A bill making substantial changes in how Reno residents elect city council members is making its way through the legislature.
Assembly Bill 36 amends the Reno Charter by redrawing the city’s five wards and adding a sixth district. The measure would also do away with the current at-large seat on the council and make all city elections ward-only. In other words, candidates for the council will no longer have to run city-wide. The change is in line with how most municipalities in the state run their elections. The full Assembly approved the measure yesterday, and it now heads to the Senate.
"The city council took a vote to support the changes to the charter amendment," says Democratic Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson of Reno. "So, there's been lots of discussions, a lot of collaboration. All in really good spirit. All in really god stride."
A similar measure aimed at the City of Sparks is currently in committee. Neither measures seem to be controversial and will likely become law.