Post Tagged with: "election"

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

May 8, 2013 Read More
Suttle on Stothert’s tax plans

Suttle on Stothert’s tax plans

Another ad from Mayor Jim Suttle’s campaign takes on Jean Stothert’s city finance ideas.

May 6, 2013 Read More
Council races: Dist. 3

Council races: Dist. 3

First-term City Councilman Chris Jerram is looking for a second term representing Midtown’s District 3, facing off against political newcomer JR Jasso.

Jerram bounced back after a controversial St. Patrick’s Day weekend incident in March, in which he was photographed holding up a T-shirt that depicted mayoral candidate Jean Stothert as a stripper. He received nearly 66 percent of the vote in the April primary, while Jasso took 33 percent.  

In the race to the general election, Jasso is focusing on messages about cutting taxes, while Jerram is talking about economic development efforts in Midtown neighborhoods.

May 6, 2013 Read More
Council races: Dist. 4

Council races: Dist. 4

In South Omaha’s District 4, voters are weighing their options between two candidates with similar backgrounds: both lifelong South Omahans, both retired Omaha police officers.

City Councilman Garry Gernandt is seeking a fourth term in office, while Virgil Patlan is looking to unseat him.  Patlan is focusing in on plans to roll back new taxes and often talking about social issues, while Gernandt is focusing his campaign on his record and goals for doing more to improve city services.

May 6, 2013 Read More