About Mayor
ed Lawson
Before public service, I worked for the outdoor sign company YESCO. One of my responsibilities took me across northern Nevada’s highways and surface streets, tracking business growth and traffic patterns. Those miles made one thing clear: Sparks plays an outsized role in the region’s economy—and I wanted to help write the city’s next chapter.
My first exposure to public policy came while representing YESCO before government bodies. I saw firsthand how smart, practical policy can make a meaningful difference, and I felt called to serve my community in that way.
I was elected to the Sparks City Council in 2010. When Mayor Ron Smith passed away in 2020, I was sworn in as the 26th Mayor of Sparks.
As mayor, I’ve focused on policies that will keep Sparks a great place to live, work, and build a business. I’m paving a path forward to a prosperous future and laying the groundwork for a city that will thrive for generations. Now I’m ready to earn a second term.
Here’s my promise: I’ll keep Sparks welcoming to business and industry—while never losing what makes it a true hometown. Now and always, Sparks should be a place where we can take our kids to celebrate holidays in the downtown square.
In my free time, I’m an active member of the Sparks Rotary Club, helping rally support for projects like the All-Abilities Playground at the Sparks Marina and Kids Free Fishing Day. I’m also an avid motorcyclist who loves exploring new communities and the unique places you find off the beaten path.
My first exposure to public policy came while representing YESCO before government bodies. I saw firsthand how smart, practical policy can make a meaningful difference, and I felt called to serve my community in that way.
I was elected to the Sparks City Council in 2010. When Mayor Ron Smith passed away in 2020, I was sworn in as the 26th Mayor of Sparks.
As mayor, I’ve focused on policies that will keep Sparks a great place to live, work, and build a business. I’m paving a path forward to a prosperous future and laying the groundwork for a city that will thrive for generations. Now I’m ready to earn a second term.
Here’s my promise: I’ll keep Sparks welcoming to business and industry—while never losing what makes it a true hometown. Now and always, Sparks should be a place where we can take our kids to celebrate holidays in the downtown square.
In my free time, I’m an active member of the Sparks Rotary Club, helping rally support for projects like the All-Abilities Playground at the Sparks Marina and Kids Free Fishing Day. I’m also an avid motorcyclist who loves exploring new communities and the unique places you find off the beaten path.
Meet Ed
Over the years, I’ve been honored by several organizations for my leadership as an elected official, including:
- Nevada League of City’s Public Official of the Year (2025)
- Department of Defense “Patriotic Employer,” for my work in support of veterans, nominated by Assistant City Attorney and Nevada Guard JAG officer Nick Danna (2025)
- Lifetime Achievement Award from Bishop Luther Dupree, Seventh-Day Adventist Church (2024)
- Public Official of the Year - Water Environment Federation (2023)
- Public Partner of the Year (2022)
- Public Official of the Year - Builders Association of Northern Nevada (2014)
I’m a 37-year Sparks resident and have served as Sparks’ mayor since 2020. I’m a family man first—a father of two, still married to my college sweetheart—and I’m proud that both of my sons went to school in Sparks and went on to attend UNR.
When my kids were old enough for competitive sports, I put the “Pop” in Pop Warner, coaching my younger son’s team and loving every minute of it. I’d gone to college on a football scholarship, and coaching gave me the chance to pass along the lessons that come from being part of a team, something I still count among the proudest experiences of my life.
When my kids were old enough for competitive sports, I put the “Pop” in Pop Warner, coaching my younger son’s team and loving every minute of it. I’d gone to college on a football scholarship, and coaching gave me the chance to pass along the lessons that come from being part of a team, something I still count among the proudest experiences of my life.
