Gaylor Baird and Geist hold rallies ahead of Lincoln mayoral election

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Both mayoral candidates hosted rallies Thursday to speak face to face with supporters one last time before the election.

Former State Sen. Suzanne Geist hosted the Lincoln Police Union and the Home Builders Association at her campaign headquarters.

“What we are doing today is gathering, for one, to just encourage each other, law enforcement, home builders, some of our great volunteers coming together,” she said.

In early April, Geist resigned from the state Legislature, a position she’s held since 2016, to focus on the race.

“I’ll be sad to leave my other colleagues behind, but this race is that important,” she said.

Geist said her focus is on public safety, transportation and creating business in the city.

“I really believe that city business isn’t political,” she said. “It’s not Republican, Democrat or independent; it is city business. I intend to bring that to the city and hopefully unify around the things that we all agree on.”

Just a few minutes down the road, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird hosted an event inside the Auld Pavilion at Antelope Park.

“This is our effort to help get out the vote,” she said. “We need people to pay attention to city elections and make their voices heard on or before May 2nd.”

Gaylor Baird has been in office since 2019.

She said her time in office is highlighted by the Lincoln on the Move initiative, street improvements, park upgrades and more.

“We have so many things happening in this town; there is so much good work to do,” Gaylor Baird said. “I am really pleased by our economic recovery and the kind of work that people are coming together to do to create economic opportunity and new jobs for our community members.”

The mayor said she’s thankful for the support she’s received throughout the race.

“I am going to keep doing what I do,” she said. “I listen, I hear people and I talk with them, and we try to find solutions and try to find consensus because that’s what mayors do. There is a famous mayor of Pittsburgh who said there are three kinds of people in this world: Republicans, Democrats and mayors.”

Both candidates stressed the importance of voting on or before May 2, regardless of whom you cast your vote for.