Candidate for Lincoln Ward 3 Alderman Position Statement – Ron Keller

[February 25, 2017]  I am Ron Keller, residing at 525 Tremont Street, and I’m running for Lincoln City Council Ward 3 Alderman in the February 28 election.  I wish to share why I am vying for this seat, and to humbly ask for your vote.

I have lived in this city since 2000, when hired on the faculty at Lincoln College and as director of the Lincoln Heritage Museum (the latter position I stepped away from in 2015). I proudly call Lincoln home.  For the past 16 years, I have been immersed in city affairs, serving on the Logan County Tourism Board for over 10 years, and on the City of Lincoln Planning Commission and the City of Lincoln Historic Preservation Commission for several years.  I am also a precinct committeeman.   

My father was a veteran, and my parents instilled in me the importance of service.  It would be my honor to serve my community as a city councilman.   I take great pride in this small city, and like everyone else, I desire a vibrant future for our kids here.  I want to do all I can to ensure our city retains economic vitality in this competitive world. As a historian I am cognizant of our past and I feel very fortunate to live in a community so steeped in heritage.  We must continue to strive on to live up to the character and honor of our city’s namesake Abraham Lincoln.

I have gone door-to-door in my campaign and have met many wonderful citizens of this great city of Lincoln. I have been asked by several residents about the city’s spending. Here’s my take. Our city government must be responsive and responsible to its citizens. The city must have the fiscal discipline to live within its means, providing vital services to the residents without causing an undue burden on the back of the taxpayers. We must maintain our city as an affordable place to live.  However, at the same time the city must be an attractive and inviting place to live.  We must dare to be a little progressive and invest now for the future to ensure that Lincoln stays with the 21^st century.  As an alderman, I would consider any ventures which grow the namesake city of Abraham Lincoln and which invigorates a sense of civic pride. 

We must imagine not only the city we want to see now, but what we might be decades from now.  As Abraham Lincoln is said to have remarked: “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.”affordable place to live. But at the same time, the city must be an attractive place to live. We must dare to be a little progressive and invest in the future to ensure that Lincoln stays with the 21st century. And as an alderman, I would consider those ventures which grow the namesake city of Lincoln and invigorates a sense of civic pride. We must imagine not only the city we want to see, but what current and future residents want to us to be. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.”

As a prospective alderman, I don’t claim to have all the answers to issues which our city faces, but I am willing to listen and investigate.  Anyone with whom I have worked alongside would attest to my leadership and success in collaborating well even with those with whom I disagree.

Though this race is contested, I am not running against anyone, but running for the citizens of Lincoln.  My agenda is only sustained progress and a high quality of life for our city.  I appreciate your support and ask for your vote on February 28.  Thank you!

Ron Keller

“Ron Keller is the kind of thoughtful and responsible leader we need more of.  We can count on him to make good decisions for the community.”   -  U.S. Representative Darin LaHood