A Reader Asked a Good Question

From TriStrategies website …

After we published video of the March 2 meeting of the Reno Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board — where Hillary Schieve appeared during public comment — one of our readers actually did what we always hope people will do:

They watched it.

And then they asked a question.

The question concerned Paul Klein, who serves on the Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board. The reader asked whether Klein is affiliated with Tri-Strategies and whether there is any professional overlap with Eddie Ableser, the former airport authority board member who recently resigned. Oh, and a favorite of Mayor Hillary Schieve.

Found this online … Top Lobbyist recognized by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics … wonder if this a pay to play mention.

That’s a fair inquiry — not an accusation.

In local government, relationships matter. Board members, consultants, lobbyists, and public officials often move in overlapping civic and professional circles. That’s not unusual. What matters is transparency.

If a board member has outside professional affiliations, those affiliations should be publicly disclosed where required. If those affiliations intersect with city business, the public deserves clarity about how conflicts are identified and managed.

The resignation of Ableser — who had served on the airport authority — already heightened public sensitivity about governance standards and public appointments. So when readers begin asking about professional connections, it signals something important:

People are paying attention.

The solution here isn’t speculation. It’s documentation.

• What are the professional roles of RDA board members?

• Are required disclosures up to date?

• Are there any contractual or lobbying relationships relevant to redevelopment matters?

• What conflict-of-interest policies apply?

Transparency answers those questions quickly.

Silence lets them linger.

So yes — nice catch, reader.

That’s how civic oversight is supposed to work.