Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, who has yet to decide if she’s running for re-election, says that decision has nothing to do with the city’s controversial streetcar plans.

Also, and for the first time, Stothert says she’ll announce her decision sometime after New Years.

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Here they are: The latest look at Omaha’s, at least, $300 million streetcar, which officials insist will not cost taxpayers a dime.

And top city and business leaders, led by Mayor Jean Stothert, are all in, talking up the streetcars’ future. Stothert’s political future, running for re-election 17 months from now, remains unannounced.

Joe Jordan, NCN: "Mayor you haven't said yet if you're running for reelection."

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): "No, I haven't."

Jordan: “If you thought the next mayor might try to stop the streetcar would that make you more likely to run?"

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): "You know if I decide to run or not, it's not going to be based on the streetcar or who else is running. But for the voters that decision is who is the one that is going to keep the momentum going; so, we can continue to meet the goals that we have been meeting, that's what the voters are going to be concerned with."

Jordan: “Do you have any concern that voters might want to stop the streetcar?"

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): “Oh, well you know, I don't.”

Stothert recently held seven town halls across Omaha and says the streetcar rarely came up. Earlier this year though there was a poll that said nearly 70 percent of Omahans opposed the streetcar. Stothert says it was a push poll, in effect a fraud, and she's never believed it.

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): "We are still on schedule to hopefully start construction in the spring of 2024 with completion in 2026."

Jordan: “Could the next mayor say ‘no we're not going any further with this thing.’”

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): “You know in in my, I'll tell you in my opinion no. I wouldn't even contemplate why somebody with it under construction, when a finance plan has been developed and it is underway, why somebody would come in and want to stop it."

Jordan: “Because they've seen a poll that says 70% of the people don't want it.”

Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha (R): “Well, you know, I don't know about that poll because you know those polls out there are not always accurate, Joe and you know that.”

Stothert says she'll announce her decision to run or not run for an unprecedented fourth term sometime after January 1st.