This weekend, we will be going down to Lincoln with NYD to help out Chris Beutler in his race for mayor. (See the calendar for more details). Until he was term-limited out last year, Beutler spent 24 years in the Nebraska Legislature serving the people of central Lincoln.

He’s been a champion of campaign finance reform in this state, leading the charge and helping Nebraska enact a public financing system that attempts to level the playing field for our elections. He led the charge to hold Regent David Hergert accountable for his violations of campaign finance law.

Chris Beutler has been a progressive force in this state for almost 30 years, and he would be a great mayor for the city of Lincoln.

His Republican opponent, Ken Svoboda, is one of the most toxic personalities in Nebraska politics, who in the campaign for City Council in 2005 benefited from deliberate attempts at character assassination against Democratic candidates Terry Werner and Dan Marvin. He’s at it again, and the primary isn’t until April 3.

Svoboda started running for mayor the very minute he won his race for City Council in 2005, perhaps even before that. He’s been part of the problem for years in Lincoln, and now pretends that he can be part of the solution. Lincoln does not deserve to be subjected to the kind of “leadership” that Svoboda promises. Chris Beutler will provide the leadership necessary for Lincoln to grow and prosper.

What happens in Lincoln affects us all. A strong city of Lincoln helps Omaha, and helps the state of Nebraska. A strong Democratic mayor helps the Democratic Party. And the status quo is simply not acceptable any longer.

So, let’s help out our friends in Lincoln and give Chris Beutler the push he needs to win in May.