A retired labor administrator was named by Washoe County commissioners on Tuesday to fill a Sparks assembly seat vacated earlier this month. Greg Smith replaces state Assemblyman Mike Sprinkle, who resigned his District 30 seat March 14 over allegations of harassment. Sprinkle was elected to the seat in 2012 and was serving his fourth 2-year term.
Smith is the husband of the late state Sen. Debbie Smith, D-Sparks. According to the Nevada State AFL-CIO, Greg Smith was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 3 for more than 35 years. Debbie Smith served several terms in AD 30 before being elected to a 4-year term in District 13 in the Nevada Senate in 2012. She passed away from complications of brain cancer in February 2016.
To have qualified to fill Sprinkle’s seat, applicants must have been age 21 or older, registered to vote, residents of AD 30 and of the same political party of the reigning member. Sprinkle is a Democrat. Sixteen qualified candidates were considered by commissioners.
Greg Smith will finish the remainder of Sprinkle’s term and must run in the November 2020 election if he wishes to retain the seat.
