Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert endorses Brett Lindstrom for Nebraska governor

OMAHA — State Sen. Brett Lindstrom’s bid to become Nebraska’s next governor got a timely boost Monday from Mayor Jean Stothert.

Stothert endorsed Lindstrom on the same day counties started mailing out early ballots for the May 10 primary race. The mayor praised his record of cutting taxes and working with others, regardless of their politics.

She said he was the candidate best-positioned to help Omaha and Nebraska businesses recruit and retain young talent.

“When I think of who should be Nebraska’s next governor, economic development is at the top of my mind,” Stothert said in a statement. “Unlike his opponents, Brett is a proven tax cutter who knows how to work alongside businesses to get results for Nebraskans.”

Asked why she picked Lindstrom, the mayor said she found a candidate who, like her, focuses on telling people why to vote for him — not why they shouldn’t vote for someone else. She said Nebraskans are tired of negative ads. Lindstrom has said he won’t attack others.

“That meant a lot to me,” Stothert said.

Lindstrom, a financial adviser in Omaha, said he was pleased to receive Stothert’s backing. He highlighted her record of cutting local property tax rates and described her work to help grow local businesses as “a model for Nebraska.”

“I personally would rather have the mayor than Donald Trump,” Lindstrom said, referencing the former president, who has endorsed Herbster. “When she endorses, it means something because she’s been here. She’s been on the ground. She’s done things.”

Stothert is the only Omaha mayor in the modern era to win three consecutive terms, and if she finishes out this term, she will be the city’s longest-serving mayor.

Political observers said Stothert’s blessing matters, especially in Douglas County, where Lindstrom could build an advantage in the GOP primary race.

“She’s very popular, and people are interested in her opinion,” said Paul Landow, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has helped run local and state races. “I would think an endorsement of Lindstrom would be very helpful to him.”

The reason: The top three Republican candidates — Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen and Lindstrom — are not particularly well-known in Omaha, Landow said.

“Stothert’s endorsement gives people a reason to consider him seriously, which is where endorsements matter,” he said.

Another UNO professor, Randy Adkins, has long contended that endorsements matter most in contested party primaries, when voters and donors seek cues to separate candidates.