Washoe County Commissioners and Trustees take oath of office

Commissioners to serve four-year terms, sworn in today at public meeting

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners convened its first meeting of the new year to swear in newly elected officials.  

Commissioner Vaughn Hartung was reelected to represent District 4 and has served on the Commission since 2012. He was sworn in alongside newly elected Commissioner Alexis Hill, representing District 1. Hill has worked in the public sector for over a decade, at both the City of Reno and City of Sparks, as well as in the nonprofit sector. Both commissioners begin a four-year term.  

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners is the governing body for the county, which spans more than 6,600 square miles, and is made up of five districts.  Despite sharing similar names, the Board does not oversee the Washoe County School District or the Washoe County Health District, which are governed by their own elected and appointed board members. 

Trustees for four General Improvement Districts were also sworn in today: 

• Larry Chesney - Trustee, Palomino Valley General Improvement District  
• Joseph Barstow - Trustee, Sun Valley General Improvement District  
• Carmen Ortiz - Trustee, Sun Valley General Improvement District  
• Michael Rider - Trustee, Sun Valley General Improvement District 

The oath of office for all of the newly elected officials today was administered by Judge Pierre Hascheff. View photos of the meeting here.  

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners holds public meetings on the second, third, and fourth Tuesday of each month, and agendas are posted here. Members of the public are welcome to submit comment via voicemail, email, live video, or in-person. Security personnel will take attendees’ temperatures at the door and limit admittance to ensure safe social distancing. Those waiting to enter will not be allowed to congregate indoors. 

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