Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 | 3:34 p.m.
CARSON CITY — Local officials in northern Nevada on Wednesday appointed Reno Republican Donald Tatro to replace former Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, who resigned last month to accept an appointment to the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Tatro, a mortgage lender who in the past lobbied the Legislature on behalf of home builders, will represent parts of Washoe County and Carson City when state lawmakers convene to redraw Nevada's congressional and state legislative districts in a yet-to-be-scheduled special session.
The Reno Gazette Journal reported that Tatro does not intend to run for the seat in 2022. Republican Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner, who also applied to replace Kieckhefer, has already announced her candidacy.
State law requires commissioners appoint a successor from the same party as the lawmaker they're replacing. Commissioners in Washoe County and Carson City disagreed on who to appoint. Each wanted a resident of their own jurisdiction to succeed Kieckhefer, with the Carson City board arguing that a local resident could ensure the state capital isn't drawn into a more Democratic-leaning district, the Gazette Journal reported.
Washoe County ultimately overpowered Carson City because 62% of the district population falls within its borders.
Tatro previously worked for former U.S. Sen. John Ensign and served on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve's Housing Task Force.
