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.

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 keep His Honor awake during his own speech, much as it kept us from slipping into a complete video coma.

"We're going through some hard times now," Lawson gravely intoned after the video ended. "We're going to have to have some layoffs in the future. We're just going to have to buckle up."

Mayor Ed Lawson graced the 83rd Nevada Legislature Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure last week with his presence, delivering a masterclass in vague claims and suspiciously precise statistics regarding Assembly Bill 61 – you know, the one about letting RTC Washoe County or any local government in Washoe County establish a toll road.

After what observers described as a dramatic pause worthy of community theater, Lawson began: "Ed Lawson for the record, E-D L-A-W-S-O-N, Mayor of Sparks," apparently concerned legislators might confuse him with all the other Ed Lawsons roaming Carson City.