‘Monumental moment’: NDP Black Caucus celebrates history with Black candidate meet-and-greet

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska Democratic Party Black Caucus hosted a Black candidate meet-and-greet on Saturday to shine a light on the most Black candidates running in Lincoln’ municipal election ever.

“Today is a monumental moment for Lincoln, Nebraska,” Pastor Janet Goodman-Banks said. “We’ve never had five African-American, Black candidates run at the same time.”

With the polls opening up on April 8, voters gathered at The Post to hear directly from those trying for a seat.

Candidates discussed key issues, answered questions and shared their vision for the future.

Andrea Evans is vying for a seat on the Board of Education. She told Channel 8 her priority is inspiring and protecting younger generations.

“First and foremost, it’s school safety. School and students safety,” she said. “And we also want to make sure that we’re doing outreach at a young age for them to start figuring out what they like and what careers they might be looking at doing. Broadening those opportunities.”

A spokesperson for Sandra Washington pledged she will always put Lincoln first.

“She wants to be helpful. She reads all of her emails, she reads all of her mail,” Washington said. “She wants to hear from you, she wants all of us to participate. She’s a good public servant.”

Bennie Shobe, a current council member who is looking for re-election, said his top priority is keeping the people of Lincoln involved.

“Some people feel government has happened to you rather than for you. I’d like to continue trying to change that,” he said. “You see me out in the community asking what’s going on, if you want to talk about my list of 34 things people complain about most. I want to talk about your issues and make sure they’re high on your list of to-dos.”

According to Marilyn Johnson-Farr, her previous experience makes her a prime candidate for the Board of Education.

“I come very humbly to the position,” she said. “My hope is that my years of service as an educator will be where I can really get in and do the work for fellow educators.”

The primary election is on April 8th, followed by the general election on May 6th.