A conversation with the mayor

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Early this year, Mayor Coleen Seng made up her mind not to run for a second term, but she only told two people: her daughter and her chief of staff.

The circle of those who knew widened when she told two staffers this past week, and her scheduler on Wednesday afternoon. But everyone else �” from former mayors to her two sons to her cabinet �” learned the news on Thursday morning.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our mayor this week, it’s that she knows how to keep a secret.

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Mayor Coleen Seng collects cows and decorates her office conference table with them. (William Lauer)

Mayor Coleen Seng collects cows and decorates her office conference table with them. (William Lauer)

We learned a few other things during an interview the day after she made her tearful announcement that she will step down next year. Here are her edited responses to questions we posed Friday:

What criticism of you and your tenure as mayor is most unfair?

People complain about the strangest things these days. It’s very difficult to pick out one single thing. There will be people that will complain about my hair and there will be people who will compliment my hair, which has absolutely nothing to do with being mayor. �- the smoking ban, guns�- I have always taken a good deal of criticism that I have not come out of a male-dominated business culture. But I grew up in a family�- that understood trying to make ends meet.

Do you think some of the criticism of you is age or gender-based?

Yes. It has been, and we’ve noticed that on e-mails that come in. Do they criticize Tom Osborne because of his age? �- If it’s a male who’s 70ish, there’s probably not criticism.

What has been your favorite part of being mayor?

The people.

What has been your least favorite part of being mayor?

The people. (laughs) Some people. And trying to make the money stretch.

Was your decision not to run again influenced by either Democrats or Republicans?

No.

What was the deciding factor?

I have been watching the e-mails (and communication) for the past 19 years �- the civility level is long gone.

Did your polling numbers have anything to do with your decision?

I supposedly was never supposed to win on anything. I lost the very first race I ever ran �- in 1985. I didn’t know how to run and I was afraid to raise money.

Is it true (as your daughter said) that if you could wave a magic wand and be mayor four more years, you’d do it?

Sure. Why not?

If the City Council were “Survivor,” who would you have voted off the island?

I don’t think I’ll answer that.

Do we ask too much of our elected officials?

Let me tell you why I was a little emotional yesterday (Thursday, when she announced she wouldn’t run again). I was just with directors at 9:45 (to tell them right before the press conference) and Tom Casady started going on about how it’s such an awful job, with low pay and blah, blah, blah. He went on and on and on saying ‘You’ve done this with such grace’ and by the time I got out there for the news conference, that did me in right there. So it’s all his fault.

Who will you support to be the next mayor?

I don’t know who’s gonna run yet. �- I’d probably support someone I could be reasonably sure will follow through on things (like Antelope Valley, strong neighborhoods, jobs).

Is there anything you’d do differently if you had a chance to do it over again?

No. I didn’t ever plan to be mayor. I wasn’t ever sure I’d be on the City Council. I might have been on City Council earlier if I’d raised enough money. I might have raised more money for the mayor’s race.

You’ve mentioned that you feel your directors are unfairly subjected to “mean comments?”

Through the years I have found staff to be terribly professional�- they don’t deserve to be put down. I have noticed that it keeps happening more and more. That really bothers me.

What is the biggest challenge Lincoln faces in the next 10 years?

Having money for infrastructure. Roads, roads, roads.

Who has been Lincoln’s best mayor ever?

Since (Sam) Schwartzkopf �- I have lots and lots of admiration for Helen Boosalis.

Is there anything you haven’t had time to do in the past few years that you look forward to doing when you have time?

Taking care of my own flowers. Rebuilding up my flower garden. There are a number of groups that I belonged to that I just crossed off my list.

What do you consider your biggest achievement?

(Earlier in her political career) the Ashland water treatment plant. That was a really, really big deal to get those water wells up there. Now �- Antelope Valley.

Your biggest disappointment as mayor?

K Street (a city-owned warehouse she pushed to sell to private developers). I was sorry that that did not develop.

What don’t people understand about what it takes to be mayor?

When people call and leave a message on my home answering machine during the day (not knowing being mayor is a full-time job, from early in the morning to late at night). Like Sunday: I will go to five things on Sunday.

Have you or your administration been a barrier to growth?

People have wanted to say that, for as long as I know, about Lincoln government. �- If you’re in it to do a quick and fast (project) to make a buck, then yes, you might think that.

Will NU beat USC?

The team looked good last Friday.

If there’s one thing you would change about Lincoln, what would it be?

Have more north-south roads go all the way from the city limits on both sides.

Is the Fire Department broken?

It appears to have problems. It appears the morale has been low. And there are such good, good people that will risk their lives for us. We need to enable them to do the best job they can. I feel badly for them. They have been beaten down.

You’ve taken your fair share of beatings, too, but your daughter Marcee said you have thick skin.

She gets more upset about it than I do. I don’t read it, and I put a CD on when I’m in the car.

What is Neal Obermeyer (a freelance political cartoonist for the Journal Star) going to do without you?

I wish he would come up here. We’ve invited him. �- I think he’d probably be really surprised if he met me.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.