Politicians and Parades: Summer Kicks Off Parade-Walking Season for Local Candidates
by Matt Johnson
(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
OMAHA — It’s parade-walking season for candidates seeking higher office in Nebraska, and there will be several opportunities in the coming months to put faces to the names that will appear on the general election ballot this November.
While candidates have already had the chance to walk through downtown Omaha for St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo, it’s La Vista Days in May that truly kicks off the season.
“This is really the first parade of the season that kicks off the whole summer,” said Congressman Mike Flood, who has routinely walked in the La Vista Parade. “The other parades kind of wait to see when La Vista starts theirs, and then they all kind of filter in.”
Several communities around the Omaha metro area — such as Bennington, Elkhorn, Ralston, Springfield, and others — hold festive parades through their Main Street corridors. The events promote local businesses while giving political candidates the chance to meet and greet constituents.
“This concept has been around for a number of years, and it’s fun for the community,” said La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig. “You know, it’s evolved and changed over the years and everything, but yeah, it’s still a good time.”
A torrential downpour arrived just ahead of the parade’s start, delaying it by 20 minutes and causing about 20 no-shows among the more than 80 entrants.
“We can’t control it, so we’ll do the best we can and then go from there,” Kindig said. “A little rain’s not going to stop us.”
Derek Schwarz, who ran for state legislature in District 18, was at the parade while serving with the La Vista Police Department.
“It’s the wettest that we’ve had in my time here at La Vista, but it’s good,” Schwarz said. “We’ve still got people coming out here. It’s fun to see the smiles and the faces and still get to celebrate after the break in the rain.”
Bill Bowes, who is running for state legislature in District 14, sees events like the La Vista parade as another chance to talk directly to constituents.
“An example would be an 80-year-old woman who lost her husband 10 or 12 years ago,” Bowes said. “She’s on a fixed income. Property taxes keep going higher and higher, and she’s trying to figure out how she’s going to pay that along with all her bills and medications.”
Other entrants included members of the Sarpy County Republican and Democratic Parties. Spectators lining the streets represented both parties, with some cheering one side and giving the other “two thumbs down” as they passed by.
“You always get a little bit of everything,” Flood said. “Mostly, really positive people who love their community, and they’re welcoming. And somebody always has a little bit of emotion in the other direction. It’s all good.”
Elkhorn held its own parade the same day, which featured candidates Brinker Harding for Congress, Brad von Gillern for District 4, and Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson.
Other upcoming parades this year include Springfield Days on June 13, Papillion Days on June 20, Ralston’s Independence Day Parade on July 4, and Gretna Days on July 25.
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.