Omaha politics, specifically the next race for mayor, is heading into the New Year with plenty on tap.

While voters won’t cast a ballot for another 16 months several top city and state officials have key decisions to make, most critically who’s running and who’s not.

NCN has learned that one potential candidate has been testing the waters with a poll.

[View our full video report above]

It’s not every day that those considered ‘most likely’ to follow Jean Stothert into the mayor’s office are in the same room at the same time.

But here they were.

Democrat State Sen. Mike McDonnell, Democrat Omaha City Council President Pete Festersen, and Republican City Councilman Brinker Harding debating gun control and the city’s moves to get around a new state law making it easier to carry a concealed weapon, putting City Hall politics on display.

Joe Jordan, NCN: “Do you think the gun debate is a precursor to the Mayor’s race in 2025?”

Brinker Harding, Omaha City Council (R): “I do.”

Harding and McDonnell pushed Festersen to delay any city changes to the new state gun law, arguing the changes are likely to wind up in court, and that includes Festersen’s move to stand behind Mayor Stothert’s Executive Order keeping guns out of city parks.

Festersen (During Council Gun Debate): “We have the Omaha celebrates 4th of July event there at Memorial Park, sometimes 40-50-60,000 people there all in the same spot…Absent that Executive Order there could be people walking around with open carry and firearms in that crowd, which I think would create a huge distress among residents.”

Harding (During Council Gun Debate): “This Mayor has either authorized or reauthorized over 50 Executive Orders.”

Harding: “And now you have the first time ever a resolution to support one of the 51 Executive Orders the Mayor has issued over the last 10 years?”

Jordan: “You said at one point…”

Harding (During Council Gun Debate): “It does seem rather convenient, and some may even say political.”

Jordan: “On the part of Councilman Festersen?"

Harding: “Yes.”

Jordan: “You appear convinced that he’s running for Mayor.”

Harding: “Yes. He ran a poll. I know that, he’s certainly considering it.”

Festersen tells me he has, “Been working with the police chief and city attorney to adopt common sense measures that enhance public safety and protect our officers.” While declining an on-camera interview, he added, “I haven’t made any decisions about the 2025 election at this point.”

Harding: “He ran the poll. I asked him how I did in the poll because I know he tested my name along with Senator McDonnell and Mayor Stothert, so I asked him how I did."

Jordan: “Did he answer?”

Harding: “No, which probably means I did pretty well…If he’s not going to tell me how I did, I must have done pretty well, right?"

Jordan: “Are you running for Mayor?”

Harding: “I haven’t made any decisions yet. I really love doing what I’m doing right now, Joe.”

So far Harding says he hasn’t decided, Festersen says he hasn’t decided if he’s running for Mayor either. McDonnell has indicated he’s 90 percent likely to run. Mayor Stothert says she’ll have an announcement after the first of the year.