Selective Compassion …

If Reese is a Fifth Generation Nevadan then that means his Generation 1 (Original Nevada Settlers): Arrived/Born approx. 1860s–1890s - you could ask him about it at his fundraiser.

A public record recently shared with us includes correspondence from Reno City Councilmember Devon Reese discussing mental health in a public, but strangely private email exchange with someone he clearly knows personally.

Because the message references a personal matter, we are choosing — intentionally — not to publish the full email at this time.

However, one particular comment within that exchange stands in stark contrast to the councilmember’s repeated treatment of 65+ women, civility, and compassion. Reese’s comment “We need to focus on mental health in everything we do” deserves scrutiny. Which we address below …

Mental Health for Some? The Question of Leadership and Respect in Reno’s Mayoral Race

In nearly every speech, forum, and campaign appearance, one Reno city councilmember now running for mayor speaks passionately about the importance of mental health. He talks about access to services, reducing stigma, supporting families in crisis, and building a healthier community.

It’s a message that resonates. Mental health is not a partisan issue. It affects seniors and students, veterans and business owners, men and women across every neighborhood in Reno.

But a growing number of residents are asking a harder question:

If mental health truly matters, why does respectful treatment seem optional when the critics are women over 65?

Leadership on mental health is not just about funding programs or citing statistics. It is also about modeling emotional intelligence — patience, empathy, and respect — especially toward those who disagree with you.

When a public official dismisses, belittles, or mocks older women because they challenge his policies, it sends a contradictory message. Seniors, particularly women, already face social invisibility in many civic spaces. When their concerns are brushed aside or characterized as nuisance opposition, it doesn’t just undermine civil discourse — it undercuts the very values that mental health advocacy is built upon.

Respect is preventative care. Tone is policy. How leaders treat dissenters tells us as much about their priorities as any campaign platform.

The timing adds another layer of scrutiny. With a mayoral race underway, mental health has become a prominent campaign theme. That’s not surprising — voters want leaders who understand crisis response, addiction, homelessness, and community well-being.

But voters are also perceptive. When compassionate rhetoric is paired with combative behavior, it raises legitimate questions:

Is mental health a deeply held principle — or a strategically selected talking point?

Authenticity in public service is measured by consistency. If empathy is reserved only for those who agree with you, it begins to look less like leadership and more like branding.

There is also a broader issue at play. Women over 65 have built this city. They vote at high rates. They volunteer. They serve on advisory boards. They attend council meetings. Many have spent decades contributing to Reno’s civic and charitable fabric.

To reduce their concerns to political annoyance or to single them out because they disagree with policy decisions risks alienating a generation that has earned its voice.

Disagreement is not disrespect. It is democracy.

Reno’s next mayor will need to navigate competing interests, economic pressures, housing challenges, and public safety concerns. They will face critics — often passionate ones. The ability to respond without diminishing, targeting, or trivializing those critics is not a side skill. It is core to the job.

Mental health advocacy requires more than funding allocations. It requires demonstrating composure under pressure. It requires validating lived experience — even when it is inconvenient. It requires recognizing that words from elected officials carry weight far beyond the moment.

The question for voters is not whether mental health matters. It does.

The question is whether the candidate’s conduct reflects the values he claims to champion.

Because in the end, true support for mental health isn’t just about what you say at a podium. It’s about how you treat people when they stand at the microphone and disagree with you.