A group trying to foil an attempt to recall Mayor Jim Suttle is recruiting workers and running television commercials in hopes of encouraging Omahans to oppose the effort.
Forward Omaha has offered to pay $150 each to 50 to 100 people to go to polling sites next Tuesday to discourage voters from signing the recall petitions. The group also will ask the paid staffers to keep an eye out for any violations of a state law, said Noelle Obermeyer, co-treasurer of the organization.
In particular, the anti-recall group wants to be sure that petitioners stand at least 200 feet away from the entrances to polling locations.
The Suttle Recall Committee has until Nov. 19 to collect the 26,643 signatures of registered Omaha voters required to force a recall election. Much of the group’s strategy focuses on the general election, where petition circulators will seek signatures from voters as they head to or from their polling location.
Forward Omaha also plans to spend $95,000 on television ads. The commercials are scheduled to begin airing on local stations Tuesday, Obermeyer said.
Jeremy Aspen, a spokesman and co-chairman for the Mayor Suttle Recall Committee, said Monday he was confident that the ad campaign wouldn’t turn voters against the recall effort.
“While we disagree with their side of the issue, we of course welcome the discussion,” Aspen said. “Whatever medium they use to hold the discussion is completely up to them. At the end of the day, we will succeed in getting a vote to recall.”
Last month, the recall group filed a recall affidavit against Suttle, citing “excessive taxes, broken promises and union deals that cost taxpayers millions” as reasons for the effort. Organizers picked up petition papers last week from the Douglas County Election Commission.
Suttle himself is raising money to fight the recall, and Obermeyer has said he plans to contribute money to Forward Omaha.
Suttle also has asked anyone opposed to the recall effort to get behind Forward Omaha, a local group that advocates on city issues.
Another anti-recall group, the Committee to Keep Omaha Moving Forward, a group started by Omaha philanthropist and businessman Dick Holland, launched a radio campaign against the effort last week.
The Suttle Recall Committee also has started airing radio ads in favor of the recall.
Contact the writer:
444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com
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