Devon Reese: Preaching Compromise While Cashing In?
We copied these titles from Councilmember Devon Reese’s RGJ Opinion … we enjoy ‘dad’ humor.
So, Devon Reese accidentally let it slip – by listing the wrong office on an amended Nevada Secretary of State contribution and expense report – that he’s running for mayor. But while the ink is still wet on that paperwork, Reese is already using his platform to peddle feel-good talking points about “compromise,” “collaboration,” and “problem solving” in a Reno Gazette Journal op-ed on data centers.
Our Town Reno caught this faux pas of filing by Councilmember Devon Reese - guess he got confused how he collected those contributions, you know, running for Ward 5.
The same Devon Reese who lectures residents from the dais, dismisses community concerns, and has the audacity to say he’ll “pray for” those who question City Council’s direction now wants everyone to believe he’s a consensus builder? Please.
Reese writes:
“Without a regulatory framework, we are at the mercy of current land use laws and policies. While we need data centers and should welcome investment and advancement, the details matter. We need rules to be able to turn down those that don’t meet our needs and standards, while approving vital infrastructure and jobs where prudent.”
Translation? He wants voters to see him as the thoughtful policymaker, balancing growth with community interests. But make no mistake – this is a play straight from the big-money campaign handbook. Data centers aren’t just infrastructure projects; they’re gold mines for developers, contractors, and political war chests.
Reese’s sudden call for “collaboration” is less about protecting Reno and more about polishing his mayoral pitch. If history is any guide, residents speaking up about neighborhood impacts will be met with the same condescending tone he’s used before – only now wrapped in a slicker package.
We’ll take him up on one thing, though. We’ll join him in prayer. But our prayer is that Reno voters see through the PR spin, the pandering, and the big-money gloss. Because Reese isn’t trying to build a better Reno – he’s building his campaign.