‘A shortening scheme’; Lincoln mayor responds to Good Government Lincoln’s proposed amendments

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — On Sept. 14, Lincoln’s Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird responded to a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that allowed Good Government Lincoln’s petition initiative on the November ballot.

The three proposed charter amendments are giving city council officials term limits, moving city elections to even-numbered years and having extraterritorial voting rights.

Gaylor Baird and City Council Chair Brodey Weber stated the petition proposals are unfair.

“Their proposal to move city elections to even years would create back-to-back city elections in 2027 and 2028,” Gaylor Baird said. “It is, in truth, a shortening scheme. Their scheme would reduce what would be, because of my existing mayoral term limits, four years to just over one and a half years.”

The two proposed two charter amendments to compete against the three previously proposed.

Good Government Lincoln sponsors said the voters will ultimately decide.

“Despite their about-turn on process and timing, it is good to see city officials support term limits and the normalizing of our city elections,” Sponsor Tony Fulton said. “Though they differ on the duration of one’s hold on power, all these initiatives will increase voter participation and government savings. Now the voters decide.”