Doug Lanfear
NE · Grand Island City Council Member, Ward 5
Grand Island City Council member since 2022. He often pushes the city to tighten its belt, questioning spending such as hiring a state lobbyist.
Where Doug Lanfear stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Social Programs and Welfare (1 record), Public Infrastructure (3 records)
Opposes
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (6 support · 4 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Questioned paying $35,000 a year to the Clean Community System recycling group, then voted for it after its director spoke; it passed 9-0.
September 22, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 6 support · 4 oppose
Questioned paying $35,000 a year to the Clean Community System recycling group, then voted for it after its director spoke; it passed 9-0.
September 22, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted against three yearly 8 percent water rate increases for 2027 to 2029; they passed 7-2.
June 9, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted to raise the city hotel tax from 2 to 4 percent to pay for the Heartland Events Center; it passed 9-0.
April 14, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Cast the only vote against $4,014,534 in TIF for the last phase of the Sterling Estates apartments; it passed 7-1.
March 24, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Cast the only vote against seeking a $1 million state grant for a $2.5 million ice rink chiller, which left the city to pay $1.5 million; it passed 8-1.
January 13, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted against a tax-break redevelopment plan for the former Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce building; it passed 6-2.
December 30, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted for a $7.5 million upgrade of the city's trash transfer station, saying to build it before inflation raised the cost; it passed 10-0.
October 14, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted against tax-break redevelopment plans for an apartment complex and a Feel Fit gym near Rae Road. He said the council should stop giving out TIF money.
August 21, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted for a $500,000 city grant to the YWCA to expand its child care center; it passed 8-0.
February 11, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Cast the only vote against hiring a state lobbyist to push for Good Life District laws; the council approved it 7-1. He said the mayor and city administrator could lobby instead.
January 28, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 oppose
Cast the only vote against banning e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards on fast streets and downtown sidewalks; the rule passed 8-1.
June 23, 2026Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Cast the only vote against zoning for 20 duplex homes at the old Engleman School site, where the owner sought $734,380 in tax increment financing (TIF); it passed 8-1.
June 24, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Voted for a $500,000 city grant to the YWCA to expand its child care center; it passed 8-0.
February 11, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Voted to raise the city hotel tax from 2 to 4 percent to pay for the Heartland Events Center; it passed 9-0.
April 14, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted for a $7.5 million upgrade of the city's trash transfer station, saying to build it before inflation raised the cost; it passed 10-0.
October 14, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted against delaying and then for a 50-year city lease with Fonner Park for a 1,100-space parking lot; the lease passed 6-4.
February 25, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Cast the only no vote on the Good Life District agreement with Woodsonia Real Estate, the city's largest development deal; it passed 8-1-1.
September 8, 2026
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted against a naming deal that renamed the Heartland Events Center the BigIron Events Center for up to $1.54 million; it passed 7-2.
June 23, 2026
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Cast the only vote against offering city land to Woodsonia for the Veterans Village Good Life District project. He said voters told him 4 to 1 to oppose it.
June 23, 2026
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted for an option to sell Camp Augustine to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation, saying "I'm in favor of it"; it passed 7-0.
May 26, 2026
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted to keep the city hotel tax at 2 percent, after casting the only vote against dropping the words "city owned" from the plan; the tax passed 8-0.
December 30, 2025
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Cast the only vote against accepting extra application papers from Woodsonia Real Estate for its Good Life District project; it passed 8-1.
December 9, 2025
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Cast the only vote against declaring 49 acres south of Capital Avenue blighted, a step that lets developers seek tax breaks; it passed 8-1.
May 27, 2025
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted to exempt elected officials from the city's new conflict-of-interest policy; that change failed 3-7, and the policy later passed 9-1.
December 3, 2024
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Voted for the city's Good Life District ordinance, a state-backed tax district for a large shopping and tourism project; it passed 10-0.
September 3, 2024
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Told the City Council on Feb. 13, 2024, that 27 acres of city land could be set aside for the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery, after raising it from a county board meeting.
February 13, 2024
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Said during a Feb. 13, 2024, council talk on a United Way program to welcome immigrants that he did not want Grand Island known as a "sanctuary city."
February 13, 2024
Source: centralnebraskatoday.com
Won the Grand Island City Council Ward 5 seat in the November 2022 general election, beating Adam Condon 984 votes to 781.
November 8, 2022
Source: elections.hallcountyne.gov
Past race Doug Lanfear ran in:
- City Council Member Ward 5 · November 3, 2026 · Grand Island city, Nebraska · incumbent