Fort Crook Rd., Galvin Rd. & Old Towne — Approximate Revitalization Target Areas
Bellevue voters are weighing a third term for Mayor Rusty Hike against a first-time bid from challenger Kevin Pflager, with the two men agreeing on what the city needs but sharply disagreeing on how to get there. Hike points to a fully staffed police department and major development projects as proof the city is moving in the right direction, while Pflager argues Bellevue’s commercial core has been neglected and wants term limits to shake up city hall.
Hike, who according to KETV has already served two terms as mayor, is seeking a third, framing his pitch around the idea that Bellevue is getting a lot done. A separate report from 3 News Now described Hike as coming off his first term rather than his second, a discrepancy that remains unresolved between the two accounts. Both Hike and Pflager are lifelong Bellevue residents, according to KETV, and the race has come down to a contest between continuity and change with the election set for Nov. 3.
Development Projects at the Center of Hike’s Pitch
Hike says Bellevue’s development is taking shape and could generate additional revenue for the city, pointing specifically to the Bellevue Bay waterpark and the REACH project as developments that could eventually help lower property taxes, per the same KETV report. Bellevue Bay’s construction officially kicked off in March 2025 within a 550-acre district northwest of U.S. Highways 75 and 34, according to the Nebraska Examiner. That outlet reports the project is projected to add more than $1 billion in value to the city’s tax rolls, with the indoor water park expected to open by 2027…