I posted a
diary a few weeks ago that examined the issues and candidates in the municipal election in Omaha. Like many primaries, this one was a waste of time for a lot of voters, and, as evidenced by the 41,000+ votes cast for mayor, it seems like a lot of them didn't bother to vote, myself included.
On to the results...
MAYOR
*Mike Fahey (D) 25,112 60.43
David Friend (R) 16,301 39.23
Write-in 143 .34
Fahey's an incredibly popular mayor with a rather weak opponent. He's got a huge advantage in fundraising already, and it doesn't seem likely that Friend will come close to beating Fahey.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
Jim Suttle (D) 2,628 39.07
*Marc Kraft (D) 2,455 36.50
Rick Bettger (R)1,625 24.16
Suttle is the husband of former State Senator Deb Suttle. People in this district seem to have soured on Kraft, and Suttle has a very good chance of winning in May.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 2
*Frank Brown (D)3,552 93.35
Write-in 253 6.65
Cheryl Weston, a Democrat, had a write-in campaign, and it's likely many if not all of the write-in votes were for her.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
*Jim Vokal (R) 3,021 51.63
Anne Boyle (D) 2,799 47.84
This one is quite interesting. Vokal is the city council president, and this is the only city council race where a Democrat will face a Republican, and the only race where the party in control stands a chance of losing its seat. Boyle has been waging an aggressive campaign, and it seems to be working. In this officially nonpartisan race, unofficial party control of the City Council hinges on the result.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 4
*Garry Gernandt (D) 3,143 71.68
Joseph Velasquez (I) 1,229 28.03
COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
*Dan Welch (R) 3,960 95.40
COUNCIL DISTRICT 6
*Franklin Thompson (R) 3,888 42.95
Mike Cavanaugh (R) 2,833 31.29
Cliff Herd (D) 2,315 25.57
In West Omaha, it's not all that surprising that a Democrat got only a quarter of the vote.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
Chuck Sigerson (R) 3,284 54.75
Tim Lonergan (R) 2,699 45.00
Sigerson was accused of sexual misconduct a few years ago for allegedly groping the "Red Robin" girl. This is my district, and, unfortunately, I have the choice between Chuck Sigerson and some other Republican I've never heard of.
Winning local elections can mean better things for the state party over the next few years. Our bench is incredibly weak, and we need to get more Democrats in office. Obviously, it has to start at the local level.