How Devon Reese Uses Patronage to Build Power and Influence
Devon Reese isn't just a council member; he's a power network handing out jobs, appointments, and contracts, while building influence and control.
Apr 21, 2026
When people think of a Reno City Councilmember, they picture a neighborhood advocate, someone voting on zoning changes and building permits. But Devon Reese, the Ward 5 representative, has woven himself into the fabric of nearly every major regional decision-making body. His seat at the council table is just the start.
Reese’s Board Empire
According to the City of Reno and regional public agencies, Reese currently sits on:
Northern Nevada Public Health District Board of Health (Chair) – controls public health strategy, pandemic response, and hiring authority in the county health department.
Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (Vice Chair) – directs billions in road, transit, and infrastructure projects.
Truckee-Meadows Regional Planning and Governing Board – decides where growth happens and who gets permits.
Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) – the gatekeeper for business recruitment and incentives.
Community Development Block Grant Subcommittee – allocates millions in federal housing and redevelopment dollars.
Oversight Panel for School Facilities – manages tax revenues and bond measures for Washoe County schools.
Ward 5 Neighborhood Advisory Board – the lowest-level seat, but one that lets him claim grassroots credibility.
Past appointments also include the Washoe County Stadium Authority and the Community Homelessness Advisory Board.
This isn’t just public service. It’s a power network. Each seat comes with appointments, contracts, or influence over who gets the next grant, job, or construction project.
The Power of Overlapping Boards
These board seats aren’t ceremonial. They control:
Public health: Reese makes hiring decisions, decides on departmental funding and policy priorities, and decides who gets grants from CDBG.
Transportation & Development: As Vice Chair of the RTC and a member of the Regional Planning Board, Reese helps decide which developers receive road improvements and zoning approvals worth tens of millions of dollars.
Federal Grants: on the CDBG Subcommittee, Reese has a say in how federal redevelopment funds are distributed, a process that often intersects with downtown landowners and casino interests.
Education & Infrastructure: his seat on the school facilities oversight panel gives him leverage over school bonds and construction contracts, a valuable chit for labor unions and contractors.
These overlapping posts allow Reese to cross-pollinate influence: favor someone in transportation, reward their allies in health, and secure loyalty across agencies. It’s classic patronage politics, dressed up as civic service.
How Garrett Gordon, and Lewis Roca Control Land Use in Reno.
Garrett Gordon connects Reese with Donors and sponsors fundraisers, increasing his influence and gaining his vote on development projects.
Patronage in Action
The appointments Reese has handed out or pushed for read like a loyalty list:
Alex Velto, his law partner, was appointed to the Reno planning commission, with Reese’s backing, despite having no experience in city planning.
Sarah Velto, the wife of his law partner, landed a position at the Washoe County Health Department, with Reese’s backing, despite having no experience in health.
Connor McQuivey, the Renoites podcaster, was recommended by Reese for a Washoe County government job, which he got, despite having no experience.
Matt Polley, a collaborator of Reese, was steered toward a board appointment at Reese’s recommendation.
Jacob Williams, the HOA president at Reese’s Somerset community, was appointed to the Reno planning commission with Reese’s backing, despite having no background in city planning.
Tina Gonfiantini, the girlfriend (allegedly) of Garrett Gordon, who fundraises for Reese, was appointed to the Reno planning commission, despite having no background in city planning.
These might look like isolated personnel choices. In context, they reveal something closer to a machine: allies rewarded with taxpayer-funded jobs and seats of influence, cementing their loyalty while strengthening Reese’s reach into county government.
A Look at Reese, Ring, Velto’s Union Business Model and Local Politics
Reese’s law firm represents unions, while Reese is a Reno councilmember.
Ethical Questions
Nevada law (NRS 281A) prohibits public officials from using their office for personal or financial gain. While there may not be a smoking gun of illegality, the appearance of impropriety is damning:
A councilmember is recommending jobs for his friends and associates.
A public health board chair is helping a partner’s spouse get a job.
A steady pattern of allies benefiting from his influence on the board.
Reese-backed candidates with no expertise are appointed to boards over highly qualified candidates.
At a minimum, this raises questions about whether Reese should recuse himself from these recommendations or whether ethics authorities should review his conduct.
Why It Matters for Reno
These boards decide the flow of millions of dollars in taxpayer money. When appointments and jobs go to Reese’s political allies and legal associates, the public is left to wonder: Is Reno’s future being shaped by merit or by loyalty to one councilmember?
Reno residents already feel shut out of a City Hall dominated by insiders. Reese’s patronage network shows why: the same small circle gets the jobs, the seats, and the contracts, while accountability and transparency fall by the wayside.
Closing Thought
Devon Reese likes to present himself as a champion of progressive values and community voices. But behind the speeches and the flag-waving is a political operator who understands old-fashioned machine politics.
By embedding himself across regional boards and using his influence to reward allies, Reese has built a web of patronage that rivals anything Reno has seen in decades.
The question is whether voters will let him keep spinning it as the mayoral race approaches. Is this who you want for mayor?
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