Councilmember Kristopher Dahir Needs YOUR MONEY
Engine 8 Urban Winery - Kristopher Dahir fundraiser - September 12, 2024.
The decision to hold or cancel fundraisers during a natural disaster can be a sensitive issue. Different politicians and their teams may weigh various factors when making these choices, including immediate financial needs for their campaigns, public perception, and the severity of the ongoing situation.
The Davis Fire has caused evacuations across much of South Washoe County, many residents throughout Washoe County have family members or friends affected by the fire.
In Sparks, Nevada not so much for Councilmember Dahir, Mayor Pro Tempore Donald Abbott and Mayor Ed Lawson – they all hung out at a fundraiser for Dahir last night.
On, Wednesday, September 11th there was supposed to have been a fundraiser for Joe Rodriguez the Washoe County School Board Trustee who is challenging Kristopher Dahir for his Ward 5 seat.
Rodriguez out of respect for fire victims, displaced residents, and first responders cancelled his event at Councilmember Dian Vanderwell’s home. Vanderwell, who is endorsing Rodriguez for the Ward 5 seat rescheduled the event. Rodriguez took the time to ask for donations for the disaster relief when posting on social media: https://nevadafund.org/post/disaster-relief-davis-fire
Rodriguez fundraiser cancellation via Facebook
Assemblywoman Angie Taylor had a scheduled fundraiser at former Federal Judge Valerie Cook’s home on Thursday afternoon, we learned from an individual planning on attending the event that was a private fundraiser was cancelled. Again, out of respect for the Washoe County residents displaced from their homes. Our source commented, “It would have been wrong to have sipped wine from Val’s backyard, contributing to Angie, while watching the Davis Fire.”
Taylor's Fundraiser Flyer
There was another fundraiser last night at Engine 8 Urban Winery in Sparks hosted by Councilman Kristopher Dahir, and his buddies Mayor Ed Lawson and Councilman Donald Abbot were there front and center to support Dahir. What message did this send?
The non-crowd at Dahir's Engine 8 Urban Winery fundraising event.
Will this backfire on Dahir?
Why not simply move the event?
If you read the fundraising event flyer you immediately know why he couldn’t cancel, fire or no fire.
Invitation to Dahir's Fundraier - trolling for $10K to pay for mailers and billboard.
We reached out to our printer, and they told us that if you want to get a mailer out prior to early voting you’re going to need to do it now. And that means you need to have cash in hand politically speaking.
Dahir needed to collect donations NOW, and not LATER, so he moved forward last night, From the limited crowd it would seem his constituents thought it as cringy as we do to be fundraising while residents are displaced from their homes, and first responders are in harms way.
Seems Councilman Donald Abbott and Mayor Ed Lawson didn’t think it was cringy to fundraise for Dahir last night. We know Councilmember Paul Anderson has his own fish to fry with his hotly contested race against Brad Fitch, so not surprised he skipped.
What Picon ponders is where, oh where is Councilmember Charlene Bybee? After all it seems Mayor Ed Lawson is teeing up Abbott to run for Sparks Mayor. You know you’ve made it when you get to judge the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off.
Mayor's hand picked Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off judge.
There were rumors that Bybee wanted that mayoral spot in 2026 since she is termed out of her council seat. We’ve heard she’s had a few health issues over the last few months, so has she decided not to run? If Bybee still is mulling over Sparks Mayor, would it make sense for Bybee to take a side in this Ward 5 race as Vanderwell has?
Or is Vanderwell setting herself up for a mayoral run?
Lawson might not be the only “kingmaker” in Sparks.