Born and raised in Omaha, Pete Festersen went to Connecticut College after graduating from Central high school. After some time Festersen found himself back in Omaha. He moved home to get involved in the community in the place he considered home. Before becoming City Council President, Festersen was deputy chief of staff for Mayor Fahey, and worked for the chamber of commerce. He also had experience with the Kiewit Foundation. These jobs gave him a unique perspective, because so many things in Omaha happen through partnerships between government, business, and philanthropy.

Festersen covers District 1, home to neighborhoods such as: Dundee, Country Club, Benson, Florence, Keystone, Crossroads, and the Westroads area. He prides himself on staying attentive and accessible to the everyday problems facing the people of his district. On the morning of our interview, the problem was a fallen cellphone pole; other days it’s trash and street service. There are some major economic development projects underway. The new Mutual of Omaha building should be up by 2026. The city also plans to construct a streetcar down Farnam from the Med Center to the Mutual of Omaha building. Festersen has a focus on the neighborhood business districts. The city is raising money to combine with city money to renovate, improve the landscape and make these areas better for pedestrians.

“I think it’s these business areas that give my district its character,” Festersen says.

Festersen is passionate about combating economic disparities and poverty in the city. The Legislature has approved $150 million to north and south Omaha and the city has $112 million that Festersen hopes will move the bar on things like affordable housing and behavioral health. The city intends to allocate 60 million dollars towards affordable housing at the city level.

“We know we have a lot of work to do for housing and have a huge gap in terms of what our population needs,” Festersen says.

The biggest misconception Festersen thinks people have about City Council is the time demand of the job. Every council member spends a significant amount of time every day on their work. It’s considered a part time job, but no council member treats it like one. The ability to have a broad perspective is also necessary. Handling the day-to-day problems is important, however, to be effective in a position like this is to have a broader vision of the city and be able to look beyond the daily problems and to work on the bigger issues.

Festersen wants his constituents to know that he is proud of Omaha. Omahans have what it takes to be successful, especially through the partnerships we’ve created. We need to be mindful of those in need. We will never be successful until all our citizens are well cared for. Our trajectory looks like Omaha will be majority minority by 2040, the changing demographic should embrace diversity and be a welcoming place for everybody.

Away from the office, you can find Festersen racing 15-foot sailboats with his daughters at Lake Manawa in the summer. He is also the drummer for Glenhollow and Festertones who play at events like Benson Days and Dundee Days. They also have some upcoming slots at the Reverb Lounge and The Waiting Room. Festersen is an avid curler and hopes to get a dedicated curling facility up and running.

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Name                           Pete Festersen

Occupation                   City Councilman and Vice President, CHI Health

Education                     B.A. Connecticut College, M.P.A. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Political Affiliation        Democrat

Website                       www.petefestersen.com

What are your connections to the community?

I was born and raised in City Council District One and graduated from Omaha Central High School.  My two kids are fourth generation students there now and my connection to the community runs deep.  I've served in many different volunteer and professional capacities including the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Peter Kiewit Foundation, and the Mayor's Office and I was first elected to the Omaha City Council in 2009.

What experience do you bring to the office?

We need proven leadership that can bring people together during these challenging times.  As an experienced leader in both local government and health care, I am uniquely qualified to help address the issues we are currently facing.  I have always been impressed with what can be accomplished in our community when there is a shared sense of purpose between government, business and philanthropy and facilitating that shared vision has been my track record. 

What would one of your top priorities be?

First and foremost, we need to focus on keeping our citizens safe and our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  And while public safety, neighborhood streets, and holding the line on property taxes remain top priorities, we also must focus on issues such as affordable housing, alternative transit and mental health services.   

What motivated you to run for public office?

My great grandmother was one of the first women to run for statewide office in Nebraska and my Uncle was an Admiral in the U.S. Navy.  This deep commitment to public service in my family combined with my love for my community has always motivated my career and ultimately led to my first run for public office.  I am motivated by the many accomplishments we have achieved since that time and the additional work that still remains.

What’s the biggest issue that Omaha faces?

We need to remain focused on keeping our citizens safe and our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while prioritizing issues such as public safety, neighborhood streets, affordable housing, and mental health services.  We must also continue to work on police-community relations and do a better job of embracing diversity and inclusion and alternative transit to attract the workforce we need to continue to grow our economy.

Is there anything else you want to tell voters?

During these challenging times, we need proven leadership that can bring people together.  I appreciate the trust you've placed in me and would appreciate your support as we continue to focus on the future of the community.