The Legacy of Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve

When I first moved to Reno in 2019 I saw Mayor Hillary Schieve on the news where she was touted as a business woman and took credit for bringing business to Reno. I have since learned much more about her, and her political ambitions that might have her running for governor at the next election. As I look back I ponder about the legacy of Mayor Hillary Schieve.

Schieve’s Political History

Hillary Schieve began her political career when she was elected to the Reno City Council in 2012, taking over the at-large seat from Pierre Hascheff, who became a Justice Court judge. Schieve was previously involved in the Mid-Town business organization as she owned a resale clothing store there that later was changed to a Plato’s Closet and moved to the Smithridge shopping center.

Schieve was first elected as Mayor of Reno in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. Despite being subject to a term limit of 12 years, Schieve remains in office until 2026 due to serving a partial initial term from 2012 to 2014 and due to winning a legal challenge from Eddie Lorton in 2022 where the Nevada Supreme Court did not enforce the term limit restrictions.

Schieve’s campaigns are funded by Developers, Casinos, Contractors, PACs and wealthy people.

Hillary had the support of Jessica Sferrazza, the daughter of former mayor and judge Pete Sferrazza, and the former wife of Jon Ralston, a prominent political journalist from 2012 – 2017, as her campaign manager after Jessica was termed out and couldn’t run. Jessica had appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court to get term limits overturned so that she could run, but the appeal was denied.

Jessica went on to be recognized as the top lobbyist in the Reno area and assisted Hillary by using her political connections. Hillary and Jessica supported the Reno Neon Line project and approved of the motels being knocked down by Jacobs and now Jessica is on Jacobs’ management team.

Schieve has had considerable political influence, joining the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Regional Transportation Commission, Reno Housing Authority, Capital Projects Surcharge Committee, Community Development Block Grant Subcommittee, Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, Washoe County Stadium Authority, despite not having any experience in these areas.

Schieve’s Political Maneuverings

In 2017 Schieve advocated for a “strong mayor” system, seeking veto powers and a role outside of the City Council. The proposed law, sponsored by her friend Tic Segerblom, passed in the Nevada State Senate but failed in the Assembly. Despite this, Schieve publicly supports term limits, something of a contradiction.

In 2015, Schieve played a role in promoting Jason Soto to Police Chief, despite his lack of formal qualifications. Soto, head of the police union at the time, supported Schieve’s mayoral campaign with donations of $10,000.

In 2024 Schieve appointed Jackie Bryant as City Manager without a formal application or interview. Jennifer Rose, Schieve’s business manager, was appointed to the airport board along with Jessica Sferrazza, despite neither having airport management experience.

Schieve disbanded both the Redevelopment Agency and the Redevelopment Advisory Board in 2017 but was seeking to revive them in 2024, announcing that big things are coming to downtown.

Schieve sought the closure of establishments including the Spicehouse, Wild Orchid, Fireside Market, and Lakemill Market.

Schieve’s handling of city funds faced scrutiny. She claimed to have saved $10,000 for the city but was called out for spending $10,000 on her State of the City party in 2017.

A report from Olive Grove Consulting in 2016 highlighted issues that hindered city operations. They wrote, “City staff, wracked by years of layoffs and lack of funding, is suffering from a pervasive lack of morale. Executive staff struggles to prioritize important initiatives because of a leadership gap at the city manager level and a council that’s struggling for a unified vision.”

Schieve’s Wild Ideas

Schieve has been a vocal proponent of blockchain technology and NFTs. She attempted to monetize Reno’s Space Whale sculpture by turning it into an NFT and pursued a city-backed blockchain initiative. Neither of these ideas were successful and the NFT market crashed spectacularly.

Mayor Schieve touted BitCoin in public statements and claimed to have made investments in BitCoin. There are indications that Schieve bought her house and rental properties using her BitCoin investment profits and then when BitCoin crashed she faced financial problems.

According to records available through the Washoe County Recorder’s office, Mayor Schieve secured a loan modification on her personal home just weeks before her reelection in November 2022. Two “Notices of Default” on one of her rental properties were recorded in March 2015 and April 2021.

Schieve’s Betryal of Reno

During the BLM riots of May, 2020 that caused $600,000 in damage to city property, Schieve told the police to stand down so that no one would be hurt. She was protecting rioters as the police deal with violent people every day and don’t need to stand down. Schieve let the rioters disrespect Reno.

During Covid-19 Schieve identified businesses as non-essential and ordered them to shutdown and this bankrupted many small businesses. Schieve sent members of the health department, the licensing department and secret observers to see if businesses were open and issued fines against them.

There was no legal basis for Schieve to order the shutdowns or the fines and no evidence that people were more likely to get Covid-19 in so called non-essential business than elsewhere. The shutdown led to a rise in collateral damage for the population including alcoholism, depression, and suicide.

Conclusion

Mayor Hillary Schieve has not demonstrated that she has the best interests of the people of Reno or of the businesses in Reno. She has not demonstrated that she has financial acumen. She should not go on to become governor or to hold any political office.

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