Speakers

Mayor Ed Lawson was appointed as the 26th Mayor of Sparks on September 14, 2020, after the passing of Mayor Ron Smith. He was elected and sworn in as Mayor in November of 2022.

He served on the Sparks City Council since 2010, was reelected in 2014 and 2018, and was elected Mayor Pro Tempore in November 2018.

Mayor Lawson was born in Sunnyside, WA, and grew up in Las Vegas, NV.  He attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.

Mayor Lawson was the Vice President of Business Development for Sierra Builders of Nevada and worked for the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) for 15 years, holding positions in sales and management and served on the organization’s government relations committee.  He is active in the Sparks Rotary Club and volunteers time to the community.  A champion of economic development, Mayor Lawson also plays a significant leadership role with the annual Kid’s Free Fishing Day, which attracts more than 3,000 kids to the Sparks Marina.  In 2014, he was recognized as the Public Official of the Year by the Builders Association of Northern Nevada.

Mayor Lawson and his wife Dianne have two sons who graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.