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O'Neill welcomes Snyder to
mayor's race
Proposes city manager handle city finances
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[October 10, 2008]
Republican mayoral candidate Pat O'Neill
states that although he is required to have 25 signatures in order
to have his name placed on the ballot, he currently has 1,831 and
counting. The current Logan County Board member says that although
he doesn't know Keith Snyder very well -- the most recently
announced Republican candidate -- he has heard good things
about him and says he is excited he is in the race.
Making sure his comments weren't considered dismissive of current
the mayor, Beth Davis-Kavelman, or Mike Thornton, who both also have
stated they will run for the office, O'Neill says he sees Snyder as
his principal opponent.
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On a brisk Wednesday evening outside the courthouse, O'Neill said he
believes that politics isn't what it should be at any level of
government. "Politicians should be role models. They
should be people that people, that kids look up to. I will be very
positive in my campaign, and I look forward to discussing the issues
we face in a positive way," he said. O'Neill again focused on the youth of
this community. "I want to initiate a program of job education in
the community for 18 to 25 years old to help them get the skills and
training they need," he said.
O'Neill mentioned that the currently empty grounds of the former
Lincoln Development Center would have plenty of room and facilities
to house such a venture.
He again stated that he wants, if elected, to hire a part-time
grant-writer to help seek various grants to help city programs.
O'Neill also feels creating a new department with a building code
official to hear cases of building and zoning violations could save
the city money and speed up the process of litigation to remedy
problems.
O'Neill said he wanted the city to hire a city manager or a city
administrator -- he was unsure of the correct name, but the position
would handle city finances.
He confirmed that the position would be funded from reduced costs
of the city attorney position as well as the city dropping its
contribution to the economic development partnership. He had
previously stated that he wouldn't mind that the question of the
city participation in economic partnership funding be presented to voters on a
future ballot.
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"I want it clear that I am not against the chamber of commerce. I
support them 100 percent," he said.
Again, O'Neill said he believes the city attorney should be a
part-time position and defended earlier remarks that Bill Bates, the
current city attorney, makes $120,000 a year. "His salary is
$79,000, but he bills extra for labor negotiations and court costs,"
O'Neill said, stating that his research showed total salary between
$99,000 and $129,000 for the position in the past several years.
O'Neill says he has his administration in place except for fire
and police chiefs and did not care to divulge any names at this
time.
He ended by saying his campaign will be a positive one and he
looks forward to debating issues with his opponents.
[LDN]
Editor's note: Pat O'Neill called this press conference to
make some of his thoughts on issues known to the public. We are
pleased to post this information as well as comments or platforms of
any other candidate running for a local office in this section.
Candidates can contact
ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com if they wish to use this forum to
express their views.
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