appointed Councilmember Martinez, the “humble” politician refunded $1,844.70 to the City of Reno, AKA Reno’s taxpayers, with the comment “a relatively small amount”. That comment alone seems to reek of his not really taking responsibility seriously for his error. The repayment was clearly done to aid his election campaign. While attempting to be humble the small amount comment all but destroyed his purpose. How often do Renointes stay in “premiere executive rooms at $915.57 per night” as Councilmember Martinez did with taxpayer dollars.
These rumors about how the Reno mayor and a few councilmembers use their discretionary funds like personal piggy banks has been swirling around for over a year. However, the rumor Lorton alluded to has been circling the drain since Mayor Schieve was sworn in after the 2022 election. The rumor is Mayor Schieve will resign before her term ends and Councilmember Devon Reese will be appointed mayor, thus giving him the gift of incumbency. Schieve easily has the votes to appoint Reese mayor on the council from Councilmembers Miguel Martinez, Kathleen Taylor, Naomi Duerr, and let’s face facts, Devon Reese will vote for himself. Easy, and done.
Councilmember Reese isn’t just raising money at an alarming rate to run his election campaign for Ward 5. No, he is building a cache of funds for his 2026 mayoral campaign. Reese already knows he has a strong Democrat opponent in former Lt. Governor Kate Marshall. Picon has heard since Marshall personally told Reese she was running in 2026 he has ramped up the fundraising heat.
Reese has three opponents in the Ward 5 campaign and other than paying his fundraising team Tissot Solutions, LLC just a little more than $17,000, his campaign management, Changing Dynamics Political Consulting, LLC over $16,000, paying for his fundraising locations to the tune of $7,500 he seems to be doing little or nothing with the campaign funds raised to support his run for Ward 5.
Reese has been busy being the Willy Wonka of political campaigns handing out Golden Ticket checks to Commissioner Alexis Hill $1,000, Planning Commissioner and Assembly Candidate Alex Velto $2,500, School Board Trustee Beth Smith $500, Appointed Reno City Councilmember Miguel Martinez $1,000.
Lorton might be right. Why is Reese only fundraising? Why is Reese not using his campaign funds to run his campaign? Maybe because he knows he doesn’t need to?
Does this mean Mayor Schieve is planning on resigning early and will Resse be appointed as Reno’s mayor, so he doesn’t even need to win the Ward 5 race? Before the 2024 primary? As of today, Reese and Webster have ‘officially’ filed. Sheila Browning-Peuchaud and Brian Cassidy both have social media and websites so we can but assume they will be filing.
There is nothing ‘not interesting’ in the Ward 5 race with Sheila Peuchaud now seeming to change her name to “Browning-Peuchaud” that we can but assume is a misguided process to get to the top of the ballot.
In Washoe County candidate filing began on Monday, March 4, 2024, and ends on Friday, March 15, 2024. If Schieve was to resign after the filing period ends, where will that leave the city? Could they appoint? Would they appoint? How could the Washoe County Interim Registrar of Voters possibly hold a special election remembering 2024 is a presidential election. Are the citizens of Reno being set up? Picon is not the only one asking these questions, life-long democrats, not supporters or Reese, have been sending emails asking us to investigate.
Reese is playing the game with finesse, cunning and a touch of ruthlessness. Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of the self-righteous like a united front. We’ve seen Democrats, Nonpartisans, and Republicans rallying together as concerned citizens demanding transparency and integrity. Citizens are being appointed to boards and commissions who are asking questions. Such as the recent appointment to the City of Reno Charter Committee of Margo Piscevich, who is a known cheerleader for Kate Marshall. Residents have been attending council meetings, speaking up at public forums, harassing media for coverage, holding councilmembers to task for their behavior, shining a light on their transgressions and not allowing them to squirm out of responsibility. There seems to be a groundswell which we question will continue to the ballot box.
As the rumors swirl, we must remember the practice of free and fair elections, something Schieve and Reese have forgotten in the City of Reno with the two appointed council members serving now. City council members appointed by a select few, without the accountability of an election, are disconnected from the needs of the community, their decisions influenced by outside interests rather than the will of the people. The choice between an elected and appointed mayor or city councilmembers can mean the difference between a thriving, vibrant city, or one plagued by corruption and stagnation. The adventure lies in the democratic process, in the power of the people to shape their own destinies though the ballot box.
In Mr. Lorton’s Reno Gazette Journal opinion, he neglected to discuss the Kate Marshall factor in the City of Reno Mayoral race and the importance to No-Longer-At-Large Councilmember Reese. If these two Democrats run who will the Washoe County Democratic Party support in 2026? If Reese was the appointed mayor, the Washoe Dems would have no choice but to support him. Could Mr. Lorton have overlooked this factor due to his eyeing another run for mayor?
