A Case of the Vapors: Washoe’s Political Drama Club

From the Reno Gazette Journal article it seems that 18 individuals who contributed to Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan want their contributions refunded because he is running against Washoe County Distrcit Attorney Chris Hicks, and the contributions were made to his Sparks city attorney campaign.

Picon is unapologetically amused.

Wes Duncan announces a run for Washoe County District Attorney and—poof!—a select few locals faint into their fainting couches like we're all trapped in some steamy 1860s Southern drama. Someone fetch the smelling salts—there’s a Republican challenger in the DA’s race, and the self-appointed gatekeepers of Washoe County are scandalized, and it seems are fearful of a primary.

Who died and made them the candidate police of the region?

In what can only be described as the most delicate and cowardly maneuver possible, instead of picking up the phone and calling Duncan like grown adults, they penned a sanctimonious letter which they seem to have snail mailed to him and then—surprise!—leaked it to the press. It wasn’t about communication. It wasn’t about clarity. It was about control. It was a theatrical flourish to stir the pot and maybe, just maybe, harm Duncan’s campaign.

Let’s call it what it is: a political temper tantrum, dressed up in righteous indignation and puffed up with performative concern.

Because here's the real kicker—this isn’t about "professionalism" or "decorum." It’s about fear. Fear that the status quo might actually be challenged. Fear that Chris Hicks, whose office has made a habit of dodging public records requests like they're dodgeballs at recess, might face a real contender in a primary that suddenly got interesting.

The truth is, not a whole lot of Republicans—or frankly, everyday Washoe residents—are lining up to sing Hicks’ praises. So when Duncan steps in with a resume, a spine, and enough name recognition to rattle a few cages, the reaction from the local establishment isn't strategy. It's sputtering panic.

And you can smell it.

But here’s the silver lining in all this petty melodrama: elections aren't decided by insider letters or dramatic headlines. They’re decided by voters. And this time, they just might decide they’re tired of gatekeepers, press games, and the politics of pearl-clutching.

One more query for the Gang of 18: When you donate to a political campaign, are you under the impression that you're calling the shots? Because last we checked, contributions buy support—not control.

Washoe County deserves a real debate—not a political puppet show.

So buckle up. This primary isn’t just heating up—it’s about to catch fire.

Oh, and hey, Reno Gazette Journal man up and publish the leaked letter.

Wes Duncan’s Nevada Secretary of State Contribution and Expense reports pulling out the money contributed from the six individuals Greater Reno/Mark Robison named in the article.