Bellevue voters choose between water park bet and steady sales growth

Mayor Rusty Hike and challenger Kevin Pflager face off in the Bellevue mayoral race, with property taxes serving as the central dividing line. Both candidates pledge to lower taxes and improve the city, but they propose different paths to achieve those goals.

Hike anchors his strategy on large-scale development projects, specifically the city's water park and the REACH project. He argues these initiatives attract out-of-town visitors who spend money locally. This influx of revenue, he says, creates the financial cushion necessary to reduce property tax rates for residents.

"When you're coming from out of state or outside the city, those people are leaving money here in your city, which allows you to start lowering your property taxes," Hike said. He noted that new hotels and restaurants are already following these major projects into the area.

Pflager agrees the water park needs to succeed but argues it should not be the sole driver of tax relief. He views the project as a beneficial asset that is not a guaranteed solution. He stated, "it is not going to be the sustainable, guaranteed, foolproof method to get these down."

The challenger advocates for steady growth in sales tax revenue rather than relying heavily on one-time development booms. If elected, Pflager said he would work to ensure the water park thrives, including managing the surrounding development to complement the attraction. He emphasized that the city must do everything in its power to make the project a success.

Both candidates support revitalizing Olde Towne, the city's downtown area. Hike described it as a priority and a place where residents should gather. Pflager shared this vision, proposing the use of grants and loans to fund improvements. He described the goal as creating a space where people can spend Friday nights with friends and family.

Voters criticized the lack of an official debate during the campaign. An 18-year-old first-time voter told reporters they wanted more information about the candidates before casting a ballot. Pflager had suggested a debate online, while Hike said he would participate only if an independent party organized the event to ensure fairness.

"I'm certainly not afraid to debate anybody, but I want to make sure it's an unbiased debate and not some kind of hit job," Hike said. Pflager considered his online request an official invitation, citing a Facebook post Hike wrote about him.

Questions regarding conflicts of interest arose for both men. Residents asked Hike to address his real estate business, and he said he recuses himself from votes on projects near his properties. "I do own some properties around town, but there's a lot of people who own some properties around town," he said.

Hike questioned Pflager's role as a city planner for neighboring Papillion. He asked how Pflager could represent Bellevue while planning for a competing city. Pflager responded that developers usually choose their sites before contacting planners, and he does not recruit development to Papillion. He said his only foreseeable conflicts would involve land swaps or boundary adjustments, many of which were settled years ago.