This year’s race for Sparks Ward 1 is particularly special. For the first time in the city’s history, there are two Millennials running for the same spot on the Sparks City Council.
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Denise Lopez and Donald Abbott spoke at a recent candidate night hosted by the Sparks Tribune and a local non-profit called 39 North Downtown. At this event, the two candidates answered a series of audience questions and gave statements on why they should win.
Abbott and Lopez have similar platforms for their campaigns. They both want to pass Washoe County Question 1, an initiative to raise sales tax to help fund public schools. Both candidates want to improve public safety and to continue the expansion of Sparks’ congested roads. Where the two diverge is their vision for the city’s future.
Sparks Ward 1 City Council candidate, Donald Abbott, speaking about his plans for the city. Abbott has been a resident of Ward 1 his entire life.
“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. There’s a reason why Sparks is growing and there’s so many more events that are coming to Sparks instead of Reno,” said Abbott. “We have the beautiful marina, we have golden eagle.”
His opponent, Lopez, wants to see a real change.
Candidate, Denise Lopez wants to diversify the representation within the Sparks City Council. If elected, she will be the first Latina woman in the Council.
“I’ve been knocking on a lot of doors, and I’ve been making a lot of calls and I’ve been listening to the concerns that people have. Some of the business owners have told me they want to make Sparks the city of choice where they can start and grow their business,” said Lopez. “Some of the residents want to make sure that can have a good quality life and one of the ways that we can do that is by ensuring their safety”
Two other Sparks City Council seats are up for grabs in this election.
This piece was a collaboration between Noticiero Móvil and KUNR.