Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert wants to shut down any rumors about why she wants to run the city while out of town.According to the city charter, the mayor transfers power to the city council president when leaving the city. A city clerk says the rule is practiced when the mayor leaves the state, although that’s another reason Mayor Stothert wants the outdated charter addressed.”Let the voters decide, and not three city council members on a law committee,” Stothert said in a phone interview Friday. “I think that this was the city council’s opportunity, and it’s a missed opportunity to modernize the city charter.”Selected citizens review the Omaha city charter at least every 10 years.But charter officials, specifically three city council members, prioritize which amendments end up on your ballot this November, May and November of 2024.City council member Danny Begley received letters and emails opposed to a proposal that would allow the mayor to retain power for the first five business days when out of town.The current city charter, according to Section 2.07, says the city council president “shall serve as acting mayor during any period in which the mayor is absent from the city.” Stothert says that’s outdated, but outspoken constituents want to keep the rule intact.”It’s been clearly articulated to me there is significant frustration and anger on this issue that even exceeded the leveling of the library,” Begley said.Council President Pete Festersen said in a statement: “It’s important to have continuity and clear decision-making authority in case of an emergency or in case someone is unreachable in a time of crisis. Anything can happen in a city at any time.”Mayor Stothert says she spent a minimal amount of time out of town until the sudden loss of her late husband Dr. Joe Stothert last year.”It was a little bit different this last year just because I was trying to spend some time with my kids to get them through this,” the mayor said. “It was personal.”Stothert recently married her longtime friend Dr. Kevin O’Rourke. She says she wants to shut down any rumors that she wants the charter changed so she can spend more time with him in St. Louis — saying he lives on the east coast.”He does not live in St. Louis,” Stothert said. “And I’ll spend a lot of time with my husband because he’s moving to Omaha.”
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert wants to shut down any rumors about why she wants to run the city while out of town.
According to the city charter, the mayor transfers power to the city council president when leaving the city. A city clerk says the rule is practiced when the mayor leaves the state, although that’s another reason Mayor Stothert wants the outdated charter addressed.
“Let the voters decide, and not three city council members on a law committee,” Stothert said in a phone interview Friday. “I think that this was the city council’s opportunity, and it’s a missed opportunity to modernize the city charter.”
Selected citizens review the Omaha city charter at least every 10 years.
But charter officials, specifically three city council members, prioritize which amendments end up on your ballot this November, May and November of 2024.
City council member Danny Begley received letters and emails opposed to a proposal that would allow the mayor to retain power for the first five business days when out of town.
The current city charter, according to Section 2.07, says the city council president “shall serve as acting mayor during any period in which the mayor is absent from the city.” Stothert says that’s outdated, but outspoken constituents want to keep the rule intact.
“It’s been clearly articulated to me there is significant frustration and anger on this issue that even exceeded the leveling of the library,” Begley said.
Council President Pete Festersen said in a statement: “It’s important to have continuity and clear decision-making authority in case of an emergency or in case someone is unreachable in a time of crisis. Anything can happen in a city at any time.”
Mayor Stothert says she spent a minimal amount of time out of town until the sudden loss of her late husband Dr. Joe Stothert last year.
“It was a little bit different this last year just because I was trying to spend some time with my kids to get them through this,” the mayor said. “It was personal.”
Stothert recently married her longtime friend Dr. Kevin O’Rourke. She says she wants to shut down any rumors that she wants the charter changed so she can spend more time with him in St. Louis — saying he lives on the east coast.
“He does not live in St. Louis,” Stothert said. “And I’ll spend a lot of time with my husband because he’s moving to Omaha.”
