Sparks is running out of room. But who will decide what comes next?

Sparks has spent the past several years transforming from a small industrial city into one of Northern Nevada's fastest-changing communities.

Housing developments, industrial projects and population growth have brought new opportunities for economic development, but they have also created questions over whether the state's fifth-largest city has the infrastructure, public safety resources and revenue needed to keep pace.

Those challenges are shaping two nonpartisan municipal races this year: a mayoral contest between incumbent Ed Lawson and challenger Wendi Rawson, and a Ward 2 City Council race between incumbent Dian VanderWell and Jamie O'Connell. (Ward 4 was the other seat up for re-election, but incumbent Adam Mayberry secured his seat after receiving more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary.)

The mayor's race is centered on how Sparks should approach its next phase of development, with Lawson seeing continued business growth as a key way to generate revenue, while Rawson has emphasized greater accountability and ensuring the city can keep up with the demands of new development.

In the Ward 2 contest, VanderWell, who has served on the council since 2020, is running on her experience in planning and local government. O'Connell, a lifelong Sparks resident who works in finance and budgeting, is campaigning on concerns about the pace of change and how city decisions affect daily life.

Both races come as Sparks grapples with rising costs, with Lawson saying expenses have grown 55 percent over the past five years compared with 38 percent growth in revenues, while the city also weighs how it should grow and what development it should encourage.

Sparks' growth has also raised questions about where the city can expand next. Lawson said the city has roughly 6,000 homes left to build within its current boundaries and that future growth will likely require looking east toward Storey County, as expansion options to the north, south and west are limited.

The mayors race

Ed Lawson, who has been mayor of Sparks since 2020, first joined the city council in 2010. Before entering public office, Lawson worked in business in the Sparks area, an experience he has pointed to when discussing his approach to economic development.

During his time as mayor, Lawson has focused on attracting businesses and expanding the city's revenue base, arguing that additional economic activity is necessary to maintain services without increasing taxes.

"My slogan has always been: Find a way to say yes," Lawson said. "That doesn't mean we say yes to everything. It just means that the first answer shouldn't be no."

Lawson said that approach does not mean approving every project, but rather examining whether proposals benefit residents and help the city provide services.

Wendi Rawson's campaign is built around her longtime connection to Sparks. She moved to the city as an infant, attended local schools and graduated from Reed High School before opening Engine 8 Urban Winery with her husband in downtown Sparks.

Rawson said her experience running a small business and navigating city processes influenced her decision to seek office. She has argued that residents need a stronger voice in decisions involving development and the direction of the city.

"I love my city. I'm very passionate about doing what's right for our residents." Rawson said.

Economic development

For Lawson and Rawson, one of the biggest differences in the campaign is how Sparks should fund the services needed to support future development.

Lawson has made revenue generation the centerpiece of his approach, arguing Sparks needs more businesses that contribute additional taxes and fees as expenses rise. He described the city's financial challenge simply: "Revenue, revenue for sure," adding that "our expenses are going up faster than our revenue is going up."

Lawson has argued that Nevada's restrictions on local government authority limit the city's ability to raise money through traditional methods. He also criticized the state's property tax system, saying limits on annual increases mean revenue from existing properties is not keeping pace with inflation and rising city expenses. That, he argues, makes attracting new businesses and development one of the few ways Sparks can increase its revenue.

Rawson has argued that Sparks needs to focus on generating more revenue through economic activity while preserving the quality of life that has attracted residents to the city. She pointed to past tourism, downtown events and support for local businesses as examples of ways Sparks previously brought more money into the community.

"We have to go back to what used to work so well in bringing in that economic growth," Rawson said. "A lot of people want that back."

The debate reflects a broader question facing Sparks: Whether attracting new businesses and development can provide enough additional revenue to support city services as the city grows.

Data centers

Sparks — already home to some data centers — was one of the first local governments in Nevada to formally take up the hot-button issue when the city council voted in September 2025 to begin developing regulations for data centers. The city has not yet finalized changes and is awaiting recommendations from the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency on how the region should approach the industry.

Lawson has viewed data centers as a potential source of revenue for Sparks, particularly because the facilities can generate significant economic activity while requiring fewer traditional city services than other types of development.

"The data centers could be an extremely high user or revenue source for the city," Lawson said, adding that the city needs to "investigate everything" as it considers future projects.

Rawson said future data center projects should be evaluated based on whether they provide meaningful benefits to residents and strengthen the city's long-term financial position. She said Sparks should be careful not to approve projects simply because they are part of a growing industry.

"Does this data center actually improve the lives of our residents, and will it provide the trust that it needs to be able to run a strong government?" Rawson asked.

Transportation 

Traffic congestion has become one of the most visible impacts of Sparks' growth, particularly for residents traveling between Sparks and the industrial developments in Storey County.

Lawson has repeatedly pushed for a connection between La Posada Drive and USA Parkway, arguing that a new route would provide another option for thousands of workers commuting east of Sparks.

"Eighty-five percent of the people that work in Storey County live with us in Reno and Sparks," Lawson said, arguing that the project would make commutes "faster, safer and easier."

Rawson has also pointed to infrastructure as a priority but has focused more broadly on planning roads, bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure before approving new development. She said Sparks has experienced rapid growth without the infrastructure needed to support it, arguing, "Our infrastructure has just boomed. Like the housing market has boomed, but we haven't kept up with the roads."

The Ward 2 seat

Dian VanderWell is seeking another term on the Sparks City Council after being appointed to the Ward 2 seat in 2020 and elected in 2022. Ward 2 covers much of central and northern Sparks, stretching from Greenbrae Drive toward Los Altos Parkway.

Before joining the council, VanderWell spent more than 40 years in mortgage lending, worked as a real estate agent and helped oversee workforce development programs connected to construction apprenticeships.

She has also served on planning commissions at the city and county levels, experience she said gives her insight into the long-term decisions shaping Sparks.

"I have served for the last six years. I have my extensive background in planning, and our city is at a pivotal point," VanderWell said.

Jamie O'Connell is challenging VanderWell for the Ward 2 seat after spending her entire life in Sparks. She graduated from Sparks High School and is raising two children in the community.

O'Connell works in finance for a medical billing company, where she manages budgeting and financial responsibilities. She said concerns she heard from residents about growth, city priorities and the pace of change pushed her to run.

"It's from talking to people, being one of the people that have the frustrations, just the same as the next person, and just listening to what the issues are to try and get them resolved," O'Connell said.

Revenue

For VanderWell and O'Connell, one of the biggest challenges facing the council is determining how Sparks can maintain services as costs increase.

VanderWell has tied many of the city's challenges back to Nevada's broader local government funding structure. Drawing on her background in planning and years on the council, she said Sparks will need to address long-term revenue stability rather than rely on temporary solutions.

"Our government solvency is going to be one of the biggest things that we have to address," VanderWell said. "Some more tough decisions are going to start having to be made if we don't fix some funding and revenue streams into local governments."

O'Connell has argued that the city should first examine how existing money is being spent. She said reviewing contracts, seeking new bids and evaluating city operations could help identify areas where taxpayer dollars are not being used effectively.

O'Connell said the city should focus on "assessing different jobs in the city" and making sure it does not have "five people doing the same job that one person needs to do."

Public safety 

The council race also comes as Sparks works to address staffing needs in police, fire and other city services.

VanderWell has argued that improving public safety requires addressing the city's broader financial challenges. She said Sparks cannot expand staffing without creating sustainable ways to pay for those positions.

"In order to fund public safety, we have to fix those other revenue models," VanderWell said.

While VanderWell has focused on the city's financial ability to fund additional positions, O'Connell has emphasized the current strain staffing shortages place on public safety departments and city employees.

"Everybody is short staffed and overworked," O'Connell said.

Surveillance

The city council's decision to end its use of Flock automated license plate reader cameras and move toward Axon technology has raised questions about how the city should balance law enforcement tools with residents' privacy.

The switch came as communities across Nevada have debated how automated license plate readers are used, including concerns about data retention, transparency and government surveillance. 

VanderWell, who voted for the vendor change, said the technology can help officers investigate crimes while giving the department more control over how data is managed. She said Axon's connection to law enforcement systems provides more oversight while still allowing officers to use the cameras as a tool.

"This technology is being used to help our officers," VanderWell said, adding that officers still conduct their own investigations rather than relying on camera data alone.

O'Connell said she supports using license plate readers in certain situations but believes the city should be careful about where the technology is deployed and how information is handled. She said cameras should have a clear purpose and should not make residents feel like they are being unnecessarily monitored.

"It needs to be used for the purpose of finding criminals," O'Connell said.

Development

The Ward 2 race has also highlighted different views on how Sparks should approach long-term decisions as the city continues to grow. The city's population has grown by more than 20,000 residents since 2010, increasing pressure on roads, housing and city services.

VanderWell said officials must consider the economic benefits of new projects and how those decisions affect existing residents. She points to her experience in real estate and on the council as advantages.

O'Connell said many in the community are frustrated by the pace of change and want more input in decisions on development. She said responsible growth requires officials to listen to neighborhoods before making decisions that affect them.

"I think that's the biggest thing," O'Connell said. "Just being mindful on how we pay for things, how things are designed, and then making sure that it's not what we, as politicians, think is the end-all, be-all decision without any kind of input from the city."