Washoe Republican Women Lunch Club—Now Serving Drama à la Carte

Photos are from the Washoe Republican Women’s newsletter. Too bad no one called Clark to let him know the club is sponsoring his opponent, we called and asked him, and he said, "I have no missed calls."

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?

The timing is fascinating, considering a shiny new District 2 candidate just happened to announce his campaign at—of all places—the same Republican women’s lunch. And which club was that? Washoe Republican Women. The one Commissioner Clara Andriola calls home, of course. Andriola is not a fan of District 2 Republican Commissioner Mike Clark who is running for re-election.

Picon wouldn’t be shocked if Clara was the matchmaker behind this new challenger—dragging every lake, pond, and puddle in Northern Nevada to find someone, anyone to run against Commissioner Mike Clark. After all, Clark’s been calling her out for months—well, years really—and the two share about as much warmth as a January morning on Peavine. The most recent dust-up? A hallway “conversation” with some fellow Republican women near the county building’s ladies’ room where Clara stopped to call out constituents for disagreeing with her. You can’t make this stuff up.

So now we’ve got a new candidate, and a growing pile of political grudges that could feed an entire buffet. If this is how the GOP kicks off election season, pass the popcorn, please.

We hope the new Truckee Meadows Fire Chief is taking appropriate time off and not speaking to a Republican Women’s Club on the taxpayer’s dime. You can’t drop by and hear him without a reservation.