Mary Hilton is a At-Large Candidate for Lincoln City Council. Mary is running against ten other people for the at-large council seats. She told a story about her grandmother who felt she needed to step-up to make a difference in her community many years ago, so Mary is following her grandmother's footsteps. She has been looking at conservative issues and studying issues that effect our city. She currently lives around about three police officers who were working this past summer when protestors damaged the Lincoln Mall and how some community leaders held back on helping get the protestors off the street.
Mary was asked WHY she was running for at-large for City Council. Partly because of human nature and she wants to see good government, lots of checks and balances, and policymakers make the right decision for the people of the Lincoln. Mary has been going door-to-door and introducing herself to voters. Many people and businesses have donated toward her campaign. One of the items she would like to see change is how the City budget is done. Right now the City Council does not have much input into the budgets of the City Departments. She would like to see the City Council get involved in helping these departments make budget decisions. She is all for the affordable housing. She would like to see businesses and the people have the opportunity to be free from so much red tape from the City government. Make it easier for the businesses and people to be able to advocate with the government.
Mary's #1 priority would be to dig into the budget which was done bi-annually, but current they made it an annual one. Make sure everything it is suppose to do get done and on time. She would like to see the Wheel Tax funding be used for roads and the maintenance of roads as it is suppose to be used.
Some of Mary's other values are:
PROMOTE PEACE AND SECURITY: Government’s primary function is to maintain peace. When government is weak and will not enforce laws protecting people and property, it leaves the city vulnerable to the kind of destruction that happened in and around Lincoln Mall in May of 2020. Supporting public safety and law enforcement is an important part of making Lincoln a great and safe place to live, work, and raise a family. Mary has been championing the LPD and Sheriff's Office at Lincoln City Council meetings opposing the defund movement. She was recently endorsed by the Lincoln Police Union.
GROW LINCOLN'S ECONOMY: Reducing the tax burden and loosening regulation will help rekindle an economy hurt by the COVID-19. Creating an environment where large and small businesses can invest and create jobs will help sustain Lincoln’s business community and encourage new start-ups. In the city budget passed in August of 2020, nearly every tax and fee increased. But Lincoln families and businesses coping with COVID-19 cannot afford heavier tax burdens. Mary will get involved early in the budget process to help ensure priorities are funded and taxpayers are protected.
MAINTAIN ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Outside of passing the quarter-cent sales tax to fix roads, the city has not had a plan to maintain roads for almost two decades. Lincoln’s pot-holed streets and crumbling infrastructure should be a priority in the city budget beyond just long-term Capital Improvement Projects. For far too long, the citizens of Lincoln have been overtaxed and underserved in essential functions of city government. Lincoln’s citizens deserve better!
A question was asked about the Recall of the Mayor/City Council Members -- Mary said that COVID has been harsh on the City's businesses and individuals. She felt that some of the restrictions were unnecessary. It is important that our leaders listen and address some of the people's concerns. This did make people aware of what can happen in our City Government and that it should encourage people to get out a vote for good leaders for our City Government.
Mary does not feel that a mandate was in order, because many people did what they could to protect our neighbors and families from the COVID-19 pandemic. She felt that the community did well.