Hilary Schieve is not one to run away from big problems. She does it the best way she knows how. It’s about being who you are.
She has been named Washington, DC’s Woman of the Year.
Mr. Schieve served as mayor of Reno, Nevada for 10 years. She also last year served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C., that serves as a voice for cities and the mayors who represent them.
Schieve, a registered independent, is spearheading mental health efforts in American cities.
It’s personal to her.
Seeb grew up watching his family struggle with depression and drug use. She lost her sister, her brother, and her sister’s fiancé all within months of mental illness.
Her story highlights the challenges local leaders face in combating the worsening mental health crisis in communities across the country.
Now, as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, she helps other city leaders come to the table to discuss the resources needed to address issues that affect all levels of government. .
She traveled from Arizona to the U.S. Capitol and the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and advocate for the mayor’s needs, particularly those related to increased funding to help cities combat the mental health crisis.
Everywhere she goes, she makes sure she is who she really is.
“To everyone who wants to go into politics, even if they don’t like it, just be yourself, because at the end of the day you have to walk away, put your head on the pillow and be satisfied. “I say that because you’ve accomplished that,” she said.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Who paved the way for you?
I was really lucky. It’s very difficult, but I can say that many people have contributed to my success. To be honest, I don’t consider it a success. I’m a very bad person. But there were so many people who opened doors for me, mentored me, and were incredibly kind to me.
I can’t say it’s a specific person. I have some incredibly supportive people in my life who I think have given me opportunities. I can’t say specifically about one person.
I was really lucky. People are very supportive, and I think success looks different in different areas. That could be business success. It could be a personal success. It’s just a different kind of success. It’s difficult to love one person. I think this is the job of many people.
What is your proudest moment?
I think one of my proudest moments as mayor was when we regionalized our fire service. Every time I took office, the fire department was disbanded by region and became very siloed.
The closest device will not be involved in the incident. I think it was done by the jurisdiction and people don’t care what color the truck is when they need service.
If we regionalize it, which is exactly what we did, we will save lives and provide a much better service to our residents.
For me, it was a little bit personal because I lost my father in a fire. I was adamant about regionalizing the fire department every time it was disbanded. It was a very, very proud moment because it really resonated with me personally. However, we never talked out loud about why it was so important.
What is your definition of courage?
They work on really difficult problems and are very passionate about it. Regardless of what anyone thinks, I think he’s just being very cautious and committed to the outcome.
I think this job in particular requires an incredible amount of effort. When we had to close due to COVID-19, I was the first city in the state to do so. I should be convicted, but I didn’t care if it cost me my political career and saved my life. This felt absolutely the right thing to do. But it was very, very difficult.
I think it’s just that you hold strong beliefs in what you believe in even though other people may not agree with you.
Do you have a guideline or mantra that you tell yourself?
It may sound like a cliché, but I think it is very important in politics. But when I’m me, I always do my best.
Just be who you are. It may sound like a cliché, but in the world of politics, everyone is constantly being told what to say, what not to say, how to look, and what not to do. I’m saying.
I think women in particular receive more criticism. If there’s one thing I can tell myself, it’s that I’m who I really am, who I am, and I’m at my best when I’m happy with who I am.
Who do you respect?
I think it’s definitely my mom. I mean, she named me after Sir Edmund Hillary, and she always says, “There’s no mountain you can’t climb!”
She is such an inspiration to me because she has been through so much in her life. She is physically and mentally tough and was really lucky to have great inspiration from her mother. Because some people never get that chance.
How do you overcome adversity?
Oh, I’m super competitive. I will fight hard to overcome any difficulties. I also believe that if there is a will, there is a way. I get it again, cliché.
I am a very optimistic person, so even in the face of adversity, I always believe that we can overcome difficulties.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Live in the moment because you’ll get old quickly. As I get older, I think I take for granted some of the things that happened when I was younger. Just do it.
As we age, our bodies no longer function the same way. And when you turn 18, you start to take it for granted.
I always say this. When I was 16 I knew everything, and now I’m in my 50s and I know nothing.
I think the key is to not take yourself so seriously when you’re young. I think we think this is the be all and end all. And before us is not just a problem to solve, but a whole life to live.
