Questions Swirl Around Commissioner Andriola, Red Hawk Office, and Proposed 764-Home Development

The inbox at Picon has been busy lately.

Dozens of emails and private messages have come in raising questions about a certain Washoe County commissioner and a private office located at Red Hawk Golf and Resort — and whether that proximity might be helpful to the developers behind a major new housing proposal.

Recently, a formal housing application from the Red Hawk Land Company was submitted to the City of Sparks Government. The project would bring nearly 764 homes to the area — a significant amount of density for that corner of the valley.

And the developers behind the proposal are not exactly unknown names.

Albert Seeno Jr. and his brother Tom Seeno are major players in the project. Their family development interests have been active across the West for decades.

But before we go further down the development rabbit hole, let’s circle back to the office.

According to a 2024 Nevada Contribution and Expense report, Washoe County Commissioner Clara Andriola listed “in-kind rent” for an office at Red Hawk valued at $5,000.

Let’s do the math.

That breaks down to about $416.66 per month.

Frankly, if office space at Red Hawk is going for that rate, a lot of people might like to sign that lease.

What raises eyebrows, however, is what comes next.

While the office appeared on Andriola’s 2024 contribution and expense report, it does not appear on her 2025 or 2026 filings — even though multiple individuals have told Picon that the commissioner continues to maintain and use the office space.

Several Red Hawk employees have reportedly confirmed the office’s existence.

Which leads to an obvious question:

If the office is still being used, why is it no longer listed on the disclosure reports?

Nevada law requires elected officials to report in-kind contributions, including things like office space provided without charge or at a discounted rate.

Transparency is the entire point.

And that brings us to yesterday’s meeting of the Washoe County Commission.

During the meeting, following a comment from Commissioner Alexis Hill, Commissioner Andriola offered a strong defense of political ethics in regards to an investigation of a developer alleged to have offered money for a commissioners support/vote.

“It is hard to hear that anyone would think that anyone could write a check and be bought. It is not only illegal but it is absolutely unethical, immoral, and wrong.”

Strong words.

But those words also raise another question.

If it is unethical, immoral, and wrong for money to influence politicians, then voters might reasonably want clarity about why a county commissioner may still be using a private office at Red Hawk — the same area tied to a large pending development — without it appearing on current disclosure reports.

To be clear, having an office is not illegal.

Meeting with developers is not illegal.

But failing to disclose something that should be disclosed would be a different matter entirely.

And when hundreds of homes and millions of dollars in development are involved, transparency matters.

So perhaps the simplest solution is also the easiest one:

Commissioner Andriola can clear the air.

Is the Red Hawk office still being used?

And if so, why isn’t it appearing on the current contribution and expense reports?

Because in local government, perception often becomes reality.

And when it comes to public trust, sunlight is still the best disinfectant.