Local political races are on the ballot throughout Douglas and Sarpy Counties.
Several school boards have competitive races, including the Omaha Public Schools board, which is poised for high turnover. In city politics, Gretna will elect a new mayor following a scandal over city spending.
Omaha school board. The repercussions of the Nancy Sebring scandal are still being felt in the Omaha Public Schools. A fresh controversy has arisen for the school board with the rich retirement payout given to former superintendent John Mackiel. Now the board is facing turnover of at least four seats.
Four incumbents did not seek re-election, creating competitive races for open seats in Districts 4, 8 and 12. In a fourth race for District 2, embattled board President Freddie Gray faces a challenge from James M. English, a retired OPS administrator and teacher.
Suburban school boards. Four other local school boards are among those with competitive races: Millard, Bellevue, Papillion-La Vista and Springfield-Platteview. Papillion-La Vista and Springfield-Platteview will have at least one seat turn over, while Bellevue will have at least two new board members.
Gretna mayor. Fresh off a controversy over fired city administrator Colleen Lawry's spending habits, Gretna voters rejected incumbent Mayor Sally McGuire in the May primary. They will choose between businessman Kip Edmonds and former Gretna City Councilman Jim Timmerman.
The following includes only contested races in Douglas County.
To see the full ballot, click here.
| METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (Two seats) |
|---|
 Mike CavanaughAge: 54 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Police officer, Omaha Airport Authority Office held: OPPD board member since 1994 Education: Bachelor’s degree, criminal justice, UNO Family: Married, two stepchildren Faith: Catholic |
 N.P. Sandy Dodge Jr.Age: 75 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: President, chief executive officer, N.P. Dodge Co. Office held: OPPD board member since 1994 Education: Bachelor’s degree, Harvard University Family: Married, three children Faith: Unitarian |
 George MillsAge: 58 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Real estate broker, Real Estate Associates Office held: Douglas County board member Education: Bachelor’s degree, education, UNL; master’s degree, urban studies, UNO Family: Married, three children Faith: Catholic |
 Tom BarrettAge: 47 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Attorney Education: Bachelor’s degree, UNL; law degree, Creighton University School of Law Family: Married, three children Faith: Catholic |
| SUBDISTRICT 2 |
|---|
 James M. EnglishAge: 68 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Retired Omaha Public Schools administrator and teacher Education: Bachelor’s degree, chemistry and mathematics, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; master’s degree, secondary school administration, UNO Family: Married, one grown child Faith: Baptist |
 Freddie J. GrayAge: Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Offices held: Omaha school board, 2008 to present; Learning Community Coordinating Council, 2009 to present Education: Omaha Central High School Family: Married |
| SUBDISTRICT 4 |
|---|
 Sarah BrumfieldAge: 28 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Data entry technician at Mutual of Omaha Education: Bachelor’s degree, biology with a minor in Native American studies, UNO Family: Married, one child Faith: Lutheran |
 Oscar DuranAge: 29 Party: Nonpartisan Home: Omaha Occupation: Neighborhood Revitalization Specialist at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha Education: Bachelor’s degree, urban history and international studies, UNO; working toward master’s degree in sociology at UNO Family: Married Faith: Catholic |
| SUBDISTRICT 8 |
|---|
 Danyelle BarattaAge: 34 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Navigator at reEnergize Program in Omaha and Lincoln Education: Bachelor’s degree, management, UNO; master’s degree, business administration in sustainability, Marylhurst University Family: Divorced, one child |
 Andy AllenAge: 48 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Computer technician for the Army Corps of Engineers Education: Attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and UNL Family: Married, one child Faith: Lutheran |
| SUBDISTRICT 12 |
|---|
 Jennifer Tompkins KirshenbaumAge: 39 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Omaha Public Schools substitute teacher; part-time human resources specialist, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home Office held: Elected to two terms on board of Sanitary Improvement District No. 370 Education: Bachelor’s degree, business administration, University of Nebraska at Kearney; master’s degree, business administration, UNO Family: Married, two children Faith: Family belongs to Temple Israel |
 Patrick J. BourneAge: 48 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Vice president of commercial business and government affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Office held: State senator, 1999-2007 Education: Associate degree, auto-body technology, Southeast Community College; bachelor’s degree, business finance, UNO; law degree, Creighton University School of Law Family: Married, two children Faith: Catholic |
| MAYOR |
|---|
Al TannerAge: 51 Party: Republican Home: Bennington Occupation: Restaurant manager Office held: Bennington City Council, 2010 to present Education: Attended Freed-Hardeman University Family: Divorced, five children Faith: Christian |
 Gordon MuellerAge: 62 Party: Independent Home: Bennington Occupation: Bed and breakfast owner Office held: Bennington City Council, 2010 to present Education: Bachelor’s degree, fisheries biology, UNO; master’s degree, biology, UNO Family: Married, two adult children Faith: Christian |
| DISTRICT 6 |
|---|
 Mike AveryAge: 60 Party: Republican Home: Gretna Occupation: General contractor Offices held: Gretna City Council; Gretna mayor, 1988-92; legislature, 1992-95; Gretna School Board, 2002-08, Learning Community 2009 to present Education: Bachelor's degree, science, teaching, UNL; associate's degree, microcomputer networking, Metro Community College Family: Married, two children Faith: Lutheran |
 Charles B. GarmanAge: 32 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Bankruptcy attorney, Charles Garman Law Offices held: SID trustee Education: Bachelor’s degree, polical science, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D.; law degree, Creighton, 2005 Family: Married, two children Faith: Lutheran |
 Blaine McCullohAge: 65 Party: Republican Home: Elkhorn Occupation: Retired lighting designer, Alvine Engineering Education: Bachelor’s degree, education, Wayne State College Family: Married, two children Faith: Christian |
| DISTRICT 1 |
|---|
 Linda McDermittAge: 66 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Owner, all-service insurance agency; financial planner Office held: Metropolitan Community College board, appointed 2010 Education: Associate degree, Burlington School of Business, Rapid City, S.D.; insurance- and securities-related training Family: Married, two grown children, one grandchild |
 Chris TribulatoAge: 33 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Small-business owner, DiGiorgio’s Sportswear in Millard Education:Bachelor's degree, business administration, UNL Family: Married, two sons Faith: Catholic |
| DISTRICT 2 |
|---|
 Fred ConleyAge: 64 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Self-employed businessman Offices held: Omaha City Council, 1981-93; Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board, 1975-77, 1999 to present; Omaha Housing Authority Board, 2009 to present; Metropolitan Community College board, 2004 to present Education: Bachelor's degree, psychology and sociology, UNO; law degree, Creighton University School of Law Military service: U.S. Air Force, 1966-70 Family: Married, three grown children, three grandchildren Faith: Baptist |
 Jon TuckerAge: 46 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Computer professional, First National Bank of Omaha Education: Bachelor's degree, business administration, UNO Family: Married, four children Faith: Catholic |
| DISTRICT 3 |
|---|
 Tim DempseyAge: 68 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Retired law enforcement officer, part-time criminal justice instructor at UNO Offices held: Chief deputy Douglas County sheriff, 1990-95; Douglas County Corrections director, 1995-97; executive director, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, 1997-99; Elkhorn police chief, 1999-2007 Education:Bachelor's degree, criminal justice, UNO; master's degree, public administration, UNO Family: Married, three children, eight grandchildren |
 Ryan PowerAge: 28 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Loan officer, Producers Livestock Marketing Education: Bachelor's degree, animal science, University of Missouri; two years at Moberly Area Community College, Moberly, Mo. Family: Married, one child Faith: Christian |
| DISTRICT 4 |
|---|
 Steve BrockAge: 51 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Education consultant, author Office held: Metropolitan Community College board, 2009 to present Education: Bachelor's degree, philosophy and letters, St. Louis University; master's degree in English education, University of Minnesota; master's degree in secondary school principalship, Creighton University; doctorate in educational leadership, UNL Family: Divorced, two children Faith: Catholic |
 Nicholas MayoAge: 28 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Electrician Office held: Secretary, Leavenworth Neighborhood Association, 2012 Education: Residential electrician's training, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; commercial electrician's training, IBEW; attended Metropolitan Community College, UNO Family: Married Faith: Christian |
 Megan MurphyAge: 32 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Parent Education: Bachelor’s degree in general studies with a focus in geography, UNO Family: Single, one child Faith: Agnostic |
 David FriendAge: 52 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Police chief, Metropolitan Community College; retired police captain, Omaha Police Department Office held: MUD board member, 2000 to present Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management, Bellevue University, 2004 Family: Married, three children Faith: Catholic |
 Jim BegleyAge: 39 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Compensation coordinator, City of Omaha Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science; master’s degree, public administration, UNO Family: Married, three children Faith: Catholic |
 John S. McCollisterAge: 65 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Executive director, Platte Institute for Economic Research (will retire in December) Office held: MUD board member, 1979-2008 Education: Bachelor’s degree, business administration, UNL Family: Married, three children Faith: Protestant |
 Todd P. ClarkeAge: 43 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: President, CLS Investments Office held: Appointed to Millard school board, 2011 Education: Bachelor’s degree, business, Brigham Young University Family: Married, four children Faith: Mormon |
 Linda PooleAge: 48 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Third grade teacher, Papillion-La Vista Schools Office held: Millard school board, 1996 to present Education: Bachelor’s degree, elementary education, UNO; master’s degree, curriculum and instruction, Doane College Family: Married, three children Faith: Mormon |
 Terry DaleAge: 52 Party: Democrat Home: Omaha Occupation: Supervisor, Internet help desk, Pinnacle Data Services Education: Attended Benedictine College, Atchison, Kan., and UNO Family: Married, three children Faith: Catholic |
 Mike PateAge: 57 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: President and chief executive officer, United Republic Bank Office held: Millard school board, 1996 to present Education: Attended UNO; three-year banking degree, University of Colorado Family: Married, one child Faith: Catholic |
 Paul MeyerAge: 71 Party: Republican Home: Omaha Occupation: Retired corporate safety officer, Holmes Freight Lines Education: Attended Omaha University Family: Married, two children Faith: Lutheran |
