In 1948, he was elected to a seat in the Nebraska legislature, and took office in 1949. He resigned in 1950 when the Lincoln City Council unanimously chose him to fill the vacated post of mayor. Running for reelection in 1951, he won by a large majority. While he was in office, Lincoln Air Force Base was re-activated, the city charter was amended, the "O" street viaduct was replaced, and, for the first time in fifteen years, street resurfacing was done.