As the 2018 midterm election comes and goes, people may notice some change of guards within the Sparks City Council.
The biggest change will be next Tuesday when mayor-elect Ron Smith will be sworn into office. Longtime Sparks mayor Geno Martini didn’t seek re-election after a 19-year career leading the Rail City.
Although Sparks’ elected officials were voted into their offices during the June Primary, now is a good time to share a snapshot of some who are continuing to serve the city, either in new positions or maintaining their seats.
Ron Smith to assume the position of mayor
Former mayor Geno Martini did not seek re-election this year, therefore a few candidates vied for the seat back in June. Between Jeff Bonano, Ron Smith, Wendy Stolyarov, and Eric Wacker, Ron Smith received 61.04 percent of the 12,945 votes.
Smith was originally elected to the Sparks City Council in 2006 and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He worked for 42 years in the grocery business and currently is involved with High Sierra Industries.
A stout advocate for the region’s transportation and infrastructure needs, Smith serves on the Regional Transportation Commission, The Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the Western Regional Water Commission, and is on the board of directors of the Truckee River Flood Management Authority.
Also acting as Mayor Pro Tempore for the last couple of years, Smith won the Builders Association of Northern Nevada Public Official of the Year Award in 2012. Having spent the last 12 years with the Sparks City Council, Martini believes that Smith is his ideal replacement.
Charlene Bybee to continue representing Ward 4
Charlene Bybee was elected to the Sparks City Council in 2014 and was recently re-elected to serve another term, beating out fellow opponents Brian Hunt and Rudy Viola Jr. in the primaries with 71.38 percent of the 3928 votes.
Bybee is passionate about education and domestic violence prevention-along with bringing the “Silent Witness” program into Nevada, she served on numerous Washoe County School District committees and was named the “WCSD Volunteer of the Month”.
Bybee also lobbied at several Nevada Legislature sessions in favor of fiscal restraint and education reform on her own dime. She can also be accredited for helping Sparks’ stability and growth through serving on the 2040 Master Plan Steering and City of Sparks Charter committees.
A University of Nevada, Reno alum, Bybee currently devotes time to: the Oversight Committee for School Facilities, EDAWN, the Redevelopment Agency, the Regional Planning Governing Board, the Tourism Facilities & Revitalization Steering Committee, Capital Funding Protection Committee, and is an alternate for the Sparks seat of the RTC.
Ed Lawson to continue representing Ward 2
An active member of the Sparks Rotary Club, Ward 2 City Councilmember Ed Lawson was first elected to the Sparks City Council in 2010 and reelected in 2014 and this year.
With deep roots in Nevada, Lawson worked for the electric sign company YESCO for 15 years and also spends time as the vice president of business development for the Sierra Builders of Nevada.
As part of his professional involvement with the City of Sparks, Lawson serves on the following committees: Western Nevada Development District, Sparks Tourism & Marketing Committee, Tourism Facilities & Revitalization Steering Committee, the Legislative Team, Regional Planning Governing Board, and is on the Reno Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority board of directors.
He is passionate about Sparks’ economic development and can usually be seen at the annual Kids Fishing Day event held at the Sparks Marina which attracts more than 3,000 kids per year.
Chris Wilson to serve as Justice of the Peace
Receiving 16,748 votes in the primaries, Chris Wilson will begin his role as Sparks’ new Justice of the Peace this month. Wilson served as Washoe County’s Deputy District Attorney for more than 15 years handling more than 3500 cases involving everything from DUIs to murder.
Wilson holds a JD degree from Santa Clara University School of Law where he started his career through an internship with the Nevada Attorney General’s Office.
Leave a Reply