Competition in this year's elections, for Beatrice City Council

BEATRICE – Three of the four Beatrice City Council seats up for grabs this election year will be a contested race. The latest to file for election is Hal Mason of 1300 Lincoln, seeking the Ward Two position that will be vacated by incumbent Rick Clabaugh, who is not seeking reelection.

Mason works for a company that maintains and repairs hospital equipment. He and his wife Ashley have lived in Beatrice for three-and-a-half years.

"My wife and I have been pretty active in the community since we moved into town. I feel like the city's had one voice for quite some time, and it would be nice to have a new voice."

Mason says he’d like to see citizens more involved in the community and feels he could provide a voice for them. He said the recent food truck discussion is one of “making a mountain out of a mole hill”, on something that was working well.  "Just, hopefully reigning back some of the ordinances that are out there and letting the citizens live the lives they want to live."  Also running for the Second Ward Council seat is current Beatrice Board of Public Works Chairman, Dave Eskra, a retired auto dealership owner.

In the Beatrice City Council First Ward race, it will be retired investment advisor Terry Doyle facing landscape company owner Jon Rosenthal.  In Ward Three, incumbent Ag company employee Mike McLain is facing challengers Caleb Sabatka and Paul Fanning.

In Ward Four, Duane Ruh was the only candidate filing for the race. Incumbent Councilman Joe Billesbach is not seeking reelection.