He came into office in 2009 as the Great Recession was trying to decimate the city budget and he's quick to point out that he's leaving office as the Coronavirus lands a similar blow.

News Channel Nebraska has learned that City Council President Chris Jerram, one of four Democrats on the 7-member council, will not seek a 4th four-year term.

Jerram, who represents District 3 across east-central Omaha, telling NCN that he's enjoyed serving the public these last 12 years but its time for someone else to step in.

A former chairman of the Douglas County Democratic Party, Jerram's slot is up next spring and he expects several people will run for the open seat. 

During the 2013 city elections, Jerram apologized, but did not resign, after he was photographed holding up a T-shirt depicting then mayoral hopeful Jean Stothert as a stripper. Stothert, a Republican now in her second term, defeated Democrat Mayor Jim Suttle. At the same time Jerram easily won re-election.

According to his city council biography, Jerram, an attorney for 25 years, moved to Omaha in 1988 to attend Creighton Law School and has served as President of the Morton Meadows Neighborhood Association and still volunteers on its Citizen’s Neighborhood Watch Patrol. 

He was appointed by Governor Ben Nelson and reappointed by Governor Mike Johanns to the Board of Directors of the Governor’s Council to Keep Nebraska Beautiful. In 2001 he was appointed to serve on the Omaha Zoning Board of Appeals where he served as Chairman.