Mayor Jean Stothert’s proposal to change the city charter to allow the mayor to run things while out of town has drawn questions about how often she’s been absent.The remote-work mayor currently has to transfer power to City Council President Pete Festersen when he or she leaves the state.“There wasn’t one decision that was made while I have ever been out of town that was critical that the city council president had to make,” Mayor Stothert said.But after examining the mayor’s records, KETV found that Mayor Stothert spent 84 days away from Omaha since late July 2021.In the days she was absent, the mayor missed the fire that burned the Nox Crete chemical plant; an ordinance on a city health director; the December derecho that ripped across the midwest; a state attorney general investigation finding 43 clergy members from Omaha possibly abused victims in the Catholic church; and a flash flood that washed out cars in the Old Market last August.“Whether I’m on business travel, or personal travel, you know, it’s the same – I can still make decisions, I still understand how to be mayor. And it doesn’t matter whether I’m at my desk or sitting on my phone as I am right now in Cincinnati visiting my son,” Mayor Stothert said. The deputy city attorney told KETV that elected officials don’t accrue or use vacation, annual or sick leave.Still out of town Tuesday, and speaking only through text message, the mayor again insisted she can run the city away from her office.She says being away from Omaha does not prevent her from being aware of the day-to-day operations of the city. Even though the city clerk says power is transferred only when the mayor leaves the state, city council members in charge of amending the city’s charter are standing firm.Council members are leaving the rule for transferring power unchanged.“So the city council doesn’t agree with the substance of the proposal that was sent to us by the charter convention. But we very much appreciate the work of the convention,” city council President Pete Festersen said.Each of the 84 days when Mayor Jean Stothert was absent from Omaha, Festersen was running the city. That’s 54 business days, 25 days on weekends and five holidays. Stothert says, like everyone, she takes time off to visit friends, family and for personal reasons. A city official says the Stothert will return to Omaha Wednesday.
Mayor Jean Stothert’s proposal to change the city charter to allow the mayor to run things while out of town has drawn questions about how often she’s been absent.
The remote-work mayor currently has to transfer power to City Council President Pete Festersen when he or she leaves the state.
“There wasn’t one decision that was made while I have ever been out of town that was critical that the city council president had to make,” Mayor Stothert said.
But after examining the mayor’s records, KETV found that Mayor Stothert spent 84 days away from Omaha since late July 2021.
In the days she was absent, the mayor missed the fire that burned the Nox Crete chemical plant; an ordinance on a city health director; the December derecho that ripped across the midwest; a state attorney general investigation finding 43 clergy members from Omaha possibly abused victims in the Catholic church; and a flash flood that washed out cars in the Old Market last August.
“Whether I’m on business travel, or personal travel, you know, it’s the same – I can still make decisions, I still understand how to be mayor. And it doesn’t matter whether I’m at my desk or sitting on my phone as I am right now in Cincinnati visiting my son,” Mayor Stothert said.
The deputy city attorney told KETV that elected officials don’t accrue or use vacation, annual or sick leave.
Still out of town Tuesday, and speaking only through text message, the mayor again insisted she can run the city away from her office.
She says being away from Omaha does not prevent her from being aware of the day-to-day operations of the city.
Even though the city clerk says power is transferred only when the mayor leaves the state, city council members in charge of amending the city’s charter are standing firm.
Council members are leaving the rule for transferring power unchanged.
“So the city council doesn’t agree with the substance of the proposal that was sent to us by the charter convention. But we very much appreciate the work of the convention,” city council President Pete Festersen said.
Each of the 84 days when Mayor Jean Stothert was absent from Omaha, Festersen was running the city. That’s 54 business days, 25 days on weekends and five holidays.
Stothert says, like everyone, she takes time off to visit friends, family and for personal reasons.
A city official says the Stothert will return to Omaha Wednesday.
