Ted Fairbanks
NE · Beatrice City Council Member, Ward 2
Ted Fairbanks is a longtime Beatrice City Council member and retired UPS driver who also served as a sheriff's deputy. His top budget goals are the Dempster's site project and downtown revitalization.
Where Ted Fairbanks stands, based on their records
Supports
Housing Affordability (1 record), Public Infrastructure (4 records)
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (7 support · 9 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 oppose
Voted to shrink the city's wellhead protection area by removing its southwest part. The area guards the city's drinking water wells. It passed 7-0.
April 20, 2026Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 7 support · 9 oppose
Voted for the city's 2027 budget and a property tax request of $4,032,222. Both passed 8-0.
September 21, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted for two $250,000 city economic development loans to Newport Bakers, which was buying Beatrice Bakery. Both passed 8-0.
August 17, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted for a $62,981 forgivable downtown repair loan to Hydo Properties, owned by council member Dana Hydo's brother. It passed 8-0.
June 15, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted to hire Confluence for $138,900 to update the city's comprehensive plan, though another firm bid $135,000. It passed 8-0.
May 18, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted to hire the firm HDR to manage the city's gas power plant project, including buying equipment and getting environmental permits. It passed 8-0.
March 16, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted to take the next steps toward building a city natural gas power plant. Staff said the project could cost up to $400 million. It passed 7-0.
February 17, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted for a police union contract he did not support, because three members were absent and it needed five votes to pass. It passed 5-0.
November 26, 2018Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against three city union contracts with 2.5 percent yearly raises, objecting to percentage-based raises. Each passed 7-1.
January 4, 2016Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Moved to cut a $76,800 rent subsidy for startup Rare Earth Salts to $38,322, calling the rent too high. His motion failed 2-5.
December 15, 2014Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against one-year police and firefighter union contracts. They passed 6-1.
November 3, 2014Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Proposed giving Main Street Beatrice $20,000 a year from economic development funds. The council rejected it in a split vote.
September 16, 2013Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Pushed the council to recover money the city had given Gage County Economic Development, after casting the only vote against $90,000 for the group in September.
November 16, 2010Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against making Mark Pethoud a salaried public properties director with a raise. It passed 7-1.
April 19, 2010Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against a retirement buyout package for city workers, which he said cost about $700,000. It passed 7-1.
August 20, 2007Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Moved to add $100,000 in local sales tax economic development (LB840) money to the budget to hire a marketing firm. It failed 4-3.
September 19, 2006Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against quadrupling the city's yearly payment to Gage County Economic Development, saying he needed more information. It passed 5-1.
April 19, 2005Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted for a city plan that lets Beatrice use tax increment financing (TIF) to help build workforce housing. It passed 7-0.
January 5, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 4 support
Voted to apply for a $630,000 state grant to replace water mains and raise water flow for firefighting. It passed 6-0.
September 8, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted for a $1.2 million design contract with JEO Consulting for moving Highway 136 off Court Street downtown. It passed 7-0.
April 6, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted to hire the firm HDR to manage the city's gas power plant project, including buying equipment and getting environmental permits. It passed 8-0.
March 16, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted to take the next steps toward building a city natural gas power plant. Staff said the project could cost up to $400 million. It passed 7-0.
February 17, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Track record — General
General · 29 records
Voted for a resolution backing the state plan to change Highway 77 (Sixth Street) from four lanes to three lanes south of Lincoln Street. It passed 7-1.
July 6, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Cast the only vote against recommending a liquor license for Russ's Market at 1815 Court Street. It passed 7-1.
June 1, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Worked for UPS for more than 36 years before retiring, and served on the Beatrice Planning and Zoning Commission and as a deputy sheriff in Gage and Cheyenne counties.
May 7, 2026
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted for a resolution to take the next steps toward the city issuing bonds to refinance a Lincoln student housing developer's debt. The city gets fees and six yearly housing scholarships. It passed 7-1.
May 4, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Told the Gage County Board he was open to selling the former Dempsters site to the county for $1. He estimated cleanup at about $18 million and called it a poor jail site.
March 4, 2026
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted to recommend a liquor license for an NP Mart convenience store at 200 North 6th Street, near First Christian Church. The church's pastor spoke against it. It passed 4-3.
January 19, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Helped organize the Beatrice Mayor's Prayer Breakfast with council members Terry Doyle and Gary Barnard.
April 8, 2025
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against removing the stoplight at 19th and Lincoln streets and replacing it with four stop signs. The resolution passed with Fairbanks and Terry Doyle opposed.
July 15, 2024
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Was named by the mayor to lead the council's Dempsters committee on the former Dempsters factory site.
June 20, 2023
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against an ordinance allowing UTVs on most city streets. It passed, with only him and Mike McLain opposed.
April 3, 2023
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote to make Seventh Street two-way, citing safety, and voted to make Eighth Street two-way. Seventh Street failed 7-1; Eighth passed 6-2.
January 16, 2023
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against selling the city-owned old JC Penney building at 517-519 Court Street to 3FI, LLC. It passed 6-2.
October 17, 2022
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against extending the fireworks season to June 28 through July 5. It passed 5-2.
September 19, 2022
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against leasing city land at Third and Court streets to Classic Auto Sales. He wanted a public parking lot there. It passed 6-1.
August 8, 2019
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against extending the city's power purchase deal with AEP through 2030, saying Beatrice left NPPD to avoid long contracts. It passed 7-1.
February 9, 2017
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Won re-election to the Ward 2 council seat with 1,050 votes.
November 8, 2016
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against filling new finance director and city clerk jobs from within without taking applications. It passed 7-1.
April 6, 2015
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against removing parking on 16th Street between Ella and Lincoln streets after residents opposed it. The council removed the parking anyway.
June 2, 2014
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against switching the city to a two-year budget, saying it did not fit a city Beatrice's size. It passed 7-1.
July 2, 2013
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted for an ordinance barring city officials' businesses from doing work for the city. It failed, with only three votes in favor.
January 21, 2013
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Won the Ward 2 council seat back after a two-year break, beating incumbent Alan Fetty 665-589.
November 6, 2012
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against 9 percent water rate increases, saying the public needed more time to weigh in. They passed 6-2.
September 22, 2010
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted for an ordinance letting bars sell alcohol until 2 a.m. It failed, with only three council members in favor.
August 2, 2010
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against lifting the city ban on alcohol in some park areas on first reading. It passed 6-2.
October 19, 2009
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against a block grant loan application for Blue Valley Automation, saying he saw a conflict of interest in the financing.
May 6, 2008
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Moved to stop using keno gambling money for the city's capital projects in the budget. His motion failed 7-1.
September 19, 2006
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Cast the only vote against accepting a state grant tied to the company Tecknowledge, citing its refusal to give personal guarantees. It passed 6-1.
June 8, 2004
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Moved to drop a $3 water park charge for grandparents. His motion failed 6-2.
May 20, 2003
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Won back the Ward 2 Beatrice City Council seat, beating incumbent Ralph Stevens 571-494.
November 5, 2002
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Past race Ted Fairbanks ran in:
- Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Beatrice city, Nebraska