SPARKS, Nev. (KOLO) – The race for the future of the Truckee Meadows officially began Monday as candidates for mayor in both Sparks and Reno filed their paperwork at their respective City Clerk’s offices to appear on the 2026 ballot.
In Sparks, the contest features a high-profile matchup between incumbent Mayor Ed Lawson and long-time City Councilwoman Charlene Bybee, while small business owner Wendi Rawson prepares to file her candidacy next week.
Sparks Mayoral Race
Mayor Ed Lawson, who was sworn in as the city’s 26th mayor in 2020, is seeking a second term to complete long-term stability projects. “Main priority is to get the city of Sparks on a 20-year trajectory to make us successful and financially stable,” Lawson said. He noted that while the city is close to reaching its goals, the work is not yet finished. To address the current fiscal climate, Lawson proposes “changing the tax mix for the City of Sparks by growing to the east toward the employment center of Storey County.”
Councilwoman Charlene Bybee, a three-term leader, says she is running to bring a collaborative approach and “out-of-the-box” solutions to the mayor’s office. “I bring a new leadership style to the mayor’s seat. I really feel the way I can work with people,” Bybee said. Addressing the city’s “budget crunch,” Bybee noted that Sparks recently closed an $18 million gap that resulted in layoffs and department cuts of 30% or more. “As a fiscal conservative, it’s my most important job. Every dollar we spend matters to me,” she said. Bybee highlighted her personal commitment to fiscal responsibility, noting that she was the only council member to decline a state-mandated raise last summer, saving the city nearly $40,000…