GOP leader considers run for Reno mayor

“People feel left out,” she said. “The vision and leadership are lacking, and the voice of the people is being ignored.”

That’s why she’s thinking about running for Reno mayor. Although Forsythe has not formally announced her candidacy, she has been paving her way.

She recently commissioned a poll and resigned her position as chairwoman of the Washoe County Republican Party. However, she said she still maintains her position as vice chairwoman of the Nevada GOP.

“I’ve done a poll that shows running for mayor is very favorable at this point,” she said. “I resigned my position because I felt it would be a conflict of interest.”

Forsythe believes she can use the people skills she’s learned from her 30-year nursing career and the negotiation skills she’s used to bring consensus to a sometime local divisive Republican Party at the council table.

Forsythe would be the third woman to run against Reno Mayor Jeff Griffin. Former Councilwoman Judy Herman ran against Griffin in 1998, and former Washoe County Library Chief Martha Gould ran against the mayor in 1995. She could potentially be a fourth female voice on the City Council.

Forsythe acknowledged that her campaign would be difficult, since Griffin is an incumbent and has lined up much of the establishment support.