The election is just a week away, and residents of the Biggest Little City are being asked who should lead Reno over the next four years. KUNR's Paul Boger spoke to Bob Conrad with This Is Reno to break down some of the local races on this year's ballot.
Among the more closely watched local elections include the race for Reno Mayor where businessman Eddie Lorton is challenging incumbent Hillary Schieve.
“He is very concerned with issues of homelessness in parity in funding for programs for homelessness. One of his chief complaints about the Reno City Council is that he believes that they’re spending too much money on the homeless issue and that the county should really be picking up the tab.”
In addition to the mayor, city council and the like, residents of Washoe County will also determine the fate of a proposal to increase sales taxes county-wide in order to move forward with flood mitigation projects along the Truckee River. Conrad says the ballot initiative has been controversial outside the heart of the Truckee Meadows.
“If this is approved by the voters and you live out in, let’s say, Gerlach, you’re going to be paying a flood tax for the Truckee River even though it may not directly benefit you on a day-to-day basis. So, that’s been one of the chief complaints. However, the flood issue has been ongoing for decades. So, every time there’s a flood, there’s a concern that businesses in Sparks, for example, are going to get hit really hard or that people may get flooded out of their homes in South Reno.”
This article is an excerpt of an extended conversation. You can listen to a longer interview by clicking the play button above.
