Zachary James (Nebraska)

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Zachary James

Nonpartisan

Prior offices:

Lincoln Airport Authority

Years in office: 2017 - 2023

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Education

High school

Lincoln High School

Associates

Southeast Community College

Bachelor's

University of Vermont

Personal

Profession

Legal assistant

Contact

Personal website

Zachary James is a member of the Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors in Nebraska. He won a first term in the general election on May 2, 2017. James' term started on May 15, 2017, and he took the oath of office on May 25, 2017.

Although airport authority board elections in Lincoln are officially nonpartisan, James has been identified by the Lancaster County Election Commissioner as a member of the Democratic Party.

Biography

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James earned an associate degree from Southeast Community College and a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Vermont.

At the time of his 2017 run for office, James was a legal assistant with the Mora James Law Firm. His professional experience also includes work as a legislative intern for state Sen. Amanda McGill and as a community organizer.

Elections

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Lincoln, Nebraska (2017)

The city of Lincoln, Nebraska, held a primary election for city council and airport authority board of directors on April 4, 2017. A general election was scheduled for May 2, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 3, 2017. Zachary James and incumbent Richard Nuernberger defeated incumbent Robert Selig in the general election for a seat on the Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors.

Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors, General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Zachary James	34.97%	19,352
Richard Nuernberger Incumbent	33.37%	18,468
Robert Selig Incumbent	31.09%	17,202
Write-in votes	0.57%	316
Total Votes		55,338
Source: Lancaster County Election Commissioner, "Official Final Results," accessed May 10, 2017

Incumbent Richard Nuernberger, incumbent Robert Selig, and Zachary James were unopposed in the primary election for a seat on the Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors.

Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors, Primary Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Richard Nuernberger Incumbent	36.44%	15,441
Robert Selig Incumbent	31.59%	13,386
Zachary James	31.29%	13,258
Write-in votes	0.68%	289
Total Votes		42,374
Source: Lancaster County Election Commissioner, "Official Final Results," accessed April 18, 2017

Campaign themes

2017

James' campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“	AIRPORT MASTER PLAN As Lincoln grows and changes, our master plan for the airport and industrial park areas should do the same, focusing on a stronger vision for progress and growth. It has been over a decade since the airport master plan has been revised. Originally the intent of the plan was “to provide a vision for the airport covering the next 20 years and, in some cases, beyond”. However, I believe it is important for a community’s airport facilities and infrastructure to stay current as a vital part in determining a city’s economic power. As a member of the airport authority board I will be committed to revisiting the current airport master plan and helping to develop a long-term blueprint for the future development of the airport and its industrial holdings. AIR TRANSPORTATION DEMANDS Airports are magnets for business and trade in a community. I believe that extensive and frequent airline service continues to be crucial to our local economy and has the potential to attract new businesses looking for convenient, frequent and cost-effective air travel. As a member of the airport authority board, I will support the ongoing efforts to increase schedule options from our current carriers and will seek ways to invest in the addition of a new airline service. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A sound policy of economic growth and development can have a long-term impact on policy decisions for local industry and consumer behavior. Currently, the Lincoln airport authority is responsible for $61.2 million of debt and a monthly debt payment of roughly $325 thousand. In the grand vision for this area, business owners and policy-makers would collaborate to maximize benefits for all the stakeholders. But in reality, policy-makers face complex challenges to aging infrastructure and resistance by companies to make a potentially enormous investment. With respect to the airport's industrial holdings, I will support efforts to craft and execute more public/private business partnerships.	”
—Zachary James' campaign website, (2017)

In response to a question from the Lincoln Journal Star about what he would change about the Lincoln Airport, James said, "Ease by which an airport can be accessed increases convenience for users and economic value to the community. A significant amount of revenue is lost when passengers use airports in Omaha, Grand Island and Kansas City. An increase in convenient, frequent and affordable flights and an additional airline carrier may help to alleviate this economic leakage."

Asked whether air service in the city was adequate, he said, "Yes. However, adequate is not enough. As Lincoln continues to grow and prosper, air services should meet the social economical needs of the community. Investing in more flight options most assuredly would result in more economic activity, improved business access, complement the value of the airport and positively impact our local economy."

See also

Lincoln, Nebraska	Nebraska	Municipal government	Other local coverage

External links

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Personal

Website

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Lincoln Airport Authority 2017-2023	Succeeded by -