It’s that time again—campaign season—when local Republicans start the age-old tradition of cannibalizing their own, and the Republican women’s clubs happily set the table.

This article’s entertainment came via a cheery little email announcing a brand-new rule: no more showing up to meetings and buying lunch at the door—reservations only. Translation? If you’re not on the guest list, you’re not on the guest list. One can’t help but wonder: does that rule apply to the press too, or just to anyone who might ask inconvenient questions?

If leadership is about vision, strategy, and cohesion — then Washoe County Republicans are proving once again that they’ve got none of the above. Their so-called leader, Bruce Parks, seems more like a stagehand than a director: taking cues, following scripts, and letting others ghostwrite the footnotes, easier to point a finger after failure.

Gosh, golly, gee wiz — who knew Commissioner Clara Andriola’s idea of “representing the people” meant doing exactly what the Washoe County Deputy District Attorney whispers in her ear? Forget listening to residents in Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Forget weighing community concerns. No, Clara’s job apparently boils down to one simple task: raise her hand when told.

In a dizzying twist of local political irony, Washoe County Library Trustee Marie Rodriguez — once a recipient of Commissioner Mike Clark’s support — appears to be smearing him as the secret ringleader of a so-called “mob” that attends commission meetings for about a year now.

In a public email to Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, Rodriguez paints a scene fit for a made-for-TV thriller: she claims that emotionally charged public commenters, whom she labels as followers of political figure Robert Beadles, descend on county meetings and — get this — are silenced only when Commissioner Clark allegedly gives a “gesture.”