BEATRICE, Neb. - A three candidate mayoral race is heating up in southeast Nebraska.

Candidates for Beatrice Mayor took part in a forum Thursday night. City Councilman Duane Ruh remained staunch in his position on changing Sixth Street from four lanes to three.

“Anybody that knows me knows I’m totally against chaining it to three lanes,” Ruh said. “You think about it, a car that’s about to turn right into Casey’s, with a vechile behind and they slow down, they could get rear-ended. I know they talk about safety, but talking about the businesses around there they do not like that.”

Tyson Parks is Associate Head Baseball Coach at Southeast Community College and hopes for more things for young families to do in Beatrice.

“Seeing people outside and interacting and collaborating with them, to find out what they feel what they want in the community, it’s always important,” Parks said.

Councilman Ted Fairbanks noted the Beatrice trail system, parks, and pickle ball as current outdoor activities for people of all ages - building blocks for the future.

“Beatrice offers something for everyone of all ages,” Fairbanks said. “I think we need to continue to do that and I think we do it well.”

All candidates also shared their opinions on what can be done to revitalize downtown Beatrice, with Parks again prioritizing things for younger ages.

“In my opinion, I would look for things for people with young families,” Parks said. “Continue that welcoming environment to get more young families in that downtown area.”

Ruh and Fairbanks say they’re hoping for more walkability, despite most funding coming from federal dollars.

“There are nice shops downtown,” Ruh said. “The beautification of downtown, if we can continue to maki where you have a place like Kensington and other apartments down there. Make it to where people can walk downtown and get a few restaurants to open up and make it so it is walkable.”

“We will have a say in what the beautification of it looks like,” Fairbanks said. “Trees, lightings… It will enhance the downtown, but also make it more walkable.”

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