Just call him Mr. Mayor

The weight of the baton passed Monday to Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle overshadowed lighthearted moments of punch and cake as the city's new leader took office and acknowledged that tough times are ahead.

Suttle, who took over for Mayor Mike Fahey at a swearing-in ceremony Monday night, was all smiles as he thanked his family and the 200 or so people who gathered at City Hall to watch him and the new City Council take office. But his face drew into a more serious look as he addressed the crowd about the city's financial problems and the need for more jobs, especially in north and south Omaha.

He also said he wants to pursue state tax reform, pushing for fewer tax exemptions to generate more revenue. However, Suttle said, he can't do it alone.

"We need everyone to come together and work on the issues at hand," he said. "One people. One city. One mission. One success."

As he begins his first full day in office today as Omaha's 50th mayor, Suttle has inherited major city finance problems that he says he must address immediately - this year's and next year's budgets, as well as a $500 million shortfall in the police and fire pension fund.

Seven City Council members were sworn in - three incumbents, Chuck Sigerson, Garry Gernandt and Franklin Thompson, along with newcomers Jean Stothert, Pete Festersen, Chris Jerram and Ben Gray.

Gernandt, a Democrat, was elected council president; Thompson, a Republican, was chosen as vice president. Most of the talk centered on unity and civility in City Hall in these difficult times.

"I'm sure we will from time to time expose our weaknesses," said Gernandt. "But we also will reveal our strengths."

Sigerson, a Republican who has been opposed to a tax increase throughout his eight years in office, said the financial crisis facing the city may have left leaders no choice but to raise taxes.

"It's going to be tougher and tougher," he said.

Fahey, who did not seek re-election this year, finished his last day in office in a jovial state. Wearing a black polo shirt and tan slacks, the outgoing mayor of Omaha practically bounced as he cracked jokes Monday, completing two final tasks.

He signed the inside of his desk drawer and hung his picture in the hallway outside his office.

As is tradition for the outgoing mayor, Fahey, using a black permanent marker, signed his name inside a drawer of the huge desk that he has used during his eight years at the city's helm. The desk is from the old City Hall. One of the earliest signatures dates to June 1903.

Fahey called signing the desk "pretty cool."

A few minutes later, Fahey hung his picture in the hallway next to Omaha's past mayors, saying with a chuckle that the pictures were part of "a wall of fame, not shame."

• Contact the writer: 444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com

« Metro/Region

Share