SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Tahoe Now emailed all 13 South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates the same questions so voters could get to know them before deciding on the November 3, 2026 ballot. They will be published in the order received along with photos they provided. South Tahoe Now also emailed the two candidates for City Clerk with their own set of questions. Not all candidates replied, so the public will be unable to read their responses.

The first one to respond was Nick Piliae.

Name: Nick Piliae
How long have you lived full-time in South Lake Tahoe? 10 years
What is your occupation? MMA Coach/Sports Analyst/Heavenly Rentals
What is your education? Some College

What makes you qualified to be on City Council? I think I’m qualified because I live and work here full time and know exactly what challenges an everyday resident experiences. My pulse on the city and its people is second to none, and I’ll do my best to represent that if elected.

What is your level of understanding of the Brown Act and other council procedures? Do you feel agenda item deliberations could be streamlined? Yes, I am very familiar with the Brown Act as well as all other council procedures that are focused on transparency and anti-corruption. I absolutely feel that item deliberations could be streamlined, and it would be my goal to be a maximally efficient City Councilmember.

Have you ever served on a commission or committee for the City of South Lake Tahoe? If so, what was it? Or, have you served other communities in this capacity in the past? I have never served on a commission or committee before, but greatly embrace this new challenge and duty. When I was an award-winning employee while working at Kirkwood, I was on the Street Team, which organized and executed employee events that strengthened the working community there. I enjoyed it a lot, and I think I definitely had a very positive impact there.

If you served in previous leadership roles, please name them. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently, and how would you use those lessons on council? I have been a leader in the hospitality and ski industry while working at both Kirkwood and Heavenly. To my knowledge, I am the only person to ever win Employee of the Year at both locations for my department. I am also the captain on every sports team I play on, including our local Carson Tahoe Rugby Club. There are always mistakes along the way; it’s part of the experience. As long as we learn from these mistakes, we grow from them. When I was an assistant manager at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, my store broke local and national records for efficiency and wellness amongst guests and employees alike. I hope to bring that same success and apply it to City Council and all of South Lake Tahoe.

If elected, how do you plan on representing the community? If they don’t attend meetings in person, how will you know what they want? How would you get more citizens engaged? I will be a man of the people. I still currently work alongside my constituents on a day-to-day basis, working multiple part-time jobs like most of the residents here. I am going to go out and meet with them and talk to them to find out what matters most to them.

How important is an ethics policy and decorum policy for City Council, and why? What should these policies include? It’s very important. We represent the people and must be held to a higher standard. These policies should clearly outline expectations for respectful conduct, transparency, conflicts of interest, appropriate use of city resources, and accountability when those standards are not met.

Is there anything in your past that could come to the surface if elected? If so, what is it? I can’t think of anything in my past I would be worried about coming to the surface. I have never been arrested or been cited with anything higher than a simple traffic ticket.

Do you think a councilmember represents the City at all times, and why or why not? A City Councilmember absolutely represents the city at all times. They are a physical embodiment of the city. They are the eyes, ears, and voice of the city and must have the city’s well-being prioritized above most.

When council divides up the list of assignments for councilmembers, what boards would you want to sit on and why? Parks & Recreation Commission, Police Advisory Commission, Arts, Culture & Tourism Commission. Each one of these commissions represents an important element to the city. Each one is very critical to me in ensuring our city is safe and can provide and shelter our residents. We have to do everything we can to take care of the people who live here.

What are the top concerns the council should be focusing on? I think the biggest issue facing our beloved town currently is affordable housing for both long-term residents and workforce housing for seasonal peak-time employees. As a City Councilmember, I’ll work with the correct development partners to continue to bolster this sector. The Sugar Pine affordable housing that was just built was a great first step, and I think we can do so much more.

What is the role of a city council on economic development? Do you think we should be attracting new types of businesses, and if so, what are they? City Council has a big role to play in the city’s economic development. One bad or good policy can have a tremendous effect on the city. I will look to support the city so it can thrive economically. We must support local businesses and maintain a strong tourism industry, and I would love to explore new industries that could coexist with what we have here in South Lake Tahoe. I want to research this topic much deeper, but perhaps we could attract more remote workers and coworking spaces to the area. This particular business would support our economy and have a minimal impact. I’d love to hear more ideas from our residents if elected and give energy to the ones I think could be beneficial to us.

What are your favorite things to do in Tahoe? In the summer, I love going for a hike at Van Sickle or spending the day at one of our amazing beaches. And, of course, in the winter you can find me in the trees hunting powder at Heavenly or Kirkwood. Either type of day is perfectly capped off with a nice meal at my favorite restaurant, Artemis on Ski Run.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? You can always reliably find me in person at 6 p.m. at Escobar Training Grounds on Mondays. Come by, take my class or another coach’s, ask me questions, or just come hang out and watch training.