Carson City and Washoe County are both underway in their efforts to fill the Nevada Senate District 16 vacancy. This Thursday, the Board of Supervisors will meet to interview 13 applicants and possibly nominate Carson City’s preference for the seat.
The final candidate voted in by Carson City and Washoe County will need to participate in the Nevada Senate’s Special Session for redistricting coming up in November.
Of the applicant pool, Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner has the most extensive and recent legislative experience. She served in Nevada’s 2017, 2019, and 2021 Legislative Sessions as an assemblyperson, Minority Whip, and Assistant Minority Whip.
Across all three sessions, she worked with the Judiciary and Education Committees, but also spent time with the Health and Human Services Committee and Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice, among others.
Candidates with roots in Carson City include Robert Weise, Maxine Nietz, and Don Tatro. Weise served for three terms in the State Assembly during the late 70’s and participated in their 1980 Special Session. Nietz has local government experience, volunteering as a member for Carson City’s Planning Commission, Library Board of Trustees, and more. Tatro now lives in Washoe County, but grew up in Carson City and worked as a press secretary in Washington, D.C.
The remaining candidates are largely from Washoe County: Melissa Clement, Rew Goodenow, Steven Guerrazzi, Ronald Haslem, Heidi Palmer, Tracey Smith, and Jeffrey Thiede. Jessica Glover and Larry Peyton have also applied, but Carson City and Washoe County will need to review their candidacy, as both must produce evidence that they live in District 16.
After their Nov. 4 meeting to interview candidates, the Board of Supervisors and Washoe County Commissioners will meet Nov. 10 to select a final candidate. Carson City will have four votes for their nominee, and Washoe County will have six votes, based on District 16’s population.
Before the interviews on Thursday, the Board of Supervisors will hear an update on the affordable housing project on 3410 Butti Way, and it will consider submissions of several grant applications for River View Trail renovations and flood control projects.
Mayor Lori Bagwell will issue proclamations for Quality-of-Life Month throughout November and Flood Awareness Week Nov. 14-20.
The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. in the Robert “Bob” Crowell Board Room at the Community Center on 851 E. William St., but interviews for the District 16 candidate are slated for 12:30 p.m. Residents may attend in-person with facial coverings, or tune in online through the “In Progress” link at www.carson.org/granicus. To listen by phone, call +1-408-418-9388 with meeting number 2480 101 1015.
Public comment will be accepted in-person or via telephone at the beginning and the end of the meeting. To submit public comment in advance of the meeting, email publiccomment@carson.org by 3 p.m. the day before the meeting.
