Coleen Seng
Encyclopedia
Coleen Seng was the 50th mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska
. She served as mayor from May 19, 2003 to May 19, 2007. She is best known for seeking payment for $32,000 worth of security expenses, incurred during the 2004 fundraising visit of Dick Cheney
.
and proposed a ban on concealed weapons. She was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino
and New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
.
On July 26, 2006 the city council killed a proposal (06-107) submitted by Seng to ban concealed guns within the city limits of Lincoln. At a future council meeting she intends to propose a prohibition for concealed Right-to-Carry for Nebraska permit holders by reclassifying certain types of offenses within the city limits.
Seng is up for re-election however on September 7, 2006, Mayor Seng announced that she would not be running for re-election. State Senator Chris Beutler
, who left the Legislature because of term limits, is the only announced candidate for the Democratic primary. Republican city councilman, Ken Svoboda, announced his candidacy on September 27, 2006.
in support of Republican Party
1st district congressional candidate Jeff Fortenberry
. The town provided security through several street closings, extra law enforcement, as well as medical personnel.
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.
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
. She served as mayor from May 19, 2003 to May 19, 2007. She is best known for seeking payment for $32,000 worth of security expenses, incurred during the 2004 fundraising visit of Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
.
Political career
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 had blocked a construction of a Walmart, focused on fixing the main streets, saw the passage of a public smoking banSmoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
and proposed a ban on concealed weapons. She was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
.
On July 26, 2006 the city council killed a proposal (06-107) submitted by Seng to ban concealed guns within the city limits of Lincoln. At a future council meeting she intends to propose a prohibition for concealed Right-to-Carry for Nebraska permit holders by reclassifying certain types of offenses within the city limits.
Seng is up for re-election however on September 7, 2006, Mayor Seng announced that she would not be running for re-election. State Senator Chris Beutler
Chris Beutler
Chris Beutler was a Nebraska state senator between the years of 1978-1986 and 1990-2006 in the Nebraska Legislature and is the 51st and current mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska.He was born on November 14, 1944, in Omaha, Nebraska...
, who left the Legislature because of term limits, is the only announced candidate for the Democratic primary. Republican city councilman, Ken Svoboda, announced his candidacy on September 27, 2006.
Dick Cheney incident
Seng sought payment for $32,000 worth of security expenses, incurred during the June 17, 2004 fundraising visit of Dick CheneyDick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
in support of Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
1st district congressional candidate Jeff Fortenberry
Jeff Fortenberry
Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area.-Early life, education and...
. The town provided security through several street closings, extra law enforcement, as well as medical personnel.
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
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
sought no such reimbursement following a visit from President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2003. Fortenberry, however, reimbursed the federal government for use of Air Force Two
Air Force Two
Air Force Two is the air traffic control call sign used by any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President, but not the President. The term is often associated with the Boeing C-32, a modified 757 which is most commonly used as the Vice President's transport. The C-40 Clipper, a...
during the fundraising stop, pointing to a possible precedent for such repayment.