BACKGROUND:
Graduate of Hastings College
Advanced academic degrees from UN-O and UN-K
Mother of three:  Alex, Laura and Anne                                     
Employed by Educational Service Unit #9
               Supervisor of Special Education for rural school districts and 
               Supervisor of Aim High Alternative Education program, located on
                               Central Community College’s campus
Member of Hastings’s First Presbyterian Church
Proud owner of two lazy cats and one goofy dog

COMMITTEES:
Council liaison to the Mayor’s Youth Council
Council liaison to the Library Board
Council liaison to the Plumbing Examining Board
Member of the Ron Gardner Meth Coalition
Member of the South Central Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Board Member for the National League of Cities Institute for Youth,
                 Education and Families
School Improvement Task Force member for the National League of Cities
                 Institute for Youth, Education and Families         
Member of the National League of Cities Youth Participation Advisory Network
Member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Developmental
                 Disabilities

INTERESTS/HOBBIES:
Antiquing
Reading
Music, especially jazz
Traveling

MY DREAMS FOR THE CITY:
Hastings is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  There is a genuine sense of community, a feeling of belonging and the knowledge that this is a safe and welcoming community.  It is my hope that Hastings continues to be a place where we all can say with pride “there’s no place like home”.  I dream of Hastings moving into the 21^st century with the best of our past continuing with us, as we embark on new and exciting ventures.   As a member of the City Council I would like to see us address the following:

It is time for us to be aware that when making decisions for the City we must consider how they impact our environment.  I would like Hastings to look at the possibility of working towards the designation of a  “Cool City”, such as Lincoln and Omaha.   One area we could begin with is to make certain that the type of vehicles and equipment the city departments use and purchase are fuel-efficient and that we are using ethanol, soy diesel and other alternative fuels.  When our current street lights need to be replaced we could be replacing them with super energy efficient light emitting diodes (LED) which would save taxpayers’ money as well as being environmentally responsible.  These and other options need to be discussed to ensure that we maintain and even improve the environmental quality of life we have in central Nebraska.

We need to be as conscientious as our founding fathers were in providing parks and areas of green-space for the future generations of Hastings citizens.  I would like to see developers dedicate a portion of their projects to usable green-space.  This is an item that I would like us to discuss as a possible requirement for all new development occurring in Hastings.

Our downtown area is in the exciting process of revitalization.  It is the hub of Hastings, and it is becoming the place to be for entertainment, art, unique shopping opportunities and even showcase living quarters.  I believe that we must support the quality changes that are happening and encourage more development in this very special and historic area of town.

The possibility of Hastings being a wireless community needs to be seriously considered.  Many communities across this country have found creative ways to make their cities and towns wireless - some have had internet access be part of the existing utilities, others fund it through taxes, and others have worked collaboratively with major online companies to provide free wireless internet to their citizens.  I believe Hastings is ready to begin looking into how we too could become a wireless community.

We must continue and expand the opportunities for all of our citizens to have a voice in the planning and decision making of this city.  Our Mayors Youth Council is a wonderful start in this effort, but I would suggest that we must consciously and continually seek the input of those who do not usually have a powerful voice in government.   To ensure that we are making decisions that improve the community for all of our citizens we must listen to our friends with disabilities, our elderly, our youth, our families; our neighbors.  We as city leaders can best serve when we reach out and truly listen to those who do not usually have our ear.

These are just a few of the areas that I think are important for us on the Council to discuss so that we continue to improve the quality of life that our citizens have come to expect in Hastings.  Please feel free to contact me with your ideas, suggestions, or concerns.

John Harrington and his family have called Hastings home since 1993. He owns and operates "Feel of the Market", a company specializing in livestock market research, analysis, and consulting. Together with his wife Barb and three children, John decided to run for the Council in the early spring of 2006. "I thought it was time to offer my time, energy, and talents to help run a community that has given so much to our family.  Hastings is a great place to live, and I would like to do whatever I can to promote its growth, enhance its appeal, and maintain a certain quality of life".