Northern Nevada voters overwhelmingly supported incumbents at the local level while also failing to fund basic county services.
A ballot initiative funding critical Washoe County library services such as staffing and purchasing books failed, while proposed taxes in Carson City to close a growing deficit in the road-repair budget and fund much-needed work also were turned down by voters.
Meanwhile, county commission incumbents in Washoe County and Carson City kept their seats, as did Carson City’s mayor. Races in Sparks remain too close to call.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers of major ballot questions and political races across Washoe County and Carson City, as well as what’s still at stake in Sparks.
Washoe County Library Expansion Fund
Washoe County voters showed underwhelming support for their public libraries by failing to extend a 30-year tax initiative dedicated to funding the Washoe County Library System.
The ballot initiative would have dedicated 2 cents for every $100 of assessed property value to Washoe County libraries for maintenance, operation and construction — it is estimated $4.5 million would have been generated through it in the coming fiscal year.
The initiative would not have added a new tax; instead, it would have extended the same small fee residents have paid since its inception in 1994. The original initiative funded the building and remodeling of libraries throughout the county.
With its failure, librarians will be laid off, the county’s book and technology budgets will be eliminated and evening and weekend hours will be reduced or eliminated at various branches, according to Washoe library officials.
Washoe County Commission District 1
Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill will retain her seat after being challenged by Marsha Berkbigler, the Republican whom Hill defeated four years ago to gain her current position on the panel.
Hill, the only Democrat running for the commission this election, defeated Berkbigler in 2020 to represent District 1, which includes portions of the northwest and southwest Truckee Meadows, Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Berkbigler, a former lobbyist whose election bid received financial support from Republican donor and election conspiracy theorist Robert Beadles, served on the commission for eight years until Hill defeated her in 2020 by about 10 percentage points.
Prior to being elected to the commission, Hill served as the City of Reno’s arts and culture manager and special events program manager.
Washoe County Commission District 4
Clara Andriola, a Republican who did not have the backing of the Washoe County GOP because of her failure to support claims of stolen elections or fraud, has retained her seat on the five-member commission.
Andriola, who has served as executive director of the nonprofit Reno Rodeo Foundation for the past decade, was first appointed to the panel in 2023 by Gov. Joe Lombardo.
Carson City mayor
Lori Bagwell will retain her position as Carson City’s mayor after defeating challenger James Shirk by a wide margin.
Bagwell previously held positions as a lobbyist, budget director for the Nevada Association of Counties and in the governor’s office. She was elected to the city’s board of supervisors in 2015 and as mayor in 2021.
Shirk, a Navy veteran and retired business owner, served with her on the board of commissioners — he represented the city’s Ward 4 from 2012 to 2016.
Carson City Ballot Question 1
Carson City residents shot down a sales tax increase to fund local road repairs.
Since 1986, the city has had a 0.25 percent sales and use tax to fund maintenance and repairs on existing roads.
In 2021, the Carson City Board of Supervisors and the Regional Transportation Commission directed Carson City staff to investigate options to increase funding for road repairs in the city. In 2022, a study found the city is facing an annual budget shortfall of $21 million to care for its roads, with the deficit expected to grow.
Pavement conditions are particularly poor on neighborhood streets, which account for nearly three-quarters of the city’s streets.
Ballot Question 1 would have increased the 0.25 percent tax on every $100 spent to 0.5 percent, the maximum allowed under state law. It is estimated it would have generated between $4 million and $4.5 million annually.
Carson City Ballot Question 2
Carson City residents doubled down against an increase in taxes by also failing to pass an additional tax to fund road maintenance and repairs.
Ballot Question 2 proposed a 1 cent tax on each $1 of valuation for vehicles registered in the city. It is estimated it would have generated $2.5 million annually.
Carson City Supervisors
Carson City Board of Supervisors Ward 2 representative Mo White will continue to serve on the panel. First elected in 2021, he was unchallenged in the election.
Also retaining her seat on the panel is incumbent Lisa Schuette. Schuette will represent Ward 4 after defeating challenger Lucia Maloney.
Schuette, who worked in public safety and education, was first elected to the panel in 2021.
Sparks City Council
One incumbent will return to Sparks City Council while two other races remain too close to call.
Ward 1 incumbent Don Abbott was automatically declared elected after receiving nearly 65 percent of the vote in the primary.
Abbott was first elected to the panel in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. In 2022, he was appointed mayor pro tempore (vice mayor).
In Ward 3, Paul Anderson and Brad Fitch remain neck and neck for the Ward 3 seat, with Anderson currently leading by about 3.5 percentage points.
Anderson, a management professional who works for a company specializing in government contracts, was appointed to the position in 2018 and re-elected to the council in 2020.
Fitch has worked for the City of Reno as a community liaison and as the arts, culture and special events manager.
The race for Sparks’ Ward 5 also remains too close to call, with incumbent Kristopher Dahir currently trailing challenger Joe Rodriguez, the state’s assistant fire marshal.
Rodriguez, who also serves on the Washoe County School Board, has previously served in the military and as a police officer. Dahir, who has served on the council for eight years, is also president of the Nevada Christian Institute and has served as a pastor for more than 30 years.
