Coleen Seng

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Coleen Seng (born February 8, 1936 in Council Bluffs, Iowa) is the 50th and current mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska; she has served as mayor since May 19, 2003. She is otherwise best known for seeking payment for $32,000 worth of security expenses, incurred during the June 17, 2004 fundraising visit of Dick Cheney in support of GOP 1st district congressional candidate Jeff Fortenberry. The security itself centered on street closings, extra law enforcement, as well as medical personnel. Interestingly enough, Cheney was born in Lincoln and lived there for the first several years of his life. During the visit, he surprised the current resident of the home he grew up in by stopping by for about an hour, which was part of the increased security cost of his visit.

Republicans argued that Seng, a Democrat, was merely trying to stir up political turmoil, and that the mayor of Omaha sought no such reimbursement following a visit from President George W. Bush in 2003. Fortenberry, however, reimbursed the federal government for use of Air Force Two during the fundraising stop, pointing to a possible precedent for such repayment.

Seng was elected in 2003, beating Republican city councilman Glenn Friendt. Seng received fewer votes than Friendt in the April primary, but due to a strong field campaign rebounded and beat him in the May general election. During her term she has blocked a construction of a walmart, focused on fixing the main streets, saw the passage of a public smoking ban and is currently proposing a ban on concealed weapons. Some see Seng's lack of business savvy has cost her the favor of the city's public opinion, where she currently has a 41% job approval rating.

Seng is up for re-election however on September 7, 2006, Mayor Seng announced that she would not be running for re-election ^[1]. State Senator Chris Beutler, who will be leaving the Legislature because of term limits, is the only announced candidate for the Democratic primary ^[2]. Republican city councilman, Ken Svoboda, announced his candidacy on September 27, 2006. ^[3].