The rise and fall of Councilman Albright


July 6, 1999

"Reno City Councilman Willie Albright was named Best Mudslinger/Muckraker in Reno/Sparks at the Associated General Contractors' 1999 Equipment Rodeo. Local politicians and media representatives were judged on how mud they could sling or rake in a two-minute period."
-- News item from Reno Gazette-Journal, July 1, 1999

Last Thursday, I wandered into the Tribune offices after making my normal police station rounds, like always. I was soon approached by Willie Albright, the Tribune's city reporter.

"Dude, ya seen the Gazette this morning?" asked Willie.

I told him no, and he promptly thrust a copy of the Reno/Sparks section of that day's Gazette in my face. "Dude, I'm a city councilman. At least, that's what the Gazette says."

I was blown away; I had no idea that Willie had been named to the Reno City Council! I promptly congratulated him, but then thought about what exactly this meant.

"Willie, you don't even live in Reno; you live in Verdi," I pointed out.

Anyway, the congratulatory phone calls soon started rolling in. One of the first to call and congratulate Willie was -- and I am not making this up -- Sparks Mayor Tony Armstrong. His call was soon followed by one from Mark Sullivan, the legislative consultant from the Associated General Contractors.

Sitting at my desk, my news instinct started to kick in. The congratulatory phone calls ... the naming of a Daily Sparks Tribune reporter to the Reno City Council ... I realized: This was a story.

I then asked for, and received, an exclusive interview from Councilman Albright. I was thrilled. We sat down and talked in the Tribune's offices -- in between Willie's cigarette breaks -- not ranging far from Willie's phone.

"I am still waiting for a congratulatory phone call from Mayor Jeff Griffin," Willie said of his colleague in Reno city government.

I started of by asking Willie how he felt when he learned he was now on the council.

Willie then tipped his head and briefly pondered his answer; the brows on the forehead of his fortyish face furrowed.

"Slightly nauseous," he replied.

I then asked what he intended to do on the city council. He said he would start by renaming the Reno-Tahoe International Airport the Sparks-Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and by renaming the RSCVA the SCRVA -- the Sparks-Reno Convention and Visitors Authority.

"This will all occur shortly after my coronation," he said. I asked him if he meant inauguration, and Willie assured me he meant coronation.

I then decided to ask the tough question -- how can he represent Reno if he lives in Verdi?

"I plan on rectifying that situation soon," Willie replied. "I am thinking of moving to Fernley."

I was confused by this statement, but before I could ask for clarification, Willie started blathering about "mending fences" and "raising the bar" on government cooperation. After these remarks, Willie said he had to go, and asked that any further questions be referred to his press secretary, Ben Kwasney.

"Remember, I did not seek greatness; it was thrust upon me," the councilman said as he left.

I then sought out Ben, the Tribune sports editor who, last I checked, had nothing in common with Willie, who is two decades older. But I was surprised when Ben started extolling Willie's virtues.

"Willie is one of the most extraordinary individuals I have ever been associated with," Ben said. "He really does mend fences. He may seem like a hippie sometimes, but he can also relate to the common man. He really reaches out and touches people."

I asked Ben what he meant by Willie touching people, and if that touching has ever got Willie in trouble.

"I don't think it has," he said.

I then decided to ask Ben the question about Willie's residency, pointing out his remark about moving to Fernley.

Ben looked back at me, alarmed. "Um, no comment," he said. Ben then started drinking.

--

The next day, however, Willie's council seat was taken away as soon as it had been granted. It turns out Willie was not a councilman after all; heck, he did not even win the equipment rodeo. On June 2, the Gazette did a correction saying who the real winner of the equipment rodeo was: a Reno councilman who was not Willie. The Gazette, in its correction, did not point out who Willie was -- a reporter at a rival newspaper -- which we all around the office agreed was "wussy."

I was disappointed by this turn of events. This meant my scoop interview with Willie was all for naught.

Even worse, it meant that my cushy government job -- working with Bruce Breslow -- that Willie had promised me would not come to be.

Jimmy Boegle is a fifth-generation Nevadan who urges the employees of the Gazette-Journal to learn who is on their city council, for crying out loud. Jimmy's column appears here Tuesdays; he can be reached via e-mail at jiboegle@stanfordalumni.org. 1