Is Devon Reese Vexatiously Fundraising … Read a 2106 Court Order
Today’s fundraising ask from Councilmember Devon Reese in support of his 2026 Reno Mayoral candidacy. Voters need to ask themselves would Reese be a trick or a treat as mayor.
We learned a new legal term: vexatious litigant. According to the courts, it’s someone who files lawsuits to harass or burden others rather than seek justice. Interesting, right?
That phrase came to mind when we received a campaign fundraising email from Reno City Councilmember and 2026 mayoral hopeful Devon Reese — curiously timed just as multiple media outlets are reporting on the civil case tying together Michael Leonard (the plaintiff) and several local notables: Alex Velto (2024 Assembly candidate, Reno Planning Commissioner, and attorney), Conor McQuivey (Renoites podcast host and Washoe County employee), and of course Reese himself, Velto’s law partner.
With both the Reno Gazette Journal and This Is Reno running stories about the lawsuit, one might wonder: is Reese’s inbox blitz about Nevada Day patriotism—or a preemptive push before the headlines get worse?
After all, nothing says “trust me with your city” like asking for contributions the same week your name’s in stories regarding court filings. And let’s remember the wife of the third partner at Reese Ring Velto, Nathan Ring, is running for Attorney General Nicole Cannizzaro who is the current Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate.
We’ll let you decide whether Reese is a vexatious fundraiser.
Timing’s everything in politics—and this timing couldn’t be more telling.