Omaha Mayor turns his focus to jobs, controlling spending

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle says the city needs healing and consensus following Tuesday's recall election.

Suttle narrowly won the recall election, according to unofficial results, meaning he'll serve the remaining two years of his term. The Mayor says his immediate priorities are cutting spending and controlling costs. He says the city needs to work on reducing health care costs, which are Omaha's third most expensive area of government. Those cost-control efforts will include the implementation of a wellness program.

He says he'll also spend the next 12 to 24 months focusing on job creation. Suttle called on Omahans on both sides of the recall fight to work toward agreement on issues.

As for the 5,700 ballots remaining to be counted, Suttle doesn't believe those will affect the outcome of Tuesday's election. Early voting ballots will be counted Friday.

Suttle was elected Mayor in 2009. His term expires in 2013.