Omaha names street for Brad Ashford, former congressman and state senator

The Omaha City Council this week approved a resolution authorizing naming Woolworth Avenue from the Field Club Trail to South 42nd Street in memory of Ashford, the last Democrat to represent Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District. He did so for a single term from 2015 to 2017.

Ashford, who also served 16 years in the Nebraska Legislature and had a long and varied life in public service, died in 2022 of brain cancer at age 72. 

After Ashford entered Congress, he sponsored legislation that made it possible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with private enterprises and donors to construct new VA facilities.

Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon defeated Ashford for reelection in 2016, but the Ashford bill passed — with bipartisan support and with Bacon's consent — on Ashford's last day in office.

In Nebraska Legislature and Congress, Brad Ashford was dedicated to improving Omaha

The Ambulatory Care Center was built for $86 million, with $56 million in VA funds and $30 million from Heritage Omaha, the nonprofit involved in a number of local capital improvement projects. The center opened in 2020 at the Omaha VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave.

The request for the commemorative naming was filed by Christian Espinosa Torres, assistant director of the City of Omaha's human rights and relations department. He previously served in constituent services in Ashford's congressional office.

In a letter supporting the naming, Espinosa Torres described Ashford as a mentor and friend who shaped the way he thinks about public service. 

"One of the most important lessons he taught me was to look beyond partisan politics and focus on the issue itself," Espinosa Torres wrote. "Brad believed that good ideas can come from anywhere and that our responsibility as public servants is to solve problems, not score political points."

Ashford, Espinosa Torres wrote, cared deeply about veterans and understood that access to healthcare should not depend on where they live. Ashford's ability to work with people from both political parties helped make the facility a reality. 

Indeed, the resolution, which the council approved unanimously with Councilman Pete Festersen absent, drew support from both sides of the political aisle in the officially nonpartisan City Council.

Ashford was known for straddling party lines in practice, serving some of his years in elected office as a registered Republican. He made four changes in party affiliation over three-plus decades.  

Council President Danny Begley, who supported the application and represents the area, said he still has one of the "Be Like Brad" stickers distributed at Ashford's funeral services in his council office.

Begley, a Democrat, said he looks at the sticker when he is weighing challenging issues. 

"We know Brad was a guy of great conviction and wisdom," he said. 

Council member Aimee Melton, a Republican, said she, too, has one of the stickers in her office where she can easily see it.

"He really did love everyone and really did want to do the right thing," she said of Ashford.

Council member Brinker Harding, the Republican nominee now seeking the 2nd Congressional District seat Ashford once held, said the naming is a great honor for Ashford. "I actually wish it were more," he said.

Also writing letters in support of the naming were former City Council member Chris Jerram and Burke Harr, a former state senator who served with Ashford in the Legislature.   

Ann Ferlic Ashford, Ashford's widow, wrote in her letter of support that Ashford viewed the legislation that made the ambulatory care facility possible as his greatest professional accomplishment. She also attended Tuesday's council meeting. 

In a post on social media after the meeting, she thanked council members for approving the resolution and Espinosa Torres and Begley for making it happen.

"And to those who made such kind comments remembering Brad, thank you for keeping him in your hearts," she wrote.