Now
A Few Clouds
82.0°
High
82°
Low
61°
Full Forecast

Coupon

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > Opinion > Editorial
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Journal Star endorses 4 for council

Comments 20 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 06:05:29 pm CDT

City Hall needs fresh faces and new blood. Yet the only sure bets for change are the mayor and one City Council seat, where Patte Newman is not seeking re-election.

The desire to have more than one new perspective on the council was a guide for the Journal Star editorial board in deciding City Council endorsements.

But we also had to be convinced the challenger had a strong potential to do a better job than the incumbent.

Story Photo
From left: Doug Emery, Jon Camp, Jonathan Cook and John Spatz

Beyond that, the board looked at much the same criteria it used in deciding to endorse Chris Beutler for mayor. Lincoln needs council members who:

* Understand the need for the community to create quality jobs, and have the ability to fashion city policy that supports that goal.

* Have good communication skills.

* Know what this city is all about and what it can and should become as the world changes.

The board also invites voters to consider the nature of the job these candidates are seeking to fill. It’s more demanding than some members of the public understand.

The public meetings aired on the public access channel are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the council’s workload. During a busy week, a council member easily can work 20 to 40 hours on council business. The topics frequently are complex and require members to do their homework. Fresh insight and good ideas are at a premium. Appreciation of the collegial nature of council work is a plus.

With all that in mind, here are the Journal Star’s choices for City Council:   

District 1

Growing up, Doug Emery knew he’d be a Northeast High School Rocket.

Decades later, his high school affiliation and his roots continue to be a key element of Emery’s self-identity. He wears his love for his part of the city on his sleeve.

But he’s not stuck in a time warp. Emery says Lincoln has fallen behind other cities in knowing how to compete for good jobs. He says he looks forward to working with the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.

Emery, who worked his way up from clerk to postmaster of the Lincoln Post Office, knows what its like to run a complex operation involving several hundred employees.

Now retired, Emery says he has no political goals other than representing his district on the council. The way he says it sounds convincing.

District 2

Before he was elected to the council to represent southeast Lincoln, Jon Camp was best known as the prime force in restoration of the Haymarket District in Lincoln.

Camp draws on that business background in making decisions on issues before the council.

During his two terms on the council, Camp has been supportive of making the investment in the streets and the water and sewer lines the city needs for economic development and growth.

There have been occasions during his political career that Camp has participated in political bickering. That’s primarily why he failed to win the Journal Star’s endorsement last election.

Since then, however, Camp has toned down. His priorities are in order. The Journal Star feels confident he can be a supportive force for job creation and other economic development goals during the next four years.

District 3

Jonathan Cook has earned a reputation as a strong voice for protecting and investing in existing neighborhoods.

He’s taken a particular interest in searching for solutions to increase traffic flow without spending big money for widening streets.

Lately, Cook has taken more of an interest in improving the city’s role in economic development.

As a software developer, Cook has the background to be a resource for the council when it deals with topics involving technology. Recently, he called for a performance evaluation of Time Warner after complaints about its new channel guide.

Cook also took the lead in setting up a commission to investigate the potential for a citywide wireless network.

Cook failed to win the Journal Star’s endorsement in the last election. This time, he’s the stronger candidate to represent southwest Lincoln.

District 4

John Spatz would bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the Lincoln City Council.

He’s energized by the possibility of attracting new business development to the Interstate corridor in his district in northwest Lincoln.

He’s enthused by the fact that most of the projects supported by the 2015 Vision group are in the northwest council district, although he carefully adds that voters should know exactly “what’s going to be done” before the city commits to a public-private partnership.

Now legal council for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, Spatz worked for several years as a staffer in the Nebraska Legislature. That hands-on experience in the legislative branch of government should serve him well as a council member.

If elected, Spatz would become the fourth new member of the council in the past two years. The change would be good for City Hall.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Editorial > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Dave K wrote on April 24, 2007 3:25 am:
" Oh my God. How hilarious is this? The first sentence in this editorial says, "City Hall needs fresh faces and new blood." I guess they forgot that on Sunday they endorsed the same capo regime in Don Wesely (Beutler's chief political adviser) and Coleen Seng (whose chief of staff is running Beutler's campaign) that's run this city into the ground for the last 12 years! You can't make this stuff up! And this newspaper falls for it hook, line and sinker. Amazing, the stupidity of the left. "
Okie wrote on April 24, 2007 6:50 am:
" Why is this referred to as a "liberal" paper? John Spatz over Annette McRoy? The slate of endorsements looks like typical Nebraska: white good ole boys. "
Really? wrote on April 24, 2007 9:20 am:
" Wow, a bunch rich white guys. What a surprise. Way to take a walk on the wild side, LJS! For what you call "new blood," it looks suspiciously like the same tired blood that has dominated politics and protected the interests of the powerful while ignoring the needs of average folks for generations. Could you really make no room for Annette McRoy and a modicum of diversity on a lily-white, vested interest council? Anything short of gross incompetence on her part should have led to your endorsement for her to give perspective and voice for those who lack it on a council whose group portrait, should your endorsements win, could be easily be mistaken for the board of directors of a country club. Shameful. "
Eric wrote on April 24, 2007 9:25 am:
" This election should not be about race or gender. It should not even be about political partisanship. This city is in real trouble and even McRoy has said numerous times that Lincoln is at a crossroads. The time to make a change is now and we need the best people possible leading the city. I will make my decision on what the candidate stands for and not based on what they look like or what party they belong to. I commend the paper for their endorsement of Spatz "
JMK wrote on April 24, 2007 9:48 am:
" If people are smart, or at least willing to think for their self, they will vote against every one of these people. Do you want 'fresh blood'? these people are the exact oposite. "
Mrs. Johnson wrote on April 24, 2007 10:01 am:
" I agree with the other writer, we need more than a bunch of rich white guys on our city council. We especially don't need another lawyer on the council! I live in northwest Lincoln and participate in neighborhood causes. I've seen Annette McRoy all over the district in all the neighborhoods. I never heard of Mr. Spatz until his party thought he should be their candidate. I'm sticking with Annette and the other northwest votes should too! "
Debbie wrote on April 24, 2007 10:04 am:
" Tip the balance of this council and you'll see this city bending over backwards to give the working people's tax money to the rich developers. Is that what we want? NO! "
Roman wrote on April 24, 2007 10:40 am:
" I also live in the North West District and I am shocked by some of the previous comments. First of all this district has been consistently ignored by the city. We are not the rich white neighborhoods and this district deserves better than "anything short of gross incompetence". I am tired of being ignored and I find it disgraceful that someone would actually suggest that someone should be elected because of the color of their skin. I have seen Spatz at many events in the community and he has personally come to my house to ask for my vote. To respond to Mrs. Johnson- maybe the reason you have not heard of Spatz prior to this election is because he truly is new blood and would bring a fresh voice to this city and to the North West District. "
Couldn’t disagree more wrote on April 24, 2007 11:32 am:
" Roman, you complain that northwest Lincoln is being ignored yet if I were to ask I am sure that you and I could agree that it should be the market that dictates where new development goes. And despite that land is by far more affordable and the fact that there is a major interstate north most of the development is happening south and now east. Why? I don’t believe it is any lack of equal representation on the council. While not the most articulate on the council I think that Annette has done a great job on the council looking after her constituents, all of her constituents. Unlike my council person who is beholden to LIBA and doesn’t represent any of my issues. It’s funny how most of his agenda is driven by buildings in the 4th district and not his own. So Roman, if you want to keep up with the Jones’s I am afraid that you’ll have to move south. "
Mike Honcho wrote on April 24, 2007 11:38 am:
" I was unaware that being a 'rich white guy' was a crime...the ol' legislature sure snuck that one by! "
Mrs. Johnson wrote on April 24, 2007 11:55 am:
" If Roman would stop being so nasty and negative maybe he wouldn't be ignored. It's obvious he and many of those in his party have a chip on their shoulders. Why be so ugly? "
Camped out wrote on April 24, 2007 12:15 pm:
" LJS who are you kidding? Jon Camp toned down, give me a break. As soon as the election is over he will be back to the same know it all antics which he is known for. "
Regional bias? wrote on April 24, 2007 12:56 pm:
" Jeez I dunno - when I moved here I looked all over the city as I had no bias where I wanted to live, knowing nothing of neighborhood reputations etc, only that I wanted the nicest house ane environment for my price range. NW would have been slightly more convenient due to road access but I ended up in the supposedly snooty/rich Ridge rather than the supposedly ignored and impoverished NW because the equivalent house was cheaper down here. Not all of North or even NW Lincoln is poor and not all of South or even SW Lincoln is the pampered favorite of rich white men. I drive by absolute hovels quite close to me, and there were quite a few nice houses close to you in the NW that were out of my price range. One in particular on NW 3rd almost made me break my self-imposed spending cap. Hsd there been the amenities there already within walking distance of me like I have South Pointe etc I would have done so - a beautiful house and neighborhood. I fully realize the amenities will eventually be there, but I move frequently and am unlikely to be hear long enough to take that long range of a view, that's all. Lincoln is too small to play patronizing local generalizations with other residents. Development will come where it will make a profit, and will sell for a price the market will bear. It's that simple. "
CSS wrote on April 24, 2007 1:55 pm:
" A Camp and Spatz endorsement, and under the banner of "new blood" ?? Give me a break LJS. Things never change. "
Larry wrote on April 24, 2007 2:20 pm:
" Who says northwest Lincoln has been ignored?!? You need to get out more! Drive over and take a look around Fallbrook and the new neighborhoods surrounding it? You'll see several very large companies building large employee filled office buildings there? Maybe you forgot about the huge call center that's being built in the UNL's technology park in the Highlands. How many new jobs? What about the new industrial area the city has in the works for West O? Been to the Haymarket area lately, that's in Annette McRoy's northwest district too. As someone previously pointed out, almost all the development being pushed by the Vision 2025 group is in the northwest area of the city. I could go on and on. Annette has been there supporting all this development! You know, Annette answers her phone and she'll drive over if you need something. She's got my vote. We're not letting money and negativity move this council seat to the other side. "
RepubliCANTS wrote on April 24, 2007 3:10 pm:
" What Larry? The republicant’s on the city council being negative? Say it isn’t so, not in Lincoln. "
Northwest Lincoln resident wrote on April 24, 2007 8:31 pm:
" I have lived in NW Lincoln for many, many years. The only time Ms McRoy comes around is when she is running for re-election. She doesn't respond to calls, emails and so forth. If you look at her website it is typical of her, no email address or phone contact on it. Mr. Spatz has come to my door left his contact info along with a cell phone number to be reached at. We need better representation....we deserve better representation. Ms McRoy is sending out information about how much she has helped North Lincoln which she has not. The only accessable person representing North Lincoln has been Patte Newman. She has to take the calls from NW Lincoln residents because we can't reach Ms McRoy. John Spatz deserves my vote and yours too. It is time for true representation he will give us that. "
rent a clue wrote on April 25, 2007 7:06 am:
" Odd, perhaps my computer is tapping into a different cyber dimension than yours seems to be, "Northwest Lincoln." I'm looking at Annette McRoy's web page on the city of Lincoln's official website, "Interlinc," where I not only see her email address, but also her voicemail number. Thus, if I want to get in touch with her and I look at the city's website, it couldn't be easier. What a sad pack of lies in an attempt to discredit Ms. McRoy. "
Fred Register wrote on April 25, 2007 9:43 am:
" bbb.bb.but they're not all Democrats!! I have it on the ultimate authority - that of scrupulously honest right-wing message board posters - that the LJS is a mouthpiece of the Democratic party and only endorses fellow travellers. I am outraged that they have betrayed this sacred trust and suddenly started endorsing people of various political stripes! "
Dissapointed but Hopeful wrote on April 26, 2007 7:08 am:
" This election will determine the ability of the City in the next 4 years to reverse current negative trends. These negative trends include employment, traffic, aging infrastructure, increased taxation and decline in property value. Creative thought will be needed to address these problems. Unfortunately, many decisions are being made whose only purpose is to enrich those who already have influence and power. The plans for an Arena in the Haymarket area are already being pushed thru by a group including Jon Camp, in order to enrich their existing Haymarket holdings, without being submitted to the populace to determine if they want to pay for an Arena out of increased taxation. They are using the same mechanism as they used for the Antelope Valley boondoggle. Do we really need a Lincoln Arena when the Quest Center and the Mid-America Center are currently empty most days of the week? Is this the best way to spend our money? Is it wise for our city council to encourage existing businesses to close existing Stores just so that they can erect a New Store in a TIF area just a few blocks away that will be Tax Free for 15 years! Is it prudent for our city council to buy choice property for millions of dollars and then give it away to developers for pennies? Has anyone researched the ongoing practices of our existing council members to determine how our city got into this 9 million budget crisis in the first place? Many of the candidates freely admit that they are going to reduce the number of City Workers and their benefits, to deal with the budget crisis. In the next 4 years, 30% of the City Workforce will retire anyway, causing a loss of infrastructure knowledge. This coupled with the advanced age of the infrastructure will result in increased infrastructure failure, i.e water main breaks, flooding, iced up roads, accidents, fires and outages. As it is, it is now impossible for city workers to go quickly from one end of town to the other. Reduction in public spending means no additional police stations, firehouses, or utility service centers. If the city council members discourage public service employment, the city will be unable to respond to these crisis. These events in turn will discourage outside firms and talented professionals from setting up business in Lincoln. As long as Jonathan Cook remains on the Council, he will oppose widening the main arterial 27th street, because his house is on the corner of 27th and Stratford Avenue. Period! We need candidates who think of the good of the greater city and not those who say "I will protect our neighborhood" which is code for "I will not change a thing". The residents of this city and state need to demand change. Lincoln is not a "Little Town" anymore. Nebraska is already listed in Forbes as one of the Worst states for High Tech Positions and this trend will only continue unless we have leadership who will create a synergy between UNL and Inovative businesses. Otherwise our young graduates, and our existing businesses have no choice but to leave Nebraska for the states that promise the most opportunity. So I encourage all Lincolnites to vote on May 1, so that we have more than 30,000 voters (approximate turnout in the last election) who determined the fate of the 240,000 people who live in Lincoln. "

Ads by Yahoo!