Hilty formally announces candidacy for council
A newcomer to Lincoln politics made it official today: Melissa Hilty announced her plans to run for Lincoln’s District 1 City Council seat, in northeast Lincoln.
Melissa Hilty
“I plan to run a spirited campaign,” Hilty said, “By running a rigorous grassroots campaign, I will try to meet every voter before Election Day.”
She’ll be running against incumbent Democrat Doug Emery — former Lincoln postmaster.
Hilty said her top three priorities are balancing the city budget without raising property taxes, reining in wasteful spending and creating jobs.
“The working people of Lincoln are hurting. We need bold leadership to move Lincoln forward. If elected, my top priority will be to work on behalf of Lincoln’s working people and not the special interests.”
Hilty currently serves as Legislative Aide to State Sen. Ken Schilz. Hilty has been a resident of Lincoln for 11 years. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in communication studies. She is a member of Lincoln Berean Church.
A mayoral candidate emerges
Looks like there will be a Republican running against Mayor Chris Beutler after all.
“We have somebody running,” the executive director of the county GOP, Joe Murray, told me today. “An incredible candidate.”
He said the candidate is a business person not commonly associated with politics. The Journal Star is reporting today that it may be Tammy Buffington, a Tea Partier, and that some are talking about former Councilwoman Robin Eschliman as a possibility. (I’m surprised the LJS reported Buffington without attributing that to anyone; they seem to be getting more lax about using unnamed sources. Which is fine by me, I just wish they would have let me do that when I worked there!)
Whoever it is, they’ve got their work cut out for them since they’re getting a late start.
Expect an announcement soon.
On the City Council front,
Lincoln City Council
Doug Emery is leaning toward running for re-election to his seat representing northeast Lincoln, and I’m told he will be challenged by newcomer Melissa Hilty, a Gering native and UNL grad who has worked as a legislative aide and committee clerk.
Councilman John Spatz (northwest Lincoln) and Councilman Jonathan Cook (southwest Lincoln) have not yet announced their re-election plans — although I expect both will run again.
Winterized 