The City Council of Omaha, Nebraska, is elected every four years on a nonpartisan basis. The next election will occur in 2025. Omaha has a strong mayor form of government. Members are elected by district. Currently seven city council districts are represented across the City of Omaha.[1]
Membership
City council members represented seven districts throughout the city of Omaha.[2]
The city council is officially nonpartisan; party affiliations are for informational purposes only. However, registered Democrats hold a majority.
District
Councilman
Party
1
Pete Festersen
D
2
Juanita Johnson
D
3
Danny Begley
D
4
Ron Hug
D
5
Don Rowe
R
6
Brinker Harding
R
7
Aimee Melton
R
Additional seats
In 2006 the Nebraska State Legislature began deliberations on adding additional seats to the Omaha City Council.[3] Due to the annexation of Elkhorn by Omaha, the city council has proposed new boundaries for the districts that would split Elkhorn between two districts. Legislative Bill 405, introduced by Elkhorn State Senator Dwite Pedersen, would increase the size of the Omaha City Council to 9 members and realign districts. However, this bill was tabled in March 2007 until the next legislative session.[4]
First Omaha City Council
The first Omaha City Council was convened in 1857. It was composed of A. D. Jones, who resigned March 23, 1857; T. G. Goodwill, who died May 18, 1857; G. C. Bove, H. H. Visscher, Thomas Davis, William N. Byers, William W. Wyman, Thomas O'Connor, C. H. Downs, J. H. Kellom, for whom Kellom School was later named; and John Creighton, whom Creighton University was later named for.[5]
The city council has long taken stances on issues. In 1859 a local newspaper reported that a, "...bill introduced in the Omaha City Council, for the abolition of slavery in this Territory, was called up yesterday, and its further consideration postponed for two weeks. A strong effort will be made among the Republicans to secure its passage; we think, however, it will fail. The farce certainly cannot be enacted if the Democrats do their duty."[6]
^A Daily Nebraskian newspaper editorial from 1859, as quoted in Bristow, D. (2002) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tale of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press.
^"Rosenblatt Wins; Garvey, Veys Top Council; 7th Place Undecided". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). May 15, 1957. p. 1.
^"Mayor Hails City's Progress in Human Relations". Omaha Star. November 12, 1965. p. 1 – via NewsBank. American cities have the responsibility to provide equal opportunity in housing and jobs to all Americans citizens, Omaha Mayor A. V. Sorensen told Young Republicans [emphasis added] at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, last Thursday.
^ ab"Council Shift Next Month". Omaha World-Herald (Home ed.). February 10, 1958. p. 1.
^"5 of Council Would Serve as President". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). May 10, 1961. p. 1.
^ abcKotok, C. David (March 7, 1987). "Former Mayor Suffers Heart Attack After Performance Senator Zorinsky Dead at 58". Omaha World-Herald – via NewsBank.
^Howe, Woodson (May 12, 1965). "Cunningham Leads List; 4 Are New". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). p. 1.
^Kelly, Jean (May 12, 1965). "Betty Abbott's Future 'Has' to Include a Wig". Omaha World-Herald (Home ed.). p. 6.
^"Four Re-elected to Council". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). May 14, 1969. p. 1.
^Thompson, David (May 16, 1973). "Voter Dissatisfaction Cited In Defeat of Five Incumbents". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 1.
^Kelly, Michael (November 16, 1976). "Mayor Cunningham: 'I Will Listen to You'". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 1.
^ ab"Offical Voters Ballot: Douglas County General Election, November 4, 1986". Omaha Star. October 30, 1986. p. 8 – via NewsBank.
^"New Council Pick Says He Plans To Study Issues". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). December 15, 1976. p. 1.
^Taylor, John (May 11, 1977). "Council's Names Familiar". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 1.
^Robert, John (May 26, 1977). "More Evidence, Please, Judge". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 2.
^ abcdKotok, C. David (May 13, 1981). "New Council Makes History In Wake of District Elections". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). p. 1.
^Levenson, Bob (May 11, 1983). "Views Mixed on Results From Staggered Election". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 1.
^ abcdeFlanery, James Allen (May 10, 1989). "Morgan Win Seen as End To Turbulent Time for City Boyle Theme Not Enough, Observers Say". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 1.
^Kotok, C. David (May 15, 1985). "Boyle Wins Re - Election; Council Gets 2 New Faces". Omaha World-Herald (Iowa ed.).
^Gonzalez, Cindy (May 27, 1988). "Anzaldo Moves Into the Spotlight On City Council". Omaha World-Herald (Metro ed.). p. SD.
^Collison, Kevin (March 25, 1987). "He'll Ask Simon's Help Councilman Dinzole Seeks District Title". Omaha World-Herald (Metro ed.).
^Goodsell, Paul (May 13, 1987). "Jim Cleary Joins Conley, Tomasek On Council; Turn out Is Record Low". Omaha World-Herald (Iowa ed.).
^Kotok, C. David (May 15, 1991). "Terry to Be Only New Face Council Little Changed After Vote". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 1.
^Mullen, Kris; de Zutter, Mary (May 12, 1993). "Twin Win: Morgan, Sales Tax Political Newcomers Defeat Exon, Tomasek in Council Races Ms. Council Gets 78 Percent of Vote To Win City Seat". Omaha World-Herald (Lincoln ed.). p. 1.
^Brennan, Joe (April 5, 1994). "Friend Resigning, Says He Dreads City Council Job". Omaha World-Herald (Chaser ed.). p. 1.
^Ruggles, Rick (February 17, 2000). "Photo Tribute Honors 6 Omahans". Omaha World-Herald (Metropolitan ed.). p. 17.
^Janovy, Jena (December 4, 1996). "Takechi's Last Night Marked With Praise and Appreciation". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). p. 20.
^Brennan, Joe (May 17, 1994). "Lormong Lo Wins Seat on City Council". Omaha World-Herald (Chaser ed.). p. 1.
^Szalewski, Susan (July 26, 2011). "Ex-councilman Lormong Lo loved adopted city". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). p. 5B.
^Kelley, Matt (January 7, 1997). "Cliff Herd Is Elected To Council Millard Man Also On School Board". Omaha World-Herald (Chaser ed.). p. 1.
^Tysver, Robynn (February 11, 2010). "Sigerson resigns from City Council He says his speech hasn't improved enough since a stroke and heart attack". Omaha World-Herald (Sunrise ed.). p. 1A.