Omaha is about to embark on a new era. Well, sort of a new era. I wonder how much will really change since the new Omaha mayor has kept almost every department head of the old Omaha mayor. Things probably won’t change all that much. After all, it wasn’t like John Ewing was pushing some bold new agenda during the campaign. It’s not like he proposed anything revolutionary. In my opinion, he won based on his past service, being a good guy, and voters were ready for a change.

Voters wanting a change was one of the reasons Jean Stothert gave me for her loss. She was the longest running mayor in the city’s history, and many voters felt that 12 years was long enough. We talked about that and a lot more when she joined me for an in-depth conversation on the Becka’s Talking podcast.

In case you were unaware, I do a weekly podcast called Becka’s Talking. In this podcast, I talk to interesting local people about a wide range of topics. Some serious and others not so much. It’s available on YouTube and all audio platforms.

I’ve interviewed Jean from her days on the city council throughout her career as mayor. But this time was different. Those interviews were all issue-driven. Those interviews were about union contracts, urban development, the city’s bond rating, and countless other topics she faced as mayor. This time around, we not only spoke about her many accomplishments, but about who she is as a person as well.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that those who run for office are more than their political platforms; they are real people with real feelings and emotions. Politics can be a dirty game. It’s easy to define a candidate based on their political party, negative campaign ads, their latest vote, or their hairstyle. But every politician is also a real person with a family and friends. The spotlight can be very bright. Not only for them, but for the people closest to them as well.

We discussed her perspective on receiving criticism or having her decisions questioned by people like me. We talked about what it was like to deal with the horrible death of her first husband in the middle of a campaign. Losing a spouse is hard in any situation. It’s a thousand times harder when it’s a tragic death and you are under the spotlight in the public eye.

We talked about the sexism she faced in politics and so much more.

I have made a career commenting on the actions of elected officials. I’ll admit there have been times I have forgotten they were real people with real feelings. There have been times in hindsight, I feel I’ve stepped over the line.

When I first got into talk radio, politicians only had to deal with a few guys like me, the editorial board of the World Herald, and an occasional TV editorial. Over the 12 years Jean has been mayor, things have drastically changed, and it’s much harder for them now. These days, every leader not only has to deal with the spotlight from political foes and the old traditional media, but the comments and criticism of every citizen with an opinion and a social media presence.

John Ewing has done a good job as County Treasurer, but County Treasurer is much different than being a mayor. As the Treasurer, he was able to pretty much fly under the radar. Now he’s going to be in the spotlight.

A spotlight that is going to shine bright on crime, potholes, streetcars, urban development, and new problems we aren’t even aware of yet.

I am optimistic that Mayor Ewing will continue to build on the success and growth of Omaha. I wish him all the best. I will be doing an in-depth podcast with him in a couple of weeks, and I’ll let you know how that goes.

But for one last time, the spotlight is on Jean Stothert. She said she has no regrets. It was a good run.

When you walk through the hall on the way to the mayor’s office, there is a gallery of pictures of every former Omaha mayor. Up until now, they’ve all been white men. The latest addition to that display breaks that trend.

Thanks for all your service, Mayor. Enjoy your transition into being a real person again.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

Opinions expressed by columnists in The Daily Record are not necessarily those of its management or staff, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Any errors or omissions should be called to our attention so that they may be corrected. Contact us at news@omahadailyrecord.com.