Updated: 6:39 p.m. Sept. 28, 2023.
The Nevada Commission on Ethics this week posted online that a new ethics complaint was lodged against Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. The complaint alleges collusion between the mayor and developers.
Specifically, Schieve hired the McDonald Carano law firm to sue the Sparks private investigator who placed a GPS tracking device on her car. McDonald Carano also represents developer Toll Brothers.
“[Schieve’s] attorney (Partner Adam Hosmer-Henner) is employed with the McDonald Carano law firm,” the redacted complaint alleges. “On … February 22, 2023 the Reno City Council considered an agreement with Toll Brothers as a first step in the issuance of a $30 million bond for this company. Toll Brothers was represented by McDonald Carano law firm attorney (Partner Joshua Hicks).”
The complaint alleges Hicks and McDonald Carano’s Lindsay Knox lobbied the mayor, council and city staff for the bond issuance approval. It also alleges that Schieve did not disclose her relationship to the law firm.
“In failing to disclose her commitment in a private capacity to the firm, she violated this important transparency provision that the public relies upon to understand conflicts of interest,” the complaint continues. “Schieve should have abstained from voting on an item advocated for by her firm. However, from her position of leadership as the presiding officer, she cut off and limited discussion on the matter.”
This Is Reno reached out to Schieve and McDonald Carano for comment.
The complaint was filed in April, and on Sept. 25, a review panel of ethics commissioners found enough evidence for the commission as a whole to determine if any ethical violations occurred.
“The Panel unanimously finds and concludes that the facts do establish credible evidence to support a determination that just and sufficient cause exists for the Commission to render an opinion in the matter…” the commissioners noted. The commissioners made that finding based on the complaint and Schieve’s response to the complaint.
One ethics commissioner, Amanda Yen, had to abstain from making a decision in the Schieve complaint because she also works for McDonald Carano.
Schieve, in 2018 and 2021, was also hit with ethics complaints. Both were dismissed because of a lack of evidence. The 2021 complaint was confidential, but Schieve was told, via a confidential letter, to disclose potential conflicts and abstain from voting on issues she may be connected with.
The latest complaint references that letter and alleges, “She has not complied with the spirit of that Letter.”
This story is developing and may be updated.
