A City of Reno trustee on the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board has stepped down, effective immediately.
In a resignation letter dated February 26, 2026, and addressed to the Reno City Council and mayor, Edward Ableser said he was resigning from the Board of Trustees.
“Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Board of Trustees of the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority, effective immediately,” he wrote.
Ableser thanked city leaders for the opportunity to serve.
“I wish to extend my sincere gratitude for your trust and belief in me to represent you fairly and to work toward improving and helping to grow our amazing airport with such a phenomenal board of trustees, who I greatly respect and was lucky to serve with,” he wrote. “It was truly an honor to be appointed and entrusted with such an important responsibility to our region’s travelers, businesses, and residents.”
Ableser described himself as an eleven-year resident of Reno and outlined his prior community involvement, including service on the City’s Charter Committee, the governing board and foundation of Doral Academy of Northern Nevada, the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the Nevada Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, the Washoe County School District Superintendent Search Committee, Community Health Alliance, the Nevada Electronic Health Information Advisory Group, and through service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He wrote that he accepted the airport board role in that same spirit of service and committed from day one to improving board policies, procedures, transparency, and accountability.
However, he said he no longer believes he can be effective.
“Unfortunately, for the sake of the work I do in Nevada and due to what has felt like an apparent targeting of me, and others on the board, through retaliation and harassment by RTAA leadership, I no longer believe I can be effective in inspiring meaningful change,” he wrote.
Ableser detailed concerns about board governance and leadership, including claims that new board policies were adopted at a retreat in a way he believed isolated him and other new members. He wrote that when he raised concerns, his voice was silenced by the Chief Legal Officer and her staff.
He questioned why certain companies were receiving no-bid awards and why audits on airport construction projects and the status of air service had not been seen, writing that those concerns were dismissed or ignored. He also wrote that concerns about a breach-of-contract project with a vendor led to closed session discussions where trustees were told not to discuss the matter.
He said he requested outside legal counsel for board members when conflicts of interest arose and asked for pre-meeting caucuses to brief trustees on significant actions, writing that those requests were not granted. He also wrote that he challenged what he believed were violations of Robert's Rules of Order and Nevada Open Meeting laws, saying those concerns were dismissed.
“I have witnessed a culture of hostility and retaliation aimed at anyone who dared to hold leadership accountable,” he wrote. “I have experienced what I can only describe as an environment of toxicity and retaliation.”
Ableser also wrote that when questions arose about his qualifications to serve, the Chief Legal Officer did not address the issue with him directly. He said he requested independent and unbiased legal counsel, writing that the request was rejected.
“It is with regret that I step down without being able to fulfill fully the reform-oriented role I had hoped to serve as a trustee,” he wrote. “I remain grateful for the opportunity you provided me and for the confidence you placed in my ability to represent you and our community.”
He concluded with a warning for whoever is appointed next.
“I sincerely hope that the next appointee is empowered to serve in a professional and respectful environment,” he wrote. “However, without meaningful cultural and governance changes, and true independent legal counsel, they may encounter the same toxic conditions that I, and many other trustees, experience.”
You can view the full letter below.
