Kevin Bateman announces plan to run for mayor of Lincoln

[October 11, 2016]  Logan County Board member Kevin Bateman has announced his candidacy for mayor of the City of Lincoln, focusing on the issues of transparency, fiscal responsibility and collaboration.

“The citizens want to know what their elected city officials are doing and how they’re reaching the decisions they’re making,” he explained. “I’d like to see the City Council have more public discussion on issues before they vote.”

Bateman plans to hold monthly town-hall style meetings in different parts of town to get input from local residents. He welcomes the opportunity to hear what the citizens would like the city to do.

While serving on the county board, Bateman has proven himself as someone who gets things done by collaborating with other people and holding people accountable.

“I treat taxpayer money like it’s my own money,” Bateman said. “In my job as Outside Wholesale Manager for Landmark Automotive Group, I’m known as a strong negotiator. I’ve used that same skill on the county board to make sure the county didn’t spend any more than it had to on any project – and that those jobs got done on time. I plan to bring those same skills to the office of mayor to work with the city council and department heads to get projects done economically and in a timely way.”

Bateman wants to see the City of Lincoln be a place where people want to live – including those who come to visit. Realizing downtown is part of that, as well as attention to neighborhoods streets and sidewalks throughout the city.

As one of the founding members of the popular Up in Smoke Barbeque Competition, Bateman knows first-hand the importance of tourism to Lincoln. He would like to see the tourism bureau focus on Lincoln’s assets as an anchor for countywide tourism promotion.

“We’re a Norman Rockwell-type town and a historic county seat, with Route 66 running right through here,” he said. “Working together we can capitalize on what we have to offer.”

“I have a lifelong commitment to the city of Lincoln, and if elected mayor, I would be willing to listen to all sides of an issue to make the city better,” Bateman said. “I would appreciate the vote of citizens who want their city government to operate with transparency and get things done.”

[Text from file received]