Mayor John Ewing, Jr. - Democratic Mayors

Mayor John Ewing, Jr., in his first State of the City Address, outlined a vision centered on the theme “One Omaha” and declared 2026 the “Year of the Neighbor”. His address focused on uniting the city through civic engagement, public-private partnerships, and a strategic “leveling up” of city services and infrastructure.

A primary focus for his 2026 agenda is a “transformational” approach to Omaha’s 250+ parks. The Mayor highlighted the Funding Challenge, which found that basic park operations are currently underfunded by $5 million annually. He shared that private donors have pledged $5 million to match the city’s investment to support maintenance and accessibility. Significant investments are additionally underway at Levi Carter Park ($45M), Tranquility Park ($50M), and Boyd Field ($8.5M).

Mayor Ewing shared progress across public safety, infrastructure, and economic development. Police staffing is improving, with 61 new officers hired in the last six months, and full staffing is expected by early 2027. A new Joint Police-Fire HQ is in development, and the new Central Library at 72nd and Dodge is scheduled to open soon. On tourism, the Mayor said Omaha welcomed 14.7 million visitors who spent $1.6 billion locally last year. He also noted support for small businesses, sharing that contracts awarded to small and emerging businesses grew by 22% to nearly $39.8 million.

Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.

More State of the City Addresses

Akron, Ohio

Mayor Shammas Malik

During his third State of the City Address, Mayor Shammas Malik outlined a sweeping vision for Akron’s future centered on collaboration, innovation, and community investment. The speech highlighted major new initiatives across housing, public safety, youth opportunity, sustainability, and economic development, all tied together through the city’s “Together for Akron” framework.

Evansville, Indiana

Mayor Stephanie Terry

In her third State of the City Address, Mayor Stephanie Terry reflected on a year defined by steady progress and continued work to build a vibrant, inclusive community where safety, opportunity, and connection help all residents thrive. Speaking under the theme “Building What Matters,” she emphasized that the city’s progress is driven by people—city employees, partners, and residents—who continue to show up and invest in Evansville’s future.

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Mayor Paige Cognetti

Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti delivered her State of the City Address, outlining a six-year turnaround that has taken the city from the brink of financial distress to a position of stability and growth, while continuing investments in public safety, infrastructure, quality of life, and lower costs for residents. Mayor Cognetti also highlighted Scranton’s financial progress, including three credit rating upgrades since exiting financially distressed status in 2022 and achieving its current A- rating with a stable outlook.