Lincoln gets new mayor, city council members

It became official Monday.

Leirion Gaylor Baird swore in as Lincoln’s 52nd mayor.  She’s only the third female in history.

“It feels amazing,” Gaylor Baird said.  “There’s so much positive energy in the room, so much support for all the new elected officials and the people who are coming back to serve the community.  I’m excited to be serving with all these wonderful leaders.”

The Lincoln voters spoke earlier this month and they chose Gaylor Baird, who won with 54 percent of the vote over her opponent, Cyndi Lamm.

Gaylor Baird said she’s moving into her new office Tuesday and she already has a list of what she’ll be working on.

“We’ll be looking at addressing our streets as a high priority, now that the voters have said they want us to invest more in our streets,” she said.  “So that’ll be a top priority.  Getting ready for the mid–biennium budget and making sure that we’re as responsible as possible to the needs of our constituents.”

There are also three new faces on the Lincoln City Council.

James Michael Bowers is filling the seat vacated by Lamm, Tammy Ward is replacing Carl Eskridge and Richard Meginnis is taking over for Jon Camp, who’s hanging it up after serving 20 years on the city council.

“It truly is a privilege to serve you,” Camp said.  “And while we may not have always agreed, we all believe in the community of Lincoln and we want to see it prosper.”

Camp said he plans to tend more to his properties in the Haymarket and travel the world.

Returning council members are Roy Christensen, Bennie Shobe and the recently reelected Jane Raybould.

The new city council will pick a replacement for Gaylor Baird’s seat at a later date.

Mayor Gaylor Baird said she’s happy she already has relationships with city council members and she’s looking forward to building more with the newer members, as they work together for Lincoln