Council candidates
take diverse stances
Fourteen hopefuls’
opinions vary on UNL,
parking and budget.
By Lori Robison
StaffReporter
Traffic flow, economic growth and
better communication between voters
and elected officials are three priori
ties on which most Lincoln City Coun
cil candidates agree.
With 14 hopeful council candidates
vying for three available at-large seats,
Lincoln residents will have a wide as
sortment from which to choose during
the primary elections April 8.
Two of the current at-large mem
bers, Cindy Johnson and Jerry
Shoecraff, are running for re-election.
Ken Haar, the other at-large member,
declined to run again.
Aside from an almost general con
sensus as to what is important, candi
dates differ in their opinions of how to
approach those issues, including mat
ters regarding^the University of Ne
braska-Lincoln and its role as a part of
the city.
Candidates expressed concerns
about UNL’s continued land expan
sion, parking issues and residential sta
tus for students and what the city’s ap
proach should be.
One possible solution included can
didate Carol McShane’s suggestion of
tougher negotiations with city govern
ment for future local land-acquisition
requests by UNL.
Candidate Dominic Sumner sug
gested replacing 30-minute meters
around City Campus with three- or
WHITl
four-hour timers, and a subsequent
meter increase to 25 cents per half
hour, which he said would give students
more parking options and reduce con
gestion in those metered areas.
Another candidate, Jack Schnebel
Jr., suggested to require all students
who have lived in Lincoln for more
than a year to register their vehicles in
Lancaster County. This would route
taxes for that vehicle to the mainte
nance of the roads the vehicle uses, he
said.
Aside from the tangible issues of
traffic, parking and expansion, commu
nication between the university and
Lincoln was cited as the essential ele
ment in maintaining a positive relation
ship between the two.
“The ‘town and gown’ situation (in
Lincoln) can be uncomfortable if
people don’t communicate,” candidate
Carol McShane said.
Shoecrafl, who is the City Council
chairman, echoed McShane’s com
ment, calling for a stronger relation
ship with the university and the city.
Engaging students in the role of
government is vital for effective com
munication, he said, because “the de
cisions we make and the end results of
those decisions will affect (students).”
Candidate Wayne Hart, however,
said he thought communication be
tween UNL and local government was
good.
“UNL is an integral part of Lincoln
and the state of Nebraska,” he said,
“and we should continue the coopera
tive efforts of the past, furthering the
city’s partnership with the university.”
The Star City Council Contenders
fihe following is a list of the candidates, their political and employment affiliations and a brief
description of each candidate's top priorities. Elected at-large members serve 4-year terms:
Paula Bennett (D) Social Service Department; Aid for Dependent Children; medical, child-care worker.
, Priorities: Increasing number of job-training programs and employment opportunities for college graduates; improving traffic flow;
providing recreational programs for young people.
Jonathan Cook (R) owner/software designer for Computer Software Development Co. /
Priorities: Improving the partnership between Lincoln citizens and local government; developing expanded uses for public facilities
recreational centers and libraries; maintaining health of older neighborhoods and communities in Lincoln.
Mike Edgar (NP) cab driver for Husker cab company.
Priorities: Expanding neighborhood beautification program; devoting more dollars to Lincoln's public schools and family-planning
programs; raising minimum wage; increasing attention to concerns of working class.
Michael Floyd (D)p resident of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebrasksa; distributor of health and home products.
Priorities: Expanding Lincoln's public transit system; improving communication between council and public; eliminating barriers to
employment opportunities for Lincoln residents with disabilities.
j
H. Corkey Ford (D) trainer at Applebee's; director/producer of local stage productions.
Priorities: Developing a fine arts program within the Parks and Recreation Department of the city as an alternative to sports; improving
and expanding community, youth ana parent involvement with local government; reducing gang influence on local youth; creating a
liaison position to act as a go-between from local communities to the council.
Jeff Fortenberry (R) executive, Sandhills Publishing (formerly Peed Corp.)
Priorities: Increasing community-based policing; improving efficiency of city government; reducing tax burdens; providing management
of planning a downtown area while shifting from retail to professional and entertainment sector.
Wayne Hart (R) retired, former chief administration officer for Lancaster County Board of Commissioners; current service representative
for CEGA Printing Co.
Priorities: Improving transportation and traffic flow; developing methods for consolidation of city departments; increasing public
involvement in decisions made regarding acquisition of private property for public purposes; creating more user-friendly zoning and
property codes for Lincoln.
David Hunter (D) president, State Title Services, Inc.
Priorities: Creating a more user-friendly method of obtaining and processing building permits; reducing delays of construction and
development caused by zoning regulations and inspection fees; seeking public approval for major construction projects sponsored by
local government.
Cindy Johnson (R) City Council member at-large; vice president of Signs Now
Priorities: Expanding employment and business opportunities in Lincoln; attracting more high-paying, high-tech companies to area;
maintaining repivetational electoral process by allowing public officials to research issues and make informed decisions on
behalf of the public.
Carol McShane (D) self-employed nursing consultant.
Priorities: Increasing the public presence in the health-care system; improving and expanding Lincoln's public transit system; creating
and expanding projects aimed at reducing teen pregnancy and increasing sex education.
Randall Nelsen (D) self-employed realty investor.
Priorities: Increasing efforts to convince out-of-state businesses to relocate to the area; reducing traffic congestion downtown; creating
programs for weekend activities for local young people.
Jack Schnebel Jr. (NP) plumber, Shanahan Machine and Electric in Valparaiso.
Priorities: Increasing number of local contractors working on public projects; increasing public awareness of council activities and
decisions; increasing accuracy of bids by subcontractors for public projects; requiring council approval for all cost overrides.
Jerry Shoecraft (D) City Council member at-large and chairman; owner of Shoe's Bar and Grill.
Priorities: Creating a more efficient budgeting process with a 10-year (instead of current 5-year) forecast; increasing community-based
policing; improving access to and increasing numbers of quality child-care facilities; implementing downtown development with
consideration for downtown residents and students.
Dominic Sumner (R) secretary III, City of Lincoln.
Priorities: Increasing penalties for gang-related crimes and graffiti; increasing community policing; reducing property taxes; improving
road maintenance.