The city of Sparks elected a new mayor Tuesday. Sparks City Councilman Ron Smith won his primary with 60 percent of the vote, besting two opponents.
The city of Sparks elected a new mayor Tuesday. Sparks City Councilman Ron Smith won his primary with 60 percent of the vote, besting three opponents.
Because he won more than 50 percent of the vote, he won't face a runoff in November. Wendy Stolyarov came in second, with Jeff Bonano catching third and Eric Wacker in fourth.
Smith won't take office until November when Gino Martini's term ends. Martini has been mayor since 2005, after serving seven years as a city councilman.
Sparks City Councilwoman Charlene Bybee also won a second term on Tuesday, garnering more than 70 percent of the vote.
Reno City Councilman Paul McKenzie came in second place to former Washoe County Commissioner Bonnie Weber, who lost to McKenzie in 2014. According to the final vote tally, McKenzie had 42 percent of the vote to Weber's 53 percent.
The two will compete again in November for the Ward 4 seat. But unlike four years ago, the general election will be held only in the ward, rather than citywide.
Weber, a Republican, believes that will be her strength this year. The ward is heavily Republican.
Reno City Councilwoman Naomi Duerr had a strong lead for Ward 2, with businessman Joe Lawrence coming in second place. The two will face off in November. Court translator Maria Davis was trailing a distant third with most of the vote counted.
Washoe County Commissioner Bob Lucey easily bested two Republican primary opponents: Kel Buchanan, a local engineer; and Bret Delaire, who owns a financial services firm and recently moved to Reno.
Lucey will face Democrat Steve Wolgast in November.
Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung also easily won her Democratic primary against 19-year-old Austin Grush, a University of Nevada, Reno student who wanted to better address the homeless issue.
Jung will face Republican Bill Johnson in November.
Lindsy Judd, who describes herself as a millennial stay-at-home mom, beat Greg Smith, the late Sen. Debbie Smith's widower, in the Democratic Primary for District 5. Judd chalked up 54 percent of the vote to Smith's 46 percent.
Judd will take on Washoe County Commissioner Jeanne Herman, a Republican, in November.