The Race
Tom Trumble is challenging Vanessa Emlich for a seat on the Lincoln Airport Authority Board of Directors. Trumble, a Republican, is a pilot and retired engineer with 20 years specializing in airport design and Federal Aviation Administration grant administration.
Emlich, a Democrat, was appointed to the board in 2023 by Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and works as director of pharmacy audit operations at Prime Therapeutics.
Both candidates will advance to the general election regardless of what happens in the primary.
Attracting airlines
Emlich said the airport authority needs a data-driven approach that includes research, targeted outreach and a compelling business case to attract and retain airlines. The airport board, she said, has developed a pitch demonstrating Lincoln’s viability and is engaging with airlines to build long-term relationships with the goal of adding one mainline carrier and one leisure carrier within the next five years.
Trumble said he would emphasize the airport’s strengths, saying it’s convenient and that arrival and boarding times are much friendlier than Omaha’s Eppley Airfield. He said he would prioritize keeping the airlines Lincoln has, increasing capacity and communicating with airlines to attract more services. Increases in the number of flights and destinations would demonstrate success, he said.
Red Way
Trumble said Red Way failed due to a poor business plan and limited startup capital. He noted that in the past Lincoln has successfully used public funds to subsidize new routes until they become self-sustaining. Red Way showed the need for a thorough vetting process and hands-on approach by the board, he said.
Emlich said Red Way, which ended before she joined the board, was an untried, ambitious initiative that faced several challenges, including filling seats across multiple new routes in a short timeframe. The authority, she said, has used passenger data from Red Way to help target potential future routes.
Long-term success
Emlich said the airport must maintain critical infrastructure, expand commercial air service, better leverage the industrial park and practice transparent fiscal management. By prioritizing fiscal responsibility, strategic business development and economic expansion, Emlich said, the board can ensure that the airport remains an economic driver for Lincoln.
Trumble said leadership should prioritize the airport’s major existing assets, noting that the airport has been successful in using numerous revenue sources. Emphasizing the airport’s conveniences will attract more travelers, he said.
Meet the candidates
Vanessa Emlich
