On October 24, 2025 at Lincoln South Rotary Club, we were honored to have Mayor Gaylor Baird at our meeting. Click here to view photos of the meeting.
Despite the overcast skies, spirits were high as over 40 members , friends and guests of Lincoln South Rotary filled Venue’s Cornhusker Room to hear Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird share her inspiring vision for Lincoln’s bright future.
Fresh off her annual State of the City address earlier this month (click here), Mayor Gaylor Baird opened with a personal story. She was a teenager in the 1980s when Nike’s famous slogan “Just Do It” entered the cultural mainstream. Those words struck a chord with her as a high school track and cross-country runner. Nike recently updated their slogan for a new era: “Why Do It.” According to Gaylor Baird, the City of Lincoln’s collective “why” is to make life in Lincoln even more safe and healthy, strong and resilient, equitable and inclusive, prosperous and vibrant.
In service of that why, the mayor highlighted major gains in affordable housing, workforce development, and infrastructure, outlining how City investments are delivering an even better quality of life for residents. As an example of the City’s commitment to workforce development, she shared that workforce investments using American Rescue Plan Act funds have now served more than 1,550 residents, enabled over 1,000 individuals to earn credentials, and helped 294 people secure jobs.
Infrastructure is another community-wide priority. On that topic, Mayor Gaylor Baird shared updates about the voter-approved Lincoln on the Move initiative, Project “O” Street, and the City’s efforts to secure a second water source, or Water 2.0. She related that she recently joined a group of Robinson Elementary School students to explore – and put their signature on – new pipes that will ultimately transmit water from the Missouri River to Lincoln.
Increasing the supply of affordable housing is another preeminent topic. The mayor reported that the City has now supported 3,201 new or rehabilitated affordable units since 2019, more than 64% of the way toward her administration’s goal of 5,000 units by 2030.
Finally, she said that public safety remains the top priority for City government and residents. She outlined how investments in recruiting police officers are paying off, with the Lincoln Police Department now at 97% of authorized strength and Part 1 crime, which includes violent crime, setting a new 25-year low.
Another highlight is the Co-Responder Program which helped answer 220 calls since March, guiding individuals with mental health challenges away from the justice system and toward needed care. An Alternate Response program ensures that unsheltered individuals are redirected to CenterPoint Street Outreach if law enforcement action is not needed. More than 60 people have been successfully housed since 2023.
There are a number of programs in place to ensure a safe and healthy Lincoln. There are programs and initiatives on wellbeing, reducing lead exposure, addressing food insecurity and setting up cooling centers to name a few.
The Mayor shared the booklet "Cultivating the Quality of Life Capital of the Country" which included details about a variety of programs and initiatives with the club. Click here to view the booklet.
In her wrap up, the mayor stated simply that “we are a city of neighbors helping neighbors.” A simple, yet powerful reminder of who we are – as Rotarians and as Lincolnites.
BIO
Leirion Gaylor Baird was sworn in for her second term as Lincoln’s 52nd mayor in May 2023.
Mayor Gaylor Baird’s vision of leading Lincoln toward a more successful, secure, and shared future prioritizes public safety and maintaining the capital city’s low crime rate; enhancing traditional and tech infrastructure to support economic growth and community resilience; increasing access to high-quality, affordable housing; and building a vibrant quality of life for all Lincoln residents.
She currently serves as Second Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, placing her on a path to ascend to USCM President in 2027.
Mayor Gaylor Baird is a recipient of the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership and the inSpire Award for excellence in local government service.
She and her family make their home in Lincoln’s Near South neighborhood.