Odds on the New Mayor of Lincoln

Odds:
Beutler – 1:1
Svoboda – 7:2

Analysis:


Beutler
Positives:
Name ID
Perception as veteran of city government

Negatives:
Perception as a liberal tax raiser
Voter registration


Svoboda
Positives:
Gregarious
Successful businessman
Natural progression from City Council to Mayor

Negatives:
Perception of guy who didn’t mow the lawn
Roads money statement
Mustache (however, excellent if you want to be a P.I.)

We here on Leavenworth Street don’t always have the detailed insight on Lincoln city government that we may have on Nebraska’s largest city, but we do our best to follow. With that, our perception is that following the barely noticed (by voters) primary, this race has been Beutler’s to lose. There have been a few negatives he’s had to take on – the view that he got a cozy city job, that he has a record as a taxer in the legislature – but it looks like he has generally weathered them.

While Svoboda came in behind Beutler in the primary, if he could garner the rest of the opponent’s percentages, he could still come out on top. Svoboda comes off as a very likable guy, but that may not cut it. He has probably never gotten past the public’s view that he didn’t finish mowing the medians that he got paid for, and his relatively goofy statement about denying roads money to the rest of the state made him come off as a panderer at best.

The difference in this race will be turn-out. The higher the numbers that actually come to the polls should benefit Svoboda. But in the end, we don’t think that number will be enough to tip the scales for Svoboda, and our bet is that Beutler will be the next Lincoln Mayor.

But hey, what do we know???!! Give us your best insight Lincolnites! Tell us why we’re wrong (or right). We’ll be watching tonight...