Don Wesely, former Lincoln mayor and Nebraska state senator, dies at 70

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Former Lincoln Mayor Don Wesely has died at the age of 70.

The city announced the news Wednesday in a press release.

Wesely represented the 26th District in Nebraska’s Legislature from 1979 to 1999. He was the third-youngest Nebraska state senator in history, having been first elected at the age of 24.

Throughout his 20 years in the Legislature, over 300 initiatives Wesely sponsored or co-sponsored were signed into law.

Wesely served one term as the 49th mayor of Lincoln from 1999 to 2003.

Following his departure from the mayor’s office, Wesely was a lobbyist.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said Wesely had a “profound” impact on Lincoln.

She praised his work on improving Lincoln’s infrastructure and revitalizing neighborhoods.

“His leadership helped shape the Lincoln we know today,” she said in a statement.

Services for Wesely are pending.