Deal joins race for mayor

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Only one new name emerged in the race for mayor and City Council when the deadline for filing passed Friday afternoon.

Mike Deal joined the race for mayor under the Nebraska Party, which is based on the philosophy of Thomas Jefferson.

Deal did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, but the Nebraska Party’s Web site says it was established to restore economic prosperity to all Nebraskans, restore the “Christian principles of our forefathers,” and get the government back in the hands of the people.

The other official candidates for mayor are:

* Republican Ken Svoboda

* Democrat Chris Beutler

* Independent Roger Yant

Mayoral candidates had to gather the signatures of 300 Lincoln residents and pay a $100 filing fee in order to get on the ballot. Election Commissioner David Shively said Deal and Yant’s signatures continued to trickle in on Friday, but by the 5 p.m. deadline they’d been verified.

Those competing to take Councilwoman Patte Newman’s place on the City Council representing northeast Lincoln, District 1, are retired postmaster Doug Emery, a Democrat, and Republican businesswoman LaRae Eifert.

Three people will be on the ballot to represent southeast Lincoln, or District 2: Former public works director Allan Abbott, an independent, Republican incumbent Jon Camp and Republican clinical social worker Jane Kinsey.

Democratic incumbent Jonathan Cook, a computer software developer, will be challenged by Republican John Erickson to represent southwest Lincoln, or District 3. Erickson is a policy adviser to Gov. Dave Heineman.

And the departure of one candidate to represent northwest Lincoln leaves just two candidates for District 4: Incumbent Democrat Annette McRoy, who works in real estate, and Republican John Spatz, legal counsel for the Nebraska Association of School Boards.

City Council candidates had to gather 150 signatures from residents of their district and pay a $25 filing fee to get on the ballot.

All of these candidates will be on the ballot in the April 3 primary election, where the top two vote-getters advance to the May 1 general election.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.