Turkey RPCV Chris Beutler is mayor of Lincoln Nebraska



Chris attended Yale University, where he played football for the Bulldogs and graduated in 1966. Heeding the call to public service by President John F. Kennedy, Chris joined the U.S. Peace Corps and taught children in Turkey. Chris is a veteran of the Armed Forces. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. During his Legislative career, Chris was a champion for campaign finance reform. He led the effort to reduce the influence of big money in campaigns and increase the power of Nebraska citizens at the ballot box. Chris led the successful 2006 court case that resulted in Regent David Hergert being removed from office for violations of Nebraska’s campaign finance laws.

Turkey RPCV Chris Beutler is mayor of Lincoln Nebraska

About Chris Beutler

Chris Beutler is a native Nebraskan, who has devoted his life to serving the City of Lincoln and the people of Nebraska.

Chris attended Yale University, where he played football for the Bulldogs and graduated in 1966. Heeding the call to public service by President John F. Kennedy, Chris joined the U.S. Peace Corps and taught children in Turkey. Chris is a veteran of the Armed Forces. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant.

He returned to Nebraska to attend the University Of Nebraska College Of Law, earning his J.D. in 1973.

Professionally, Chris worked in the title industry in support of Lincoln’s commercial real estate and housing markets for over 15 years. He started, grew and sold his own business, Beutler Title Company.

As a development consultant for the City of Lincoln, Chris raised millions of dollars for the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. Beutler’s work was key to the renovation of the Sunken Gardens - - restoring one of Lincoln’s crown jewels.

Beutler was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 1978, representing Central Lincoln’s 28th District. He was re-elected in 1982. He returned in 1990 and was re-elected in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

During his Legislative career, Chris was a champion for campaign finance reform. He led the effort to reduce the influence of big money in campaigns and increase the power of Nebraska citizens at the ballot box. Chris led the successful 2006 court case that resulted in Regent David Hergert being removed from office for violations of Nebraska’s campaign finance laws.

Beutler has been a leader on the environment, enacting key water and anti-pollution legislation. He advocated successfully for education finance changes that boosted state support of classroom teachers and reduced educational reliance on property taxes. He was a strong supporter of business incentives that improved Nebraska’s business climate and led to the creation of thousands of new jobs and new investment.

During his time in the legislature, Beutler has served as chair of the Judiciary Committee, the Natural Resources Committee, the Executive Board, and the Performance Audit Committee. He has served on the Education Committee and the Rules Committee.

In the 2006 session, Beutler was instrumental in securing an additional $1.1 million per year for City of Lincoln street building efforts.

Chris and his wife, Judy live at 3315 M Street and together have five children: Lori, Alexa, Erica, Mikahla and Sam; and seven grandchildren.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: August, 2007; Peace Corps Turkey; Directory of Turkey RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Turkey RPCVs; City Government; Nebraska

When this story was posted in November 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

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November 12, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Chris Dodd's service began with Peace Corps 9 Nov Matthew McCue called back to Iraq from Peace Corps 9 Nov Tschetter Visits Turkmenistan 9 Nov Lara Weber writes: Oprah Winfrey's stumble 9 Nov Heather Thompson works with P Diddy 7 Nov Karen Hughes' public diplomacy came to nothing 4 Nov James Rupert writes: Musharraf seizes power 3 Nov Martin Puryear is Man of Mysteries 2 Nov Sarah Chayes says Taliban score major victory 1 Nov John Sullivan runs Sudan Divestment Task Force. 30 Oct Tom Bissell writes: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 28 Oct Chris Shays to seek 12th term 25 Oct Helen Dudley can't stop giving 25 Oct Joseph Acaba named to STS-119 Shuttle Crew 22 Oct Vince Floriani in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team 22 Oct Kelly J. Morris writes "The Bight of Benin" 20 Oct Charles Shelan was Buddhist monk Wondam’s teacher 19 Oct Peace Corps returning to Liberia 18 Oct David Peckham started Village Bicycle Project 16 Oct Alberto Ibarguen announces grant for "Project Impunity" 15 Oct Campbell Memorial Park boosts ecotourism 15 Oct Bowers Family keep daughter's dream alive 15 Oct

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What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

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Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation.

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Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer Paul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

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Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

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Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

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He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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