Chris Beutler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Beutler
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| 51st Mayor of Lincoln | |
| In office May 14, 2007 – May 20, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Coleen Seng |
| Succeeded by | Leirion Gaylor Baird |
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 28th district |
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| In office January 1991 – January 2007 |
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| Preceded by | James McFarland |
| Succeeded by | Bill Avery |
| In office January 1979 – January 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Roland Luedtke |
| Succeeded by | James McFarland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 14, 1944 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Yale University (BA) University of Nebraska–Lincoln (JD) |
Chris Beutler, born on November 14, 1944, is an American politician. He was the Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, from 2007 to 2019. Before that, he served in the Nebraska Legislature. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Chris Beutler's Early Life and Education
Chris Beutler was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He finished high school in 1962. He then went to Yale University, graduating in 1966. Later, he earned a law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1973.
Before his political career, Beutler served his country. He was a teacher in the U.S. Peace Corps in Turkey from 1966 to 1967. He also served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. Chris Beutler is married to Judy Beutler. Together, they have five children and seven grandchildren.
Chris Beutler's Political Career
Chris Beutler had a long career in public service. He served many years in the Nebraska Legislature. He also became the mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Serving in the Nebraska Legislature
Beutler was first elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1978. He represented the 28th legislative district in Central Lincoln. He was reelected in 1982. He left the Legislature in 1986 but was reelected in 1990. He continued to serve after winning elections in 1994, 1998, and 2002.
During his last term, he worked on important committees. These included the Appropriations and Executive Board committees. He also led the Legislative Performance Audit committee. Due to rules about how many terms a person can serve, Beutler could not run for another term right away.
Becoming Mayor of Lincoln
On September 15, 2006, Chris Beutler announced he would run for mayor. The current mayor, Coleen Seng, decided not to seek reelection. Beutler's campaign focused on making Lincoln a great city. He wanted to improve safety, boost the economy, and create a special feeling for the city.
The 2007 Mayoral Election
The first round of voting, called the primary election, was on April 3, 2007. Beutler faced Mike Deal, Ken Svoboda, and Roger Yant. Beutler received 48 percent of the votes. Ken Svoboda, a city councilman, came in second with 35 percent.
In the final election on May 1, Beutler ran against Svoboda. Beutler won by a close margin of 845 votes. He officially became mayor on May 14, 2007.
Reelection Campaigns
Chris Beutler ran for reelection in 2011. His opponent was businesswoman Tammy Buffington. In the primary election on April 5, Beutler received 66 percent of the votes. He then defeated Buffington in the general election on May 3. He won with 64.68 percent of the votes.
Beutler announced he would run for a third term on January 13, 2015. His opponents in the primary election were Andy Stebbing and Rene Solc. Beutler won the primary with 52.90 percent of the votes. In the general election on May 5, Beutler defeated Stebbing. He won with 52.92 percent of the votes. This made him the first mayor in Lincoln's history to be elected to a third term.
Term Limits for Lincoln's Mayor
In the summer of 2018, some politicians worked to change the city's rules. They wanted to limit the mayor to serving only three terms in a row. This change was designed to prevent Beutler from running for a fourth term. On November 6, 2018, voters in Lincoln approved this new rule. The measure passed with 53.14 percent of the votes.
