The city politics blog of The Omaha World-Herald

Omaha runs out of the offices at 1819 Farnam St. The work there impacts your safety, your parks, your pocketbook. You'll find the best City Hall coverage on this site. It also is a place for you to weigh in. Welcome to Omaha's eye on local government: The Hall.
More Jeopardy! wins for Suttle son-in-law

More Jeopardy! wins for Suttle son-in-law

 

UPDATE: 5/28: He missed Tuesday’s final Jeopardy! question, but the misstep wasn’t enough to stop Mike Lewis’ winning streak. He added another $10,399 to his winnings on the most recent episode, bringing his four-day total to $102,800.

 

Mayor Jim Suttle has become a particularly big Jeopardy! fan in the past few days.

His son-in-law, Mike Lewis, of Bloomington, Minn., first appeared on the show Thursday, where he picked up $35,000. He returned on Friday’s episode, winning another $27,800. Then he was back on Monday, where he won again and secured a spot on Tuesday’s episode.

Lewis, a graduate of Papillion-La Vista High School, is a computer software engineer and husband of Adele Suttle.

By May 28, 2013 Read More
Tax authority may be ‘gone with the wind’

Tax authority may be ‘gone with the wind’

 

State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha may win his efforts to rescind the city’s authority to impose an extra half-cent of local sales taxes.

Two of our pals in Lincoln — Joe Duggan and Paul Hammel — report that similar efforts, aimed at all Nebraska cities, failed twice earlier this legislative session. But a late 30-5 vote on Tuesday gives Chambers a victory on his third attempt to repeal his city’s taxing authority.

“This is a righteous and just vote that was taken today, and it removes a cloud from above the heads of poor and limited-income people,” Chambers said afterward.

The City of Omaha’s official position was to retain the taxing authority, which the Legislature passed last year over the governor’s veto. Omaha elected officials have not yet sought to increase the sales tax, which would require a vote of the people. The amendment was attached to a bill providing incentives for wind energy, which must now pass final reading and obtain Gov. Dave Heineman’s signature before it becomes law.

Duggan and Hammel also say the stance of Omaha Mayor-elect Jean Stothert, who opposes the half-cent law, also influenced Tuesday’s surprising vote.

By May 22, 2013 Read More
ICYMI: Stothert’s early tests

ICYMI: Stothert’s early tests

UPDATE 5/21: In a press conference with Mayor Jim Suttle on Monday, the mayor-elect announced a few members of her transition team.

No word yet on if they’ll have a role in her administration, but attorney and former Nebraska Republican Party chairman David Kramer and Stothert campaign team member Rod Edwards will help Stothert as she moves into the Mayor’s Office.

Brinker Harding, a commercial real estate broker who served as campaign manager and chief of staff to former Mayor Hal Daub, also attended Monday’s meeting

From Sunday:

Mayor-elect Jean Stothert doesn’t have much time to catch her breath after last week’s decisive victory.

Stothert must work to assemble a Cabinet as her June 10 inauguration approaches. She must decide how bold to be with the city’s 2014 budget. She must reach out to the rest of city government and local interest groups.

We spoke with a group of local experts — including former mayors Hal Daub and Mike Boyle — about what Omaha’s first female mayor must now do. We also might post some other snippets from our interviews with the two ex-mayors later this week.

By May 20, 2013 Read More
Stothert’s husband out from fire role

Stothert’s husband out from fire role

The first big news following Jean Stothert’s sizeable victory Tuesday evening: Mayor Jim Suttle’s administration has dismissed Stothert’s husband from his volunteer role as a consultant with the Omaha Fire Department.

Dr. Joseph Stothert had served as medical director for the department’s emergency medical service for 18 years.

Fire Chief Mike McDonnell, who had been working on the dismissal with city officials for some time before election day, notified Stothert by mail that he had not worked closely with the department for several months and that the city would be exploring other options.

Meanwhile, in case you missed any of our election coverage on Jean Stothert’s win, Suttle’s response or an analysis of what went wrong for the mayor, check out Omaha.com.

By May 15, 2013 Read More
Historical highlights from Omaha’s mayors

Historical highlights from Omaha’s mayors

Tired of the current mayor’s race?

No problem. We’ve got you covered with some fun facts about Omaha mayors of the past. Among them: James Dworak (1961-1965) who is pictured here reading a newspaper. He was indicted by a grand jury on bribery charges and later acquitted, but lost a re-election bid.

Another highlight: Champion S. Chase, a three-time mayor who was unanimously impeached by the City Council in 1884 for, according to the Douglas County Historical Society, “drunkenness, incompetence by reason of drunkenness, derangement of the nervous system and neglect of duty.”

By May 13, 2013 Read More
It’s almost over

It’s almost over

With less than 24 hours to go before the polls open, the race for mayor looks like it could be a close one. On Sunday, Robynn Tysver talked to voters and checked out campaign finance reports — and found that it’s going to be a tough race to call early.

Mayor Jim Suttle has raised $100,000 since April 29, while challenger Jean Stothert has brought in $67,000. In total, each of the candidates raised about $1.1 million.

Meanwhile, we spent time last week talking to the candidates and following them on the campaign trail.

By May 13, 2013 Read More
New OPD policy: let cameras roll

New OPD policy: let cameras roll

The Omaha Police Department has refined its policy on the public’s use of cameras and video in the wake of a YouTube posting of an arrest that led to the firing of four officers, two of whom are charged with criminal wrongdoing.

The March 21 incident highlighted the sometimes contentious terrain that officers and citizens navigate when cameras increasingly capture their interactions.

“Individuals have a First Amendment right to record police officers in the public discharge of their duties, plain and simple,” said Deputy Chief Greg Gonzalez.

Starting Tuesday, the department’s 105 police sergeants will receive training that includes an overview of the revised policy. In addition, all officers have been sent a “training bulletin” outlining the changes. Commanders have gone over the revisions during roll call, which occurs at the start of each officer’s shift.

By May 13, 2013 Read More
Council races: Dist. 7

Council races: Dist. 7

City Council President Tom Mulligan’s third-place finish in the April primary left two newcomers in the hunt to represent northwest Omaha’s District 7.

Aimee Melton, an attorney, finished first in the primary, with Tim Lonergan, a lawn care company owner, in second. Both are Republicans, sharing similar views on some issues, but Lonergan has strong support from labor unions.

According to campaign finance reports, $25,000 of the $30,000 Lonergan has brought in came from the city’s  fire union.

By May 10, 2013 Read More
Council races: Dist. 2

Council races: Dist. 2

In north Omaha’s District 2, first-term City Councilman Ben Gray is looking to hold his seat in a race with retired Omaha police officer Tariq Al-Amin.

Gray is focused on cutting violence by supporting economic development. Al-Amin is positioning himself as a candidate who would go after some of the same goals with different strategies.

 Both are pushing for more police oversight, but in different ways; Gray wants to get an auditor added to the city charter, while Al-Amin wants to independently create a position for an auditor or citizen review board.

By May 8, 2013 Read More
The taxing and spending divide

The taxing and spending divide

Our colleague Matt Wynn broke down some of the more contentious taxing and spending issues that have divided Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and City Councilwoman Jean Stothert.

Over the last four years of fiscal fights, the two were never on equal footing — the mayor introduced complete budgets while the council could only amend his proposals, and the power to negotiate contracts changed from the mayor to the council in the past year.

While Suttle says he was trying to address serious financial problems, he says Stothert was the staunch “voice of no.” He’s accused her of playing politics, declining to name budget cuts unless he led the way. Stothert’s replied that the mayor has simply addressed city fiscal challenges with new taxes or fees.

By May 8, 2013 Read More