Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert’s new pick for a controversial slot on the Omaha Land Bank is running into some immediate head winds.

Stothert, a Republican, is recommending the City Council appoint Sharlon Rodgers, a self-described consultant and the wife of Democratic Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers, to fill the nearly year-long empty seat representing District 2 on the city’s north side. The Council’s vote could come as early as Tuesday.

At least one community activist, Cheryl Weston, tells News Channel Nebraska that Rodgers, “Is not the best candidate or the appropriate candidate,” for the job.

Rodgers is not Stothert’s first choice. Back in July the mayor nominated former 2nd District City Councilman Democrat Ben Gray to the little-known board which was formed to fix up some 7,000 vacant, neglected lots and run down, unlivable homes—most in the city’s predominantly black neighborhoods—where new owners take charge.

But Gray came up short when the City Council, led by Democrat Councilmember Juanita Johnson, voted Gray down.

That vote came less than three months after Johnson, a political newcomer, defeated Gray a 12-year council veteran, by a wide— 58-42— margin.

According to city documents, Rodgers is an oncology trained healthcare veteran who “spent the last 20 years working in hospital administration…supervised capital expansion and renovation projects.”

That same information notes that Rodgers has been on the Omaha Performing Arts Board, 2021 Chair of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Land Bank’s Community Relations Advisory Committee and is currently vice-president of the Miami Heights Homeowners’ Association.

Weston, who tells NCN she recently applied for the Land Bank slot, questions Rodgers' experience and her community involvement. “I'm not saying this just because I wasn't chosen, but I do feel I'm just as qualified as Mrs. Rodgers or even more,” says Weston. “Where is there any real estate expertise? And I'm not knocking anything about her background; where is there all of this community involvement. When you talk about community involvement yes she's been on boards but not in North Omaha District 2… other than her neighborhood association…I'm coming from District 2, not just living in District 2, but have been active in District 2.”

According to city documents, Rodgers applied for the Land Bank seat in late April, a few weeks before Gray lost to Johnson and several weeks before Gray became Stothert’s choice.

There are at least two other applicants for the seat.

J. Scott Barker, a clergyman who describes himself as the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska, applied in September, 2020.

Tiba Brown, who applied in September following Gray’s defeat, cites “Real Estate Development” on her resume.

Other than Barker, who is white, all the applicants are black.

When Gray’s nomination was derailed, the council’s July no vote followed a public hearing where a number of North Omahans complained about Gray.

Weston was one of them who wanted no part of Gray’s political resurrection telling the council, “On May 11th (Election Day) we couldn’t have made it any more clear, no more Ben Gray.”

Gray had the backing of four members of the seven-member council—President Pete Festersen, a Democrat, and the council’s three Republicans.

But appointments to the Land Bank require a supermajority—in this case five votes—and the council’s other three Democrats, led by Johnson, all voted against Gray.

News Channel Nebraska has tried to contact Johnson and Rodgers for comment on all this but so far have been unable to speak with them.