On the record

Mayor Ed Lawson — Page 2

32 articles filed under Mayor Ed Lawson

Article

Trash Talk

As local governments scramble to patch their leaking financial ships—with Washoe County, Sparks, and Reno all millions in the red—they've settled on the usual solution: deeper dives into taxpayer pockets. Increased fees, passed on charges, some say, sales tax hikes are circling the drain, and "

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Article

Lawson's Toll Road to Nowhereville.

In a stunning display of political self-sabotage, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson expressed shock—SHOCK!—that his $500 million toll road bill died in the Nevada Legislature after he publicly insulted most of its members as self-serving public employees and union cronies.

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Article

"Grow or Die" or Just "Tax Till We're Satisfied?"

Remember that old saying about history repeating itself? Well, grab your wallets, Nevadans, because AJR1—the sequel nobody asked for—is now playing at a legislature near you. This blockbuster tax hike (previously known as SJR14 in its 2017 flop) has risen from the political graveyard with a simple

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Article

Fiscally Sensitive, Not in Sparks

In what can only be described as fiscal gymnastics, Mayor Ed Lawson delivered a somber State of the City address on February 24, 2025, while riding his motorcycle—because nothing says "we're in a budget crisis" quite like a mayoral motorcycle moment. Perhaps the motorcycle was necessary to

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Article

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson's War on Transparency

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson is trying to shut down public records access with AB 51. Hiding behind the "National League of Cities" like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Don't be fooled—this bill has Lawson's fingerprints all over it. His brilliant idea? Nobody gets public records

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Article

Krutz vs. Sparks

Former Sparks City Manager Neil Krutz has finally filed his long-awaited lawsuit against Mayor Ed Lawson and Councilmembers Vanderwell, Bybee, Abbott, Anderson, and Dahir. After much anticipation, we expected a juicy complaint packed with explosive exhibits and salacious allegations. What did we ge

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Article

Mayor Lawson’s Public Records Power Grab, AB 51.

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson is apparently channeling his social media rantings into actual legislation. AB51, the "We'd Rather You Didn't Look Too Closely" bill, aims to make public records about as accessible as Fort Knox – but with more paperwork. The irony is rich: The League of Cities, who

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Article

The Toll Road Nobody Asked For …

Yesterday Picon wrote about Mayor Lawson and his two buddies who are getting, yet again, a contract with the City of Sparks to help carry the Truckee Meadows Public Land Management Act being sponsored by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen. The City of Sparks' latest moves raise serious questions about gover

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