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Sparks Councilwoman Will Run For Debbie Smith's Vacant Seat

Sparks City Councilwoman Julia Ratti will run for the vacant state senate seat left by her close friend and mentor Debbie Smith, who died last month from brain cancer. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Billman reports.

Ratti met Smith decades ago when the two were working together on a campaign to increase parental involvement with Washoe County Schools. 

"We've known each other for decades, literally, and along the way she kept saying, 'You should run for public office.' And so when I started to think that perhaps the city council was the place for me, she was just incredibly supportive all the way up to my successful election."

Smith's family recently approached Ratti to ask if she would consider running for the seat in November.

"So I spent the week reflecting and asked myself, 'What would Debbie do?' and decided that I did think I had something to offer, so I said, 'Yes.'"

Credit www.leg.state.nv.us
/
www.leg.state.nv.us
The late State Senator Debbie Smith.

Ratti has served on Sparks City Council for almost eight years and her term is wrapping up. She's a Sparks native and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Senate District 13 covers much of Reno and Sparks. Senator Smith's term runs until November of 2018, so whoever is elected to the position by voters in this year's general election will finish out the last two years of her term.

Smith was first elected to the Nevada state legislature as a member of the assembly back in 2000. She is survived by her husband, three children, and grandchildren.

Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.