Wednesday, May 8, 2024
RENO — Voting for the May 4 elections hasn’t even started, and Reno City Council already has a new member waiting in the wings.
Kevin Vandenberg is running unopposed for Place 1 on the council and is expected to win by default at the polls next month. Current council member Hernando Herrera originally filed to retain his spot in Place 1 but is no longer listed on the ballot.
Vandenberg will likely be sworn in and start his service on council after the May elections conclude.
Locals may know Vandenberg from his work on the Reno Planning and Zoning Commission, where he currently serves as chairperson. He joined P&Z in early 2022, months after he moved to Reno in June 2021 and started going to city council meetings.
Professionally, Vandenberg works as a manager of finance and administration, and he has an advanced education, including an associate degree of applied science in criminal justice - law enforcement, Bachelor of Arts in criminology and criminal justice and a master’s in professional accounting.
Vandenberg’s motivation for joining the council mainly centers on protecting the liberties of those who own land.
“I would like to serve the citizens in a capacity that I can try to keep the rights of property owners intact,” he said. “I do not like big government, and I hope to keep Reno from overstepping.”
Vandenberg added, “I want all citizens to have a voice, not just the loudest ones. I would like to try to help balance the city’s budget so we can start to fix the water infrastructure.”
