The Honorable Jean Stothert

Mayor Jean Stothert has served the citizens of Omaha in elected office for 27 years, but her record of public service was instilled at a young age by her parents.

After graduating from nursing school, she worked as a critical care nurse and head nurse of cardiovascular surgery at St. Louis University. Her nursing career continued in Washington and Texas before she moved to Omaha with her family in 1993.

Stothert became involved in the Millard Public Schools as a classroom volunteer. She was appointed and then elected to the Millard Board of Education, serving 11 years, including three as President. In 2009, she was elected to the Omaha City Council, representing District 5 in southwest Omaha. In 2013, she was elected Omaha’s 51st mayor, becoming the first woman to hold the office. She was re-elected in 2017 and 2021, the first mayor to serve three consecutive terms.

As mayor, Stothert prioritized public safety, city finances, economic development, job and business growth, and improving the taxpayer experience so every citizen received excellent customer service when interacting with city government.

She championed numerous public-private partnerships that continue to contribute to the successful growth of Omaha, including The RiverFront, the downtown Mutual of Omaha headquarters, expansion of CHI Health Center, the Omaha Central Library, the Omaha Streetcar, Steelhouse Omaha, the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement, and new youth sports facilities at Levi Carter Park, Tranquility Park and Project Game On at Omaha North High School.

Mayor Stothert has served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency Board of Directors, Omaha Sister Cities Association and the Smart Cities Initiative.

Following retirement from elected office, she now hosts a daily call-in show on KFAB radio.

She is married to Dr. Kevin O’Rourke. She has two children and four grandchildren.

Register now to support this year’s Business Hall of Fame honorees and be part of an event that honors their remarkable contributions.