The Decent Ballot Chip in

The Decent Ballot  /  Washoe County  /  Sparks  /  Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sparks, NV

Who on your ballot seems like good people, in a sentence or two each, with sources. Fill out your ballot in ten minutes.

best choice in the race Seems like good people Compromised Not good people Not enough info

Who is running in Sparks, Nevada in 2026

Sparks Mayor
Ed Lawson and Wendi M. Rawson
Sparks City Council, Ward 2
Jamie O'Connell and Dian VanderWell

Sparks elections

City races are nonpartisan. Adam Mayberry won Ward 4 outright in June.

Mayor

Vote for one

Ed Lawson

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Moderate

Mayor since 2020; Sparks City Council, Ward 2, for a decade before that; retired business executive

Says plainly that Nevada's property tax system is "broken" and has to bring in more to pay for city services. Endorsed by Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council.

Sources: Nevada Newsmakers, Campaign endorsements, Nevada Independent

Wendi M. Rawson

Not good people Conservative

Co-owner, Engine 8 Urban Winery; first run for office

Took the Washoe County Republican Party's endorsement in this nonpartisan race, plus the Washoe County Republican Assembly and the Washoe Freedom Coalition. Opposes property tax increases and wants developers to pay infrastructure fees sooner.

Sources: Nevada Globe, Campaign site, 2 News

City Council, Ward 2

Vote for one

Jamie O'Connell

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democratic-aligned

Finance and budget work for a medical billing company; first run for office

Says growth has left emergency services short-staffed and first responders shouldn't be cut. On data centers: "We have built a community without relying on data centers, and don't need to change it now." Endorsed by the county Democratic Party.

Sources: Our Town Reno, 2 News, Washoe Dems

Dian VanderWell

Compromised Moderate

Councilmember since 2020; mortgage loan officer and real estate agent; Reno Housing Authority commissioner

Opposes tax breaks for data centers: "I will not sacrifice clean water, energy and clear air for AI." Works in real estate and is backed by the Associated General Contractors and the Las Vegas police union along with the AFL-CIO and the Culinary Union.

Sources: 2 News, Nevada Independent, Culinary Union

Also on your ballot

Every Washoe County voter also picks in these races. Full write-ups on the Washoe County page.

When and where to vote

Register by
Tuesday, October 6, for paper applications. You can also register or update online at registertovote.nv.gov, or register in person at any vote center through Election Day (same-day registration).
Early voting
Saturday, October 17, to Friday, October 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 18 vote centers, including the Downtown Reno Library, Reno Town Mall, Reno Public Market, Bartley Ranch Park, the Northwest Reno, North Valleys, South Valleys and Incline Village libraries, and the Pyramid Lake Paiute and Reno-Sparks Indian Colony administration buildings. You can vote at any of them. Full list and wait times.
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at any of 41 vote centers in the county. Find one.
Mail ballot
Every active registered voter gets a mail ballot automatically. Sign the envelope and mail it postmarked by November 3, or drop it off. Replacement ballots are available until October 21. If your signature is questioned you have until 5 p.m. November 9 to fix it. Track your ballot.
Drop boxes
At every vote center during early voting and on Election Day, plus two standalone staffed drop boxes during early voting and one more on Election Day.
Bring
Nevada does not ask most voters for ID today. You may need ID if you are voting for the first time or registering on the spot, so bring a driver's license, state ID or other photo ID to be safe.
Your ballot
View your personal sample ballot at myballot.nv.gov, or see every contest in the county's sample ballot booklet (PDF) and contest list.

Keep it free and independent

Researching every race in a county, checking the sources and keeping the site online all cost money. We take no ads and no money from candidates, parties or PACs, so readers are what keep it going. If this saved you time, a few dollars helps us cover the next county.

Chip in on Ko-fi Or ask us to cover your county

Contributions aren't tax-deductible.

We rate people, not parties. Here's how. Every claim links to where we found it. See something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.

Last updated October 4, 2026.