Whistleblowers- Lawsuits- and Promotions: Washoe County’s Accountability Problem

Washoe County has a few accountability issues … but they keep putting a happy face on it. Odd Commissioners Herman and Clark are missing from this photo - who wants to pretend to be surprised. Seems like Kate Thomas is a carbon copy of Eric Brown.

The deeper the reporting goes into alleged problems inside the Washoe County Human Services Agency and the Nevada Cares Campus, the more taxpayers are left asking one question:

Where was Ryan Gustafson?

Gustafson was promoted from heading the Human Services Agency to Assistant County Manager after the departure of Amber Howell he filled her spot at HSA. Howell is suing Washoe County over her treatment and exit from the county. As that litigation unfolds, more scrutiny is landing on the county’s leadership structure and decision-making, and the District Attorney’s role.

At the same time, serious allegations and investigative reporting surrounding former Cares Campus leader Dana Searcy continue to raise concerns about management culture, oversight, and accountability. This Is Reno reported but the internal investigation should be made public.

First came questions raised publicly about allegedly toxic leadership at the Cares Campus investigated by Our Town Reno. Then came further investigative reporting digging into operations and complaints. Add in another whistleblower situation, and taxpayers are again left wondering how leadership either missed these problems or allowed them to continue.

That naturally brings the spotlight back to Gustafson.

If these issues were occurring under the umbrella of Human Services, why were corrective actions not taken? If employees were raising concerns internally, who was listening? And if the problems were known, why was the response seemingly promotion rather than accountability?

Those are fair public questions, especially given the importance and sensitivity of county human services operations.