Out of 24,014 votes cast, the 2020 race for Reno City Council Ward 1 was decided by 82 votes.
Two-term incumbent Jenny Brekhus defeated challenger J.D. Drakulich in what was a proxy referendum over regional land development policies and project approvals. Future decisions regarding development far from Reno’s urban core hang in the balance, as the seven-member Reno City Council is the final word in approving development plans and land use policies.
By profession, Drakulich is a real estate agent. Brekhus is a land use planner with advanced degrees in public administration and regional planning. She is known for being circumspect regarding land use policies. The difference between the two candidates regarding future development is manifest in campaign finance filings that were due at the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office by January 15.
The final numbers show real estate development and construction companies accounted for half of Drakulich’s war chest, which was nearly three times the size of Brekhus’ total contributions.
Real Estate and construction concerns made up 5% of Brekhus’ total contributions.
Brekhus received more contributions under $100 than Drakulich. Those donations made up 11% of Brekhus’ total and 3% of all Drakulich funding.
Due to term limits, this will be Brekhus’ third and final , 4-year term in office.
Contributions to the J.D. Drakulich campaign in excess of $500:
J.D. and Dulce Drakulich – Reno, NV – $10,500.00
Newport Pacific Land Company LLC – Newport Beach, CA – $10,000.00
Lyon Management Group – Newport Beach, CA – $10,000.00
Western Nevada Supply Co. – Sparks, NV – $9,000.00
Nevada Tri Partners – Reno, NV – $5,500.00
LR Prado Ranch LLC – San Diego, CA – $5,000.00
Reno Land Inc. – Reno, NV – $5,000.00
Builders Assn of Northern NV – Reno, NV – $10,000.00
Reno Sparks Assoc. of Realtors – Reno, NV – $5,000.00
SWD Partners – Reno, NV – $5,000.00
Wood Rogers – Sacramento, CA – $5,000.00
Eldorado Resort – Reno, NV – $4,500.00
AGC PAC – Reno, NV – $3,500.00
Heinz Ranch Land Company – Walnut Creek, CA – $3,500.00
Committee to Elect Neoma Jardon – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
United Construction – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Cathy Stitser – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Switch – Las Vegas, NV – $2,500.00
Sierra Nevada Construction – Sparks, NV – $2,500.00
Q & D Construction – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Road and Highway Builder LLC – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Clark/Sullivan Construction – Sparks, NV – $2,500.00
Jeffrey P Jacobs – North Palm Beach, CA – $2,500.00
Deep Roots Harvest – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Grand Sierra Resort – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Alpen Mortgage – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Jenuane Communities, LLC – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
KDH Builders – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
Reno City Center – Las Vegas, NV – $2,000.00
Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
Cassadee Lissner – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
Peter Lissner – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
Robert Lissner – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
Elaine Lissner – Oakland, CA – $2,000.00
Lifestyle Homes – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
Woodland Village North – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
Peppermill – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
KG Walters Construction Co. – Santa Rosa, CA $2,000.00
Nevada Builders Alliance – Carson City, NV – $2,000.00
McDonald & Carano Government Affairs & Advocacy Group LLC – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
Corey Henderson – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
Core Construction Services – Las Vegas, NV – $1,500.00
Paul Eno – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
Nicholas and Debra Rossi – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
Javelin Enterprises – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
Kaemfer Crowell – Las Vegas, NV – $1,250.00
Tolles Development Company LLC- Reno, NV – $1,250.00
S3 RENOvation Investors LLC – Reno, NV – $1,250.00
Pete Kleinert – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Sunny Hills Rancho – Long Beach, CA – $1,000.00
Ormat Nevada Inc – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Nevada Drywall Stucco & Stone – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Miranda Vaulet – Sparks, NV – $1,000.00
Irish Capital – Reno, NC – $1,000.00
North Reno Land Development LLC – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Jerry/Debbie Hubbard/Delauer – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Vidler Water Co Inc. – Carson City, NV – $1,000.00
Michael Duhart – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Steven Strickland – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Construction Development Services – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Associated Builders and Contractors – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Nevada Housing Alliance – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Stephen Hartman – Carson City, NV – $1,000.00
Bryan Drakulich – Sparks, NV – $1,000.00
J & J MECHANICAL INC. – Sparks – $1,000.00
Knute Knudson – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Bonanza – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Mark Thierman – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
D & D Plumbing – Sparks, NV – $1,000.00
Martin Iron Works – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Gardner Engineering – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Sandra Raffealli – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Robert Armstrong – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Vidler Water Co Inc. – Carson City, NV – $1,000.00
Foundry LLC – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Pacific Development LLC – San Anselmo, CA – $1,000.00
Tanamera Construction – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Battle Born Women PAC – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Rilite Agregate Company – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Robert Fitzgerald – Sparks, NV – $1,000.00
Susan Geer – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Carrie Cragg Fitness – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
John Iliescu – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
S3 300 S. Wells LLC – Reno, NV – $750.00
GBS 1401 S VIRGINIA LLC – Reno, NV – $750.00
Nevada State Apartment Association – Las Vegas, NV – $750.00
Dennis Banks Construction – Reno, NV – $500.00
Nugget Casino Resort – Reno, NV – $500.00
SteamPro Carpet Care – Sparks, NV – $500.00
Gregory Peek – Reno, NV – $500.00
Bob Lucey Campaign Fund – Reno, NV – $500.00
Classic Finishes LLC – Reno, NV – $600.00
John Byrne – Reno, NV -$595.41
CFA – Reno, NV – $500.00
155 Gardner Street LLP – Reno, NV – $500.00
Kurt Stitser- Reno, NV – $500.00
John Morrey- Reno, NV – $500.00
Gene/Kathleen Drakulich – Reno, NV – $500.00
Patrick Coleman – Reno, NV – $500.00
Christi Quatro – Reno, NV – $500.00
Aaron and Mechelle Warbutoon – Reno, NV – $500.00
Carter-Geer and Associates – Reno, NV – $500.00
Patrick Coleman – Reno, NV – $500.00
KLS Planning – Reno, NV – $500.00
ERGS Inc – Reno, NV – $500.00
Granite Construction Company – Watsonville, CA – $500.00
Robert Nielsen – Reno, NV – $500.00
James and Shirley Hunting – Reno, NV – $500.00
Alturas Bar and Nightclub – Reno, NV – $500.00
Tahoe Insurance Group, LLC – Incline Village, NV – $500.00
Capitol Partners – Reno, NV – $500.00
S3 – Reno, NV – $500.00
GBS – Reno, NV – $500.00
Nicolas and Debra Rossi – Reno, NV – $500.00
NPM & CSA – Reno, NV – $500.00
Teichert Inc – Sacramento, CA – $500.00
LP Insurance – Reno, NV – $500.00
R & J Joy, Inc. – Reno, NV – $500.00
Titan Electrical Contracting – Reno, NV – $500.00
Vic and Linda Drakulich – Reno, NV – $500.00
Christopher Bielser – Reno, NV – $500.00
Robert and Christine Winkel – Reno, NV – $500.00
Ed McCaffery – Reno, NV – $500.00
Cindy Carano – Reno, NV – $500.00
Kathleen Taylor – Reno, NV – $500.00
Washoe Republican Women – Reno, NV – $500.00
Mark Hutchings – Reno, NV – $500.00
Contributions to the Brekhus campaign in excess of $500:
DRIVE Committee – Washington, DC – $10,000
Robert Hager – Reno, NV – $5,000.00
Erika White – Verdi, NV – $5,000.00
Brian White -Verdi, NV – $5,000.00
Grand Sierra Resort – Reno, NV – $5,000.00
Reno Firefighters Ass. Inc – Reno, NV – $2,500.00
John Saludes – Reno, NV – $2,000
DRM – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
RAPG – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
Myrna Ornelas – El Paso, TX – $1,450.00
Uppal Properties – Reno, NV – $1,100.00
Friends for Kitty Jung – Reno, NV – $2,000.00
GR and Sons Inc – Reno, NV – $1,500.00
CPCM Holdings LLC – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Vidler Water Company – Carson City, NV – $1,000.00
549 Court St LLC – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Nevada Energy – Las Vegas, NV – $1,000.00
Building & Cons Trade Corp – Sparks, NV – $1,000.00
District Council of Iron Workers – Pinole, CA – $1,000.00
Greenstreet Development Inc – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
IUEO Stationary Engineers Local 39, Nevada Voice – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Peter Chase Neumann – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Renate Neumann – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Airtravel, LLC – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Bonanza Casino – Reno, NV – $1,000.00
Lewis Investment Corp – Las Vegas, NV – $1,000.00
Carson Miller – Washoe Valley, NV – $1,000.00
John Krmpotic – Reno, NV – $500.00
North Reno Land Dev LLC – Reno, NV – $500.00
Mike McConagle – Reno, NV – $500.00
Be the Change PAC – Las Vegas, NV – $500.00
Steven Nightingale – Reno, NV – $500.00
All for our Country Leadership PAC – Washington, DC – $500.00
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony – Reno, NV – $500.00
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Nevada PAC – Las Vegas, NV – $500.00
Operating Engineers Local Union No 3, District 11 PAC – $500.00
Archie Granata – Reno, NV – $500.00
John Marshall – Reno, NV – $500.00
I Heidi Loeb Hegerich – Reno, NV – $500.00
Tick Segerblom – Las Vegas, NV – $500.00
Elizabeth Brekhus – Greenbrae, CA – $500.00
Answerwest Inc. – Reno, NV – $500.00
Sandra Brekhus – San Anselmo, CA – $500.00
Operating Eng Local Union #3 – Alameda, CA – $500.00
Brian Bahouth is a Ward 1 resident and editor of the Sierra Nevada Ally. He has reported on politics in Nevada since 2000. Support his work.
