Gov. Joe Lombardo appointed Reno Rodeo Foundation Executive Director Clara Andriola to the vacant Washoe County Commission District 4 seat on Wednesday.

The seat was previously held by Republican Vaughn Hartung, who resigned from the office on March 15 to take a position as chair of the board of the Nevada Transportation Authority, which regulates taxis and other passenger transportation services. Under Nevada law, Hartung’s position needed to be filled by appointment by Lombardo, who must select a person of the same political party to take the seat.

“Clara has long been an exemplary business and community leader in Sparks, where she is well-known for her integrity, work ethic, and thoughtfulness,” Lombardo said in a press release. “Clara is dedicated to serving in the best interest of all Washoe County residents, and I’m excited for Clara to begin her new role.”

Andriola, a Republican, has lived in Reno for more than three decades. Before her time with the Reno Rodeo Foundation, she was a small business owner involved with the Associated Builders and Contractors Nevada Chapter. 

After her time in business, Andriola shifted her focus to nonprofit work, becoming the regional CEO of the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. 

In 2015, she became the executive director for the Reno Rodeo Foundation, an organization founded by the Reno Rodeo Association as a way to formally give a portion of the annual Reno Rodeo’s proceeds back to the community through college scholarships, capital improvement projects and the Reno Rodeo Denim Drive, among other projects. 

Andriola works directly with Reno Rodeo Association volunteers, known as Team 355, who work on those initiatives throughout the year. 

Andriola said she was honored to be appointed to the position.

“I’m grateful to Governor Lombardo for his confidence in me, and I’m eager to get to work for Washoe County,” Andriola said in a press release.

Andriola will serve as one of three Republicans on the five-seat commission and will represent a district covering Sparks and Spanish Springs.

Updated 4/5/2023 at 12:45 p.m. to include details from a press release from the governor’s office.