Editing Columbus, Nebraska (section)

== Government ==
Columbus is governed by a [[mayor]] and city council, which has eight members who represent four wards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government {{!}} Columbus, Nebraska - Official Website|url=https://www.columbusne.us/27/Government|access-date=2021-10-04|website=www.columbusne.us}}</ref> The council members are elected for four-year terms on a staggered basis. Columbus' mayor is also elected for a four-year term. The current mayor is Jim Bulkley and the current council members are Council President Rich Jablonski, Ron Schilling, Hope Freshour, J. Prent Roth, Troy Hiemer, Cynthia Alarcón, Katherine Lopez, and Charlie Bahr.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City Council {{!}} Columbus, Nebraska - Official Website|url=https://www.columbusne.us/89/City-Council|access-date=2024-03-21|website=www.columbusne.us}}</ref>

Evelyn Kusek was the first female city council member and served as the first female council president in 1967 and 1968.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Telegram|first=CAROLYN KOMATSOULIS The Columbus|title=WATCH NOW: Beth Augustine-Schulte elected third female council president|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/watch-now-beth-augustine-schulte-elected-third-female-council-president/article_cb5fb7c1-840a-5004-b465-21410e6945a9.html|access-date=2021-10-04|website=Columbus Telegram|date=December 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Sandra Riley served as the second female city council president in 1991, 1992 and 1993.<ref name=":0" /> Beth Augustine-Schulte served as the third female city council president in 2021, 2022, and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=14 YEARS STRONG - Augustine-Schulte announces resignation from Columbus City Council {{!}} Columbus, Nebraska - Official Website|url=https://www.columbusne.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1368|access-date=2024-03-21|website=www.columbusne.us}}</ref>