An anti-recall group is sending out postcards to people whose names appeared on recall petitions asking if they intended to sign on to the campaign to remove Mayor Jim Suttle from office.
Noelle Obermeyer, co-treasurer of Forward Omaha, said Monday that postcards were mailed last week to some petition signers, although she didn't know the exact number. She said the postcards ask people to call the Forward Omaha office to report any potential problems.
“We've had people call back and say, ‘I signed the petition, but I didn't know it was to recall the mayor,'” Obermeyer said.
Forward Omaha's efforts come as Suttle prepares for a court hearing at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The mayor is seeking a judge's order to push back the deadline for election officials to determine the validity of about 37,600 petition signatures seeking his recall.
Under state law, the Douglas County Election Commissioner's Office has 15 days — until Saturday — to determine whether the recall committee has the 26,643 valid signatures required to force a recall election.
Documents filed last week in Douglas County District Court ask for at least 75 days verify petition signatures. Suttle contends in the court filing that some petition circulators were observed breaking rules for obtaining signatures and that more time is needed to investigate those instances.
Jeremy Aspen, a co-chairman for the Mayor Suttle Recall Committee, has said his paid and volunteer petition circulators followed the rules at all times during the 30-day signature gathering effort.
Suttle's attorney, Vince Powers, said Monday that he will not ask for the full 75 days sought in the lawsuit. Instead, he'll ask the judge for a “reasonable amount of time” to review the signatures.
If the recall organizers “played by the rules, then they shouldn't mind if we ask for more time,” Powers said. “We're just trying to gather the evidence to prove that the rules were not followed.”
The recall committee's petition blames the mayor for “excessive taxes, broken promises and union deals that cost taxpayers millions.”
For his part, Suttle has stepped up his efforts to reach out to his Omaha constituents. Suttle and his wife, Deb, posted a Thanksgiving message on YouTube, saying he wants to make sure city services are delivered in the most cost-effective way.
“Even though I'm a keep-your-nose-to-the-grindstone kind of guy,” he said, “I will do a better job of letting you know how we have been providing city services that operate efficiently, how we are working to make you feel safer in your neighborhoods, and how we are improving economic development and finding those job opportunities for employment so our city can continue to be the best place for you and your families to live.”
The mayor's spokeswoman, Aida Amoura, said the mayor filmed the message, “because there is so much misinformation about what this guy has done and misinformation about his personality. He truly loves Omaha and the people here, and he wanted to express it.”
Contact the writer:
402-444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com
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