Duane Ruh
NE · Beatrice City Council Member, Ward 4
Duane Ruh is a Beatrice City Council member and former Sargent City Council member who once ran a birdhouse business. He wants more openness in city government and wants to keep Sixth Street (Highway 77) at four lanes.
Where Duane Ruh stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Infrastructure (3 records)
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Government Spending Reduction (6 records)
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 · 6 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
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Said after touring the Gage County jail that the county needs a new jail.
March 22, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
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 · 13 records
At a council meeting, declined to tell council member Gary Barnard where he got his Highway 77 information, saying it was not the time or place.
July 6, 2026
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against a resolution backing the state plan to change Highway 77 (Sixth Street) from four lanes to three lanes. It passed 7-1, with him the only no vote.
July 6, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted against a resolution to take the next steps toward the city issuing bonds to refinance a Lincoln student housing developer's debt. It passed 7-1, with him the only no vote.
May 4, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Voted against recommending a liquor license for an NP Mart convenience store at 200 North 6th Street, near First Christian Church. He had told the church about the hearing and said the store was too close to it. It still passed 4-3.
January 19, 2026
Source: events.beatrice.ne.gov
Served as an alternate on the Kearney Board of Adjustments, the Beatrice Daily Sun reported.
December 18, 2025
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against a resolution to convert Sixth Street (Highway 77) to three lanes, after a resident asked him to vote no. It passed 7-1.
March 18, 2025
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted against annexing DeBoer family land near South Sumner Street into the city after the family objected. Both ordinances passed 5-2 on final reading.
June 17, 2024
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Proposed a shorter fireworks season of June 30 to July 4, which failed 5-2. Then voted against the final ordinance allowing fireworks June 29 to July 4. It passed 6-1.
March 4, 2024
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Moved to label the Court Street corridor master plan as a 'concept' plan. His change passed, and the council then approved the plan with only Rich Kerr opposed.
August 7, 2023
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Moved to remove ATVs from a proposed ordinance allowing off-road vehicles on city streets, leaving only UTVs. The council approved his change unanimously.
March 20, 2023
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Voted to make Eighth Street a two-way street and against making Seventh Street two-way. He had looked up the change's cost, about $6,550. Eighth Street passed 6-2; Seventh Street failed 7-1.
January 16, 2023
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Won the Ward 4 Beatrice City Council seat without an opponent, with 793 votes.
November 8, 2022
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Served six years on the Sargent, Nebraska, City Council and started a business there making birdhouses and bird feeders. He earlier worked at Store Kraft and served on the Beatrice fire department.
January 7, 2022
Source: beatricedailysun.com
Past race Duane Ruh ran in:
- Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Beatrice city, Nebraska