Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Nicholas "Nick" Mayo is "not your average politician." His heart is truly for his community and he believes hard work and sacrifice can make all the difference. That's why he chose to run for Board of Governors for Metropolitan Community College. Nick says, "Unity is built through serving and a community college is a great way to build the skills of local individuals and enable them to serve our community in greater ways." As I spent the day with Mr. Mayo, I was struck just how much he did care for his community and hope this is just the beginning of a new attitude towards politics.
At 7:45 in the morning, we buckled up and took off to decorate several pulling places in District 4 with "Mayo For Metro" signs. The signs are clean with a faded red and blue design that catches your eye. When asked why he chose such simplicity, Nick said, "I wanted it to be easily read but at the same time appealing to look at. I liked the emphasis on the O for Omaha and really appreciated Rocketcar Creative ability to understand my heart and translate that into an image." For more information about the designer of the Mayo logo, please check out: http://www.rocketcarcreative.com/
We make a stop at his local pulling place so he can cast his vote with the masses. When asked how he felt when he saw his name on the ballot, he replied in true Nick fashion, "Confused. The ballot looks different then the sample ballot I've been looking at. The names were placed in a different order." I appreciated his honesty while humorous, it goes to show you just what kind of guy your dealing with-simple, honest, and to the point.
Around 9:30 we pull into an Omaha staple for some refueling, Leavenworth Cafe. "Leavenworth Cafe is an old classic stand-by where basically your local community knows it and understands it to be a comfortable atmosphere with good food. I like how when you mention Leavenworth Cafe, people's face's smile," says Mayo. We meet up with Jim Thompson, president of the Leavenworth Neighborhood Association, and talk about the changes that have been happening around town and his role in making a difference in the community. I get out my notebook and start jotting down a few things to remember like, there is a lot to be learned about a community at the local cafe.
After we get our fill, Mayo decides to make a quick pit stop to his wife's classroom to shake little ones hands, pass out stickers, and talk about what voting is. When asked how important it is for the next generation to understand their role as voters, Mayo replied, " It is always crucial for the individual to understand the importance of expressing his/her opinion. Voting is one of the many ways to practice that right."
Now this is the moment where I stop writing as a "reporter" and begin writing from the stance of a proud wife. During this busy-crazy day, Nick spent the afternoon helping me out around the house, cleaning, preparing food, etc. and it inspired me to ask him what role does marriage play in a community. His well calculated reply surprised me, "Marriage is one of the foundations of a community. At it's simplest, a man and a woman coming together as one but, at it's complex, it's engaging in multiple levels of love, sacrifice, and commitment. I believe the state and health of marriages in a community could have great implications on the well being of society." This reminded me of an earlier statement he made involving marriage and our community, "I have a heart and vision of seeing Omaha a unified city. Just as the ring is often the symbol of unity in a marriage I see the Big O being a symbol of unity to this country."
We ended the night surrounded by our own little community of friends and celebrated as his name flashed upon the screen with numbers telling he would advance to the general election in November.
"Now the real fun begins," he says. "I have a lot of work to do, but I'm excited about it." So am I babe, so am I.
