Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously selects Richard Edwards as Truckee Meadows fire chief

The Board of Fire Commissioners voted unanimously May 5 to offer the permanent fire chief position for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District to Richard J. Edwards following a full-day series of finalist interviews and public comment. The board instructed Washoe County Human Resources and the district attorney's office to negotiate an employment contract and return the agreement to the board for final appointment.

The decision ends a national recruitment conducted by Bob Murray & Associates that drew interest from dozens of applicants. Julie Pahulke of Washoe County Human Resources told commissioners the process gave finalists 45 minutes each — including a five‑minute opening statement — and that the search produced a diverse applicant pool. "Sixty‑nine individuals from 16 states expressed interest in the position," Stephanie Dietz of Bob Murray & Associates told the board during an overview of the recruitment.

The hire follows a public comment period in which several Washoe County residents urged the board to pick the interim chief, saying local experience mattered for potential regional consolidation talks. Thomas (Tom) Daley, who identified himself as a Washoe County resident, said outsiders face a steep learning curve. "This is no time for on the job training," Daley said, urging the board to select Interim Fire Chief Dale Wei. Nancy Carlson, another resident speaker, echoed that view and said she strongly urged the board to select Chief Way (Delway/Wei), citing local experience.

Board members spent the morning and early afternoon interviewing five finalists: Lauren Delway, Michael Despain, Timothy Sewell, Richard J. Edwards and Walt W. White. Candidates addressed training and preparedness, mutual‑aid arrangements, fiscal management, succession planning and the district's approach to wildfire risk and EMS. In his opening remarks, Edwards summarized his experience in California fire service leadership and emphasized strategic planning and measurable performance: he presented the board with a one‑page strategic plan tied to metrics and said he had overseen reopening of companies and development of a regional ambulance joint powers authority in his previous role.

After the interviews and a brief recess, commissioners cast ballots; the clerk announced that Commissioners Alexis Hill (chair), Jean Herman (vice chair), Clark, Garcia and Andriola voted to offer the position to Richard Edwards. Commissioner Paul Andriola moved to offer employment to Edwards and to delegate negotiation of the employment contract to Washoe County's Human Resources Director and the deputy district attorney; Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion. The board voted 5–0 in favor.

Edwards thanked the board after the vote. "I'm extremely proud and very humbled to have been selected," he said, adding that he looked forward to working with the district's staff and commissioners. The board's direction delegates negotiation of salary and employment terms to county staff and the district attorney; the finalized contract will return to the board for approval before an appointment becomes effective.

The meeting also included repeated discussion and public comment about regionalization and a state bill that residents identified as SB319 (referred to in public comments and later described as reduced to a study). Several public speakers said they oppose state‑mandated centralization and favored local control. Commissioners asked finalists how they would approach operational regionalization, automatic aid and shared dispatch; candidates generally supported increased cooperation while noting governance, crew‑size differences and funding as practical constraints.

The selection completes the board's advertised recruitment and puts the district into contract negotiation with the chosen candidate. The board did not set an effective start date in the meeting; commissioners said the employment offer and negotiated contract will be brought back for final board approval.