Garry Gernandt has been a fixture on the Omaha City Council for 15 years, but Tuesday he announced he will not be running for re-election. He plans to retire when his term ends.
Gernandt says he's been thinking about it since his last council term started, and feels satisfied that his district and Omaha are going in the right direction.
Councilman Gernandt has spent 51 years in public service. He's been on the council since 2001, and was an Omaha Police officer for 31 years.
He served as council president from 2009-2011 and says he's accomplished a lot in his years including starting the "Graffiti Van Program", a new South Omaha Public Library, the reconstruction of the South Omaha Memorial Bridge, and funding the sewer separation program.
He also is glad he's been able to help south Omaha residents better understand government...and how to get results.
"I think south Omaha is poised to continue growth in housing and economic development and they've got a better conduit between the community and government," Gernandt described.
Gernandt wants the next city councilman to believe in the "we factor" to keep everyone involved in the decision making process.
"I think one of the key ingredients is being able to listen well and learn from that listening and proceed with good leading,” Gernandt explained.
Gernandt has about 6 months left in his term, and still wants to get a 311 customer service center for Omaha going before he retires.
