Suttle’s Recall Defense: Election Costs Could Cut Police/Libraries
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One week after an exclusive Nebraska Watchdog report noted that a recall of Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle could
cost taxpayers $900,000, the Mayor warns those costs could lead to cuts in key city services including police.
The Mayor’s comments are included in his official response to the first of what could be two attempts to recall Suttle.
As Nebraska Watchdog first reported an Omaha city election costs an estimated $250,000 to $300,000. But if voters throw Suttle out of office, it’s very likely that two more elections, each also costing between $250,000 and $300,000, will be needed to choose Suttle’s successor.
According to changes in the Omaha City Charter, made after Mayor Mike Boyle was recalled in 1987 and Mayor PJ Morgan unexpectedly resigned in 1994, a special election is required if the Mayor’s office is vacated more than two years before the next regular city election (in Suttle’s case that’s May of 2013). In addition if no one running in the special election receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote getters face each other in a runoff election.
In a statement sent to the Douglas County Election Commissioner, a statement that would be placed on recall petitions if they are circulated, Mayor Suttle defends himself with the following words:
“Mayor Suttle believes the City is responsible for providing essential services and infrastructure. He believes City government must be efficient and innovative to save tax dollars whenever possible. One reason to oppose a recall effort is that it may cost the City $900,000 in election expenses that could lead to cuts in services like police and libraries.”
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Editor’s note: to see Nebraska Watchdog’s initial report on this subject click here
Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
Posted under Blog, Omaha City Hall.
Tags: Douglas County Election Commission, Jim Suttle, Joe Jordan, Nebraska Watchdog
9:56 am on September 17th, 2010
$900,000 in savings will be realized quickly with his removal. The recall will pay for itself.
10:55 am on September 17th, 2010
I’m happy to see Joe Jordan is in the running for Mayor Moron’s new spokesperson after providing the Mayor a semi-plausible rational for not removing him from office. Mr. Jordan might have been more responsible is attaching some probability assessment on the “necessity” of a third, runoff election after Mayor Moron is recalled. I’d rate that probability at less than 50% tops. Rob is correct in his assertion that even at the overly-inflated $900k, it would pale in significance against the hundreds of millions in damage Mayor Moron had done and will continue to do in the future. In reality, the best strategy to deal with Omaha’s “financial challenges” is to relocate out of Nebraska.
11:49 am on September 17th, 2010
Wow new tactic suttle–the cost will mean closing libraries and layoffs for police…..yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnn oh well so be it. I am so tired of using public safety and children every single time –we KNOW we cannot sustain the unions and their demands suttle has no clue. SO if we have to close and layoff that’s life. Suttle will do nothing positive for Omaha–a bike coordinator? Is the guy braindead?
1:01 pm on September 17th, 2010
Elections are run by and paid for by Douglas county, not the city of Omaha. Mayor Moron is even lying in his recall response letter. If the city does need to reimburse the county, they can easily cut $2 million out of the snow/ice removal budget ($7.6 million total) without any negative impact even if this winter is colder/wetter than normal. How to do this without any downside has been communicated to the Mayor’s office and got zero response. They just don’t give a crap!
1:21 pm on September 17th, 2010
To the first comment GeosUser made at 10:55 am on September 17th, 2010. SHAME ON YOU!!! While I appreciate this blog is for people to share their views why on earth are you criticizing the person reporting the story???? Then again I have noticed you seem to feel better calling people names and spending more time telling people what they should do instead of adding appropriate input. My ‘advise’ take your own and move out of Nebraska.
2:05 pm on September 17th, 2010
We may actual net a profit if we get someone in the mayors office that tells the police and fire unions to pound sand. let’s roll the dice, since they already are gambling away our future.
9:49 am on September 18th, 2010
Jazzee I feel the need to help you. I am going to type a statement and you can just cut and paste it on every article you read. Here it is. IT’S ALL THE UNIONS FAULT. It seems to be your motto. Not very original and completly inaccurate but if that’s how you do things so be it. As far as I can tell the mayor has done nothing illegal that would warrent a recall. Thriftybob Brilliant statement. I mean who needs police and fire protection? Do you know what the pay of a firefighter or police officer is and how that pay was determined? Feel free to point out a solution if you have one. Better yet post what you think the pay for a firefighter or police officer should be. I am curious.
12:46 pm on September 18th, 2010
More of the same old same old. I’m kind of tired of the same old threats. I’m tired of politicians threating something everytime they turn around.
$900,000 is well worth it due to the money we will save after this idiot is removed.
7:11 pm on September 18th, 2010
Actually, this City is on the hook for the money. Douglas County pays initially to run the elections, but it bills the City of Omaha for the costs.
11:24 am on September 19th, 2010
I would just like to extend a thank you to the police. You stopped and fined me on my way to work at around 8am in my midtown neighborhood for not having up-to-date licence plates (one month overdue). Thank you, from a decent, very hard-working person stuggling to pay her bills, for making me late to work. I’d also like to thank you for your lack of presence in my neighborhood. In only the past month, my car has been broken into, my back screen door has been damaged and I have seen creepy men wandering around the backyard. Thank you for helping me realize that the only person who will protect me in my neighborhood is myself.
12:03 pm on September 19th, 2010
BRAD: Not just the unions fault but you must admit they do the same thing every single time tough decisions need to be made-threaten police and fire and now libraries. I support law enforcement but not the unions. Check their new contract you as a taxpayer were not given the entire picture once again. Omaha has always been good to police and fire I mean who else can retire at 45 or 50 and collect thousands of bucks! When is the last time you heard military guys whine about their lives? Or for that matter the Douglas County Sheriffs–the forgotten children of Omaha???
12:04 pm on September 19th, 2010
Thriftybob: We have to get together for a beer–you get it!!
12:07 pm on September 19th, 2010
Brad: One more thing I know how their pay has always been determined and that’s not the big problem. Again I say we have been generous with their contracts for many years –read them line by line–then tell me how dumb I am okay?
1:22 pm on September 19th, 2010
Snap,
You’re a moron. Enough said. As for leaving Nebraska, already happening.
2:48 pm on September 19th, 2010
Never called you dumb. Simply stated your main theme is anti union. The millitary has a retirement plan that they do not pay into as far as I am concerned they deserve better. The police and fire put in 15% of every paycheck more if you consider concessions given in negotiations. It is a proven fact that firefighters and police die at a younger age believed to be a result of the stress of the job. Don’t concentrate on the age of retirement concentrate on the length of service.
And C are you kidding me? You broke the law and got caught and you are complaining about it? Then in the next sentence you are complaining that they don’t cover your area enough. The city cut the next recruit class to save money so coverage will only get worse. So your stand is don’t pay the police but demand outstanding coverage.
5:31 pm on September 19th, 2010
stalking people on busy intersections while they are going to work (in order to pay their bills) instead of cruising the streets at night is my issue. You are an ass. Sorry I made decision to pay my OPPD rather than let my licence slide for < month. It's called giving good people a tiny break in life once in awhile, A-hole.
5:33 pm on September 19th, 2010
Oh, I suppose they would rather give all of the criminals in my area a break, first
5:34 pm on September 19th, 2010
Breaking into a home isn’t as profitable to the police as writing tickets
5:46 pm on September 19th, 2010
Untile the police force starts hiring people with a brain, cut the funding. The libraries deserve more than what they are given
2:01 pm on September 20th, 2010
GeosUser- nice to see you are consistent and proved me right again. Good luck on your move.
6:46 pm on September 20th, 2010
C your own words have pretty much shown who you are. I could try and hit you with a witty comeback and point out your ovious faults but you have discredited yourself quite nicely. Good luck hope you pay your fine and stay out of jail.
6:57 pm on September 20th, 2010
Pardon the spelling errors.
9:54 pm on September 24th, 2010
“IF” the Citizens of Omaha are Suttles chief concern; once the required signatures are obtained, he can resign and save us the money for an election!
I also think the number of parks, rec centers, libraries, police stations and fire stations; including personnel, could be cut with no ill effects. It would require some careful thought but I think it can be done. We’ll never know if it’s not looked at.
8:56 am on October 2nd, 2010
PBL, even if the mayor exercised his option to resign should a recall petition drive be successful, someone would still have to step in and serve in the roll of mayor. An election of some sorts would still have to be held to elect a new mayor.
As for cutting items, this city’s infrastructure is crumbling as it is. Try getting off your ivory tower once in a while and take a look and how strained our city services are right now. Try thinking out your plan clearly prior to your mouth opening.