Leirion Gaylor Baird

Mayor Gaylor Baird believes that city government, at its best, helps people coexist and reach their full human potential. The mayor’s vision of leading Lincoln toward a more successful, secure, and shared future drives her administration’s agenda. That agenda prioritizes public health and safety and maintaining the capital city’s low crime rate; enhancing traditional and tech infrastructure to support economic growth and community resilience; increasing access to high-quality, affordable housing; and building a vibrant quality of life for all Lincoln residents.

Mayor Gaylor Baird currently serves as Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, placing her on a path to become USCM President in 2027. Locally, she serves on the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees for Mourning Hope. She is a recipient of the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership and the inSpire Award for excellence in local government service.

Mayor Gaylor Baird attended Yale College where she earned her BA magna cum laude with Distinction in the History major. She holds an MSc in Comparative Social Research from the University of Oxford. She and her husband, Scott, have three children.