Despite having the backing of outgoing Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, Ray Pezonella was defeated last night by Hillary Schieve. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports that Pezonella had been cast as the "status quo" candidate and voters decided that staying the course was not the right path.
You can find all Nevada election results here or Washoe County results here.
Out at the polls yesterday, voter Ben Gaetke said he was voting for Ray Pezonella because of the endorsements he had garnered.
“I think our current administration has been doing a pretty good job and they’re backing Pezonella, so if I don’t see anything wrong with the current group, I don’t see anything wrong with voting for their pick.”
But even more voters were drawn to Hillary Schieve, who says she represents a new beginning for the city.
"It's going to be an exciting time for this brand new council. I can't wait to build relationships with them. There's just a lot of work to do. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get started. I'm so excited."
As Schieve transitions to mayor, the council will need to fill her seat. The group will also be welcoming two newbies, Naomi Duerr and Paul McKenzie.
Schieve says one of their biggest obstacles will be trying to wrangle in the city's debt--which stands at more than $500 million--but it's a challenge she hopes to tame through innovation.
"We have to start thinking differently. I think in government, a lot of people talk about how they're going to cut and they move money around, but what we really need to do is look at ways we're going to generate revenue."
Current councilman Oscar Delgado attended a celebration for Schieve last night and says he and many others have been yearning for the fresh approach she'll bring.
"We've all seen what the status quo has brought us over the last several years and that is a stale economy, an economy that collapsed and put a lot of people in harm's way," Delgado says. "I, for one, my dad was a construction laborer and my mom still works in a casino and those were industries that were completely impacted and what we needed to expand on was the economic diversity of our economy.
Delgado points specifically to Schieve's role in building up the Midtown district as an example of her vision for how the city can evolve.
"She saw something there, whereas before people saw Midtown as something that was rundown, she saw it as an opportunity for us to redevelop and bring it back to life."
Schieve defeated Pezonella by more than 20 percentage points or roughly 12,000 votes.
