Happy New Year! A Year for Leadership.
Happy New Year! I hope you and yours had a joyous holiday season. Last week, after 24 years of serving in the Nebraska Legislature, I packed up my office and moved out. Now I am going full speed ahead on the Lincoln mayor's race.
Today I participated in the first mayoral forum of the election. The West 'O' Area Business Association hosted me and my opponents at the Speedway Motors Museum, which has a world class collection. The Association did an excellent job of organizing the event. By the end of the hour, I felt that I was the one leader with a plan and vision for the city of Lincoln.
We were able to discuss many issues, but one topic that was of particular concern for the Association was that of the closing of the Harris Overpass on 'O' Street for reconstruction. The success of the project is a matter of economic survival for the businesses affected and must be successfully completed on time. I believe this highlights a larger issue of leadership. The next mayor of Lincoln needs to be a leader who works with business and community leaders to identify areas of need and develop a plan to address those needs. Beyond that, the mayor will need to be a person that can make sure such projects are done by those who can do it right the first time, on-time, and on-budget. As Mayor, I will not let projects languish that will enhance the economic vitality of our city and help improve our community's quality of life.
A vital element in a project such as the Harris Overpass is communication. Regardless of the decision (close all four lanes at once, or just two at a time), it's vital that there be adequate communication regarding what is going to happen, what the timeline is, and what the alternate routes are. Communication includes media coverage, adequate signage (at least double any estimation of "adequate"), clearly marked alternate routes, and regular updates throughout the project.
I appreciate leaders who take into account peoples' need to be informed.