BREAKING: 'Good Government' Group Turns in Signatures for Lincoln Charter Amendments

by John Gage

(Picture credit Nebraska Secretary of State)

LINCOLN — “Good Government Lincoln,” a group led by former Republican State Senator Tony Fulton, turned in signatures for their charter amendment effort on Monday for all three of the group’s initiatives.

The group said in a release that they had turned in “9,750 signatures for each of the three proposed city charter amendments.” Charter amendments need roughly 5,000 signatures to make the ballot.

The amendments include a measure to change the Lincoln city election dates to align with the state and federal election calendar, term limits for city council members, and voting rights for residents in the city’s extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction (ETJ).

“Lincolnites showed up for good government,” Fulton said in a statement. “The support we saw at the doors and in our neighborhoods proves that people are ready for a city government that is more accountable, more accessible, and more representative of the people it serves. Submitting these signatures is a big step toward giving Lincoln voters the final say.”

“Good Government Lincoln” said they believe their amendments will increase voter turnout in city elections as well as ensure “everyone has a voice on who represents them.”

Filings from the group showed it has already raised over $50,000 towards each of the charter amendments.

Once signatures are verified, according to Nebraska law, the city council is required to put the amendments up for a vote during an election “not held within thirty days after such petition is filed.”

Mayor Prepares to Oppose

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird has been vocal in her opposition to the proposed charter amendments. Immediately following the release of the amendments, the mayor called the initiatives a move “straight out of the Donald Trump playbook.”

In a recent email to supporters, Gaylor Baird said the goal of moving up city elections was a “scheme designed to shorten what would be my final term in office.”

She said that she plans to “push back against these efforts using campaign resources” and asked her supporters to contribute toward the effort.

This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.

— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.