Mayoral Term Limit on November Ballot

Posted by: Kennedy Stowater

kstowater@klkntv.com

 
About 50 people gathered into City Hall for a public hearing.
It was for a charter amendment that would limit a Lincoln mayor to no more than 3 terms.
If passed, it would mean Mayor Beutler, who’s running for re-election, would make him ineligible for next May’s election.
 
One testifier says, "Changing the rules after this announcement is political bullying and should be condemned by all the council members."
 
Last month we talked to the organizer of the petition who wanted the issue on the ballot.
 
J.L Spray says, "I think the people ought to have the opportunity to decide whether 12 years is long enough for one person to accomplish their goals as an elected official, and we need term limits."
 
The people at the hearing expressed that the petition started to circulate after Mayor Beutler announced his reelection.
 
Another testifier says, "It is an abuse of the petition process to make a standing candidate ineligible so any new democratic candidate has just a few short months in which to run."
 
Leirion Gaylor Baird says, "I am confident after tonight that Lincoln voters will be informed about what this really is… an unprecedented and a blatant attempt to manipulate an election process."

It was clear at the end of the hearing that none of the council members are in favor of a 3-term limit for the mayor but felt the citizens should get to vote on it themself.