Kay Siebler

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Kay Siebler

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 4, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1986

Graduate

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1997

Ph.D

Miami University, 2002

Personal

Birthplace

Omaha, Neb.

Religion

None

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Instagram

Kay Siebler ran for election to the Lincoln City Council to represent District 4 in Nebraska. She lost in the primary on April 4, 2023.

Siebler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kay Siebler was born in Omaha, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1986 and a graduate degree in 1997 from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She earned a Ph.D. from Miami University in 2002.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Lincoln, Nebraska (2023)

General election

General election for Lincoln City Council District 4

Brodey Weber defeated Wayne Reinwald in the general election for Lincoln City Council District 4 on May 2, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brodey Weber (Nonpartisan)	59.0	6,665
	Submit photo	Wayne Reinwald (Nonpartisan)	40.5	4,578
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	49

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,292
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Lincoln City Council District 4

Wayne Reinwald and Brodey Weber defeated Maggie Mae Squires and Kay Siebler in the primary for Lincoln City Council District 4 on April 4, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Wayne Reinwald (Nonpartisan)	31.6	2,440
✔		Brodey Weber (Nonpartisan)	27.5	2,121
		Maggie Mae Squires (Nonpartisan)	22.9	1,765
		Kay Siebler (Nonpartisan)	17.5	1,352
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	39

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,717
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kay Siebler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Siebler's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Kay is a community builder, leader, educator, and an advocate. Kay has experienced voice for leadership and will ask questions, advocate for the people, and do the work. Kay lives by the adage, "Deeds, Not Words."

Kay has worked as an educator from Middle School to University levels. Kay has stated, "If you need something done, ask a teacher." She is currently a member or has served on the following committees and boards: YWCA, NAACP, Human Rights Committee (President), National Organization for Women (President), Lancaster County Commission on the Status of Women, Pro-Choice Coalition of Nebraska (President), Lincoln Pride Network, Nebraska Women's Political Coalition, Peace Corps Women in Development Director (Morocco). Kay currently works as an English Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Kay began her servicer work as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco where she learned how to build coalitions and create change for community betterment, particularly for those who are traditionally marginalized or outside the structures of institutional power. She is concerned with equity regarding race, class, gender, sexuality, educational access, ability, and ethnicity/immigration status. Kay has devoted her life to making sure the most vulnerable are represented.

Kay is an advocate for thoughtful city planning/development and greener communities.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I have over thirty years experience as an educator, a community advocate, and a builder of coalitions.
• We are only as strong as the most vulnerable among us.
• We need to make sure we are holding politicians responsible for action instead of worrying about their next election; deeds, not words.

Community Question Featured local question

Did the COVID-19 pandemic change your approach to local policy issues? If so, please give us an example. If not, why?

When leaders create coalitions and listen to stakeholders the outcomes of public decisions are much better.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

The city has had less crime but more homicides in 2023. I get this information from the local police department.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

Downtown could be more robust with businesses and restaurants. We have lots of great housing options downtown, but there needs to be more affordable housing available.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

It is essential that residents are involved in a government's decision-making. We need more coalitions of residents, stakeholders, leaders, activists, and administrators before moving forward with any plan.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

All public records and documents need to be easily available to the public. This can be accomplished through web portals.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

We need more police officers and fire fighters for our growing city. We also need to address issues of sexism/racism within the current police force.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

See my answer for the similar questions above.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

I would be responsible to constituents who approach me for plans that they feel are needed. I would make sure that there were several people involved to understand the complexities of each issue.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

We need more officers as our city expands. We also need more fire stations and paramedics for the same reason.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

We have a goal to achieve carbon neutral by 2040. The plan exists, but we need to be more aggressive in activating the plan. We also need to adjust thermostats in city buildings, create white rooves, work towards more water conservation, and use city fleets with smaller vehicles and greener vehicles.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

Greener. And we need to do much more on conservation education. We also need to clarify how/why road repair is prioritized and accomplished.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

See answers to above questions on public safety.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

I supported the Mayor's reaction to COVID-19.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equity and inclusion, thoughtful and responsible city development; greener cities, reproductive freedom, and ensuring city policies/projects/decisions are created through coalitions of stakeholders.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

City council members are the liaisons between the citizens and the administration. The city council members need to see their first boss as the citizens.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Leadership and being unafraid of conflict; being willing to sit down with people who disagree and keeping an open mind. Creative problem solving is also essential.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Honesty, integrity, action.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was babysitting at the age of 10. I worked throughout middle and high school. I paid for college by working in various contexts including legislative page, lifeguard, pizza/flower delivery, server in various restaurants, fast food service, and retail florist. After university I joined the Peace Corps and served three years as a volunteer in rural Morocco.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

City council members have the ability to put pressure on local officials to get more things done.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

City Council members need to have leadership experience and community organization experience.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Communication, listening, and lack of fear regarding future elections. A city council member -- or any politician -- who is concerned about re-election will be an ineffectual and hesitant leader.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

#Voters for Choice
Lincoln Central Labor Union

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

See also

2023 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Lincoln City Council District 4

Website

Instagram