Lisa Lee
Candidate Bio
My name is Lisa Lee and I was born at (then) Washoe Medical Center. I was raised between my parents’ ranch, first in Pleasant Valley and then in a remote area of Storey County in the Truckee Canyon, and my grandma’s house on Neil Road. I am the daughter of a long-time community activist and citizen lobbyist, so raising hell about issues of concern is part of my upbringing. I am the heir to a healthy distrust of government and “systems.” I left the area as a teenager and started my “wayward and misspent youth” traveling the country, hitchhiking and hopping trains. I spent a lot of time in forests, often for months at a time—just me and my dog. I spent a decade of episodic homelessness and making questionable decisions. I regret nothing—all of these experiences built character, strength, and resilience, and made me into the person I am today. As a person with various, complex, intersecting lived and living experience, I believe with all my whole chest in, “nothing about us, without us, is for us.” Therefore, when decisions affect communities, those communities must be given a meaningful seat at the table to guide them. I have learned that “if you are not at the table—you are on the menu.”
I have worked in the health and wellness field for over two decades in a variety of positions. I completed my Master of Arts in anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno with a graduate certificate in Gender, Race, and Identity Studies. I completed a Doctor of Public Health at Walden University and my dissertation focused on the intersections of parental substance use and the child welfare system. At heart, I am an implementer and have enjoyed developing new programs in a variety of settings, including an opioid treatment program, mobile outreach, recovery community organization, the jail, emergency departments, and a county agency. After working for Washoe County Human Services Agency, I am deeply committed to addressing multiple issues that I witnessed and experienced within county government. Things need to change.
By day, I write technical guidance that translates complex science into practical, evidence‑based tools to improve behavioral health care. By night, I am a ball-throwing hooligan and caring cuddler for our Boston Terriers (aka “the Boston Brigade”), a hands-in-the-dirt gardener, an avid reader, a “happy hooker” crocheter, artist, devoted wife, and my favorite role—being a mom to two delightful, empathetic, creative humans. I am eager to promote liberty by limiting government and fostering community solutions, and I would love to serve the people of this beautiful district.
Why I’m Running
I’m running because the strongest solutions come from neighborhoods, not from bureaucracies. I want to shift power back to communities, support local problem‑solvers, and make it easier for people to take care of each other.
I’m running because Washoe County deserves long‑term thinking about land, water, wildfire, and community well‑being. I want to help build a future that is resilient, responsible, and grounded in respect for the place we call home.
I’m running because government should feel accessible, transparent, and human. I want to open doors, simplify processes, and make sure people feel seen and heard, not intimidated or dismissed.
I’m running because we can do better than ‘the way it’s always been done.’ I want to bring creativity, innovation, and fresh thinking to county government so we can solve problems in ways that actually work for people.
I’m running because I want to leave behind a county that is freer, kinder, and more resilient than the one I found — a place where people have more autonomy, more dignity, and more trust in themselves and each other.
I’m running because I want our children to grow up in a world where they are trusted, not controlled. If we want that world, we have to build it ourselves. I envision a future where our children can thrive with joy, safety, and dignity. Creating that future is our responsibility, and I’m ready to do my part with courage, creativity, and heart.