Washoe County Manager Search: Same Pricey Process, Same Shallow Pool?

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In 2019, after County Manager John Slaughter stepped down, Washoe County launched a taxpayer-funded “national recruitment campaign” to find his replacement. Out of all the applications—and at no small expense—the final candidates boiled down to just three: Eric Brown, Kate Thomas, and Jon Hager.

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A former commissioner admitted the applicant pool was thin, and this trio was the best they could find. Eric Brown ultimately got the job… and didn’t even last as long as his predecessor.

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Now, with interim County Manager Kate Thomas—yes, one of those same finalists—at the helm, the County has hired yet another outside search firm. And again, taxpayers are footing the bill.

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Which raises the obvious question: Why are we paying big money to “search” for candidates who may not even outperform the ones we already had?

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The County just released its recruitment brochure, full of glossy promises and bureaucratic jargon, but here’s the reality: what Washoe County needs is leadership with a basic understanding of business, budget discipline, and accountability to taxpayers—not another overpaid manager from the same shallow talent pool.

In fact, we urge everyone to apply. At this point, someone with common sense and the courage to challenge the County’s culture of costly mediocrity might be the answer to taxpayers’ prayers.

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