Vote next week on Fahey Street

Omahans will know next week if Webster Street will be named after former Mayor Mike Fahey, despite an attempt to delay a City Council vote on the measure by nearly two months.

Councilwoman Jean Stothert 's request to delay the decision failed today on a 3-3 vote. Stothert had wanted the council to wait 10 weeks to vote on the ordinance, saying the city needs to develop new guidelines for naming streets after former elected officials. She suggested that 10 years should pass after an official leaves office before a street could be named for the person.

But Councilmen Ben Gray, Pete Festersen and Chris Jerram voted to move ahead with the decision next week.

Supporters of Fahey, who left office in June, are mobilizing to rename seven blocks of Webster Street alongside the new baseball stadium. The idea is to honor Fahey’s work on securing the downtown ballpark, which is under construction, and a 25-year contract to keep the College World Series in Omaha.

During a public hearing on the street renaming, former Fahey chief of staff Joe Gudenrath spoke in favor of the idea. However, Pat McPherson, a longtime supporter of former Mayor Hal Daub, spoke against it.