Reno mayor says she's not interested in becoming lieutenant governor

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said on Nevada Newsmakers this week that she is not a candidate to become Nevada's next lieutenant governor.

Nevada governor Steve Sisolak has the opportunity to select a new lieutenant governor after current Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall of Reno resigned  last week to take a job in the Biden Administration.

Schieve, whose non-partisan term as mayor ends in 2022, said she is not a member of Sisolak's Democratic Party, so she probably would not be chosen, anyway.

"I lot of people may or may not know this about me but I'm not a Democrat or a Republican," Schieve told host Sam Shad. "So I typically don't know what the parties are thinking or how they are strategizing or who are they tapping for those positions.

"I love my city very very much," Schieve said. "I am focused on our recovery. I'm definitely not focused on re-elections."

Schieve had eariler said she will run for re-election as mayor in 2022

Nevada’s Democratic Party officially endorsed Henderson Mayor Debra March earlier this week as Marshall's replacement . Sisolak, however, has not publicly responded to that endorsement.

"I'm sure the governor will make a great choice but for me, personally, I am really focused on the City of Reno," she said. "We have a lot of opportunities ahead of us but we also have a lot of challenges."

Schieve did not rule out that Sisolak could select a Democratic member of the Reno City Council, such as Jenny Brekhus or Oscar Delgado, but mentioned no one by name.

"As far as my colleagues, any of them would probably be fantastic," Schieve said. "I am very supportive of all my colleagues. But I'd like to keep all of my colleagues, too. I dont want them to go anywhere. Of course, I am speaking selfishly but if the opportunity came up, of course I would be very supportive."

Schieve twice sidestepped questions from Shad about endorsing Sisolak in 2022 as he seeks re-election as governor.

"I certainly want to see our state thrive," she said. "I want to see our governor thrive. We're all in this together and as we move forward together, I want to stay focus on our recovery.

"I think he has done a good job," Schieve said about Sisolak. "I think it has been very, very difficult. I respect a lot of decisions he has made.
I think in his heart of hearts, he really loves Nevada, cares about Nevada and cares about people."

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