City Councilwoman Jean Stothert, a candidate for Mayor of Omaha, says she’s ready to lead the city.
Stothert was elected to the Omaha City Council in 2009, representing southwest Omaha’s District 5. Stothert feels effective leadership has been one of Omaha’s biggest challenges.
“People in Omaha feel like we could be better led or better run. In fact we must be a better run city. And I truly feel like there has been a lot of missed opportunities in the past three and a half years because of the positions the current administration have taken and opportunities to help families and businesses.”
Stothert, the lone woman on the Omaha City Council, says city government needs to be modernized, with a focus on efficiency, vibrancy, and trust. She says none of that can happen unless taxes are addressed.
“The taxes have been increased 15 percent over the last three-and-a-half years, we’ve raised the wheel tax from 35 to 50 dollars, we now have a restaurant tax, we now have a cigarette tax, we have more rules and regulations, we have this two billion dollar sewer project that people aren’t really understanding how we’re going to pay for it, but they sure see it on their MUD bill, and it’s that piling on effect.”
Another of her priorities is making Omaha what Stothert calls a vibrant city.
“Not only in the things you think about as far as arts and entertainment, and philanthropy and entertainment, those things that people think about in a vibrant city, but if we want a vibrant city, we have to have good infrastructure. We have to address the crime issue. Those are things that have not, we have not seen any gains in in the past three-and-a-half years.”
Omaha’s primary election is April 2.
