No one's going to comment on the Mayor Recall?

[TheFarseer]

I think it's nonsense to recall anyone unless they break the law or something. Someone finally being financially responsible is no reason to recall them. I don't like the tax increases either but we have alot of expenses that mayor Suttle is not responsible for. I will grand you that some of his initial moves were unwise uses of our money - the hybrid SUV and big salary increases for some city employees and that is where I think the recall people have a point. However, he did the best he could with the Unions and I'm not sure how much "fat" there is to cut out of the city budget, so I decline to comment on that. Overall, I think anything the mayor did does not warrant a recall. I kind of think he's screwed unfortunately! Anyone else want to comment?

[DallasNE]

1. Wrong On Several Levels

The campaign manager for the losing candidate in the last election headed up this effort with unlimited financing for the GOP. Paid people were manning the petition stations. With the low threshold for recall it was a foregone conclusion the petition effort would be successful. Low voter turnout and deep GOP pockets probably means the Mayor will be recalled. That will set up two more elections for a new Mayor and cause more budget woes for Omaha. It is both unwarranted and stupid. We have elections every 4 years to gauge the record of Mayor. That would normally occur in 2 1/2 years. Oh, and this sets up an interim Mayor between the recall and the general election for a replacement. This is no way to run a City.

The entertainment tax was necessary to fund the new baseball stadium for the College World Series. The NCAA would have taken Omaha's premier event elsewhere without this upgrade in facilities. Frankly, I think it was well worth it.

[robt6750]

4. +1.

[Beavker]

5. Can't vote, but glad he won

I'm new to Omaha, but seems recalling Mayors is sort of the norm. Losing party is mad they lost, they try to recall him. I'd be interested to know how many Democrats want him recalled? If you recalled every candidate and took into account every opposing party member supported it, seems you'd be able to try to recall anyone.

If his surplus is truly so, then he did his job. I read the Firefighters response to the outcry of the Union deal. I believe them. I haven't seen documents, but if they truly are getting the average of 6 comparable sized cities that was determined by an arbitrator, had pay freezes in 2004, take lower pay in order to fund their pension, and save Omaha's fat asses from burning alive or dying in a car crash, then let's pay them. Check out the rich bastards heading up that organization that is doing most of the funding for the complaint. Typical rich, GOPers doing what they can't to get richer. Simple. It's happening all over the country.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

2. A comment on the recall

It's BS. If the people Omaha dance to the Daub-Nabity-Ricketts music, The city deserves what it gets :(

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. My thoughts on the recall

1. There's a lot that is bad that is not Jim Suttle's fault; that said, he's politically tone deaf, which isn't helping him here.

2. The police and fire unions were extremely late to the party on aiding the anti-recall effort.

3. Forward Omaha's busing the homeless to vote was not the big deal everyone made it out to be. Paying the homeless $5 for "canvassing lessons" was just plain stupid. Then again, most have conveniently forgotten that Nabity paid for petition signatures, so it about evens out on the scurviness scale.

4. Notwithstanding #3, I've been impressed with Forward Omaha's organizational skills. Too bad Dems here couldn't have been that organized in the congressional or gubernatorial campaigns.

5. A month ago, I'd have called Suttle a goner for sure. As of now, I'd call it a coin toss. There's clearly been a shift in the public tone and perception, and I think that the recall effort must have blown most of its funding on the petition drive. Forward Omaha has done a very good job getting its message out.

6. Really, more info on this needs to be posted in GD. If this recall succeeds, it will become the blueprint for "replace the mayor; break the fire & police unions."

7. The sudden appearance of a surplus was convenient, don't you think :sarcasm: