Post Tagged with: "neighborhoods"

City Council President Tom Mulligan’s third-place finish in the April primary left two newcomers in the hunt to represent northwest Omaha’s District 7.

Aimee Melton, an attorney, finished first in the primary, with Tim Lonergan, a lawn care company owner, in second. Both are Republicans, sharing similar views on some issues, but Lonergan has strong support from labor unions.

According to campaign finance reports, $25,000 of the $30,000 Lonergan has brought in came from the city’s  fire union.

In north Omaha’s District 2, first-term City Councilman Ben Gray is looking to hold his seat in a race with retired Omaha police officer Tariq Al-Amin.

Gray is focused on cutting violence by supporting economic development. Al-Amin is positioning himself as a candidate who would go after some of the same goals with different strategies.

 Both are pushing for more police oversight, but in different ways; Gray wants to get an auditor added to the city charter, while Al-Amin wants to independently create a position for an auditor or citizen review board.

First-term City Councilman Chris Jerram is looking for a second term representing Midtown’s District 3, facing off against political newcomer JR Jasso.

Jerram bounced back after a controversial St. Patrick’s Day weekend incident in March, in which he was photographed holding up a T-shirt that depicted mayoral candidate Jean Stothert as a stripper. He received nearly 66 percent of the vote in the April primary, while Jasso took 33 percent.  

In the race to the general election, Jasso is focusing on messages about cutting taxes, while Jerram is talking about economic development efforts in Midtown neighborhoods.

In South Omaha’s District 4, voters are weighing their options between two candidates with similar backgrounds: both lifelong South Omahans, both retired Omaha police officers.

City Councilman Garry Gernandt is seeking a fourth term in office, while Virgil Patlan is looking to unseat him.  Patlan is focusing in on plans to roll back new taxes and often talking about social issues, while Gernandt is focusing his campaign on his record and goals for doing more to improve city services.

In one of two council districts that covers part of Elkhorn, candidates are trying to prove to voters that they can do more to improve city services in the once-independent community.

Former Elkhorn mayor Phil Klein is challenging three-term City Councilman Franklin Thompson for the District 6 seat. 

He wants to see the city do a better job providing basic services and to get more police officers watching the streets of Elkhorn. Thompson says he’s also looking out for Elkhorn, but sees his role as an advocate for neighborhoods across the city.

With Jean Stothert running for mayor, the seat in southwest Omaha’s District 5 is up for grabs.

The race pits two-term state legislator and former school principal Rich Pahls against Jeff Moore, a longtime insurance agent with State Farm.

Both candidates are registered Republicans interested in tax and spending issues, but differ on other issues. Pahls is touting his experience and connections from years of public service, while Moore says the district needs an outsider with business experience to make changes at City Hall.