Omaha mayor sides with Beutler on term limits issue
UPDATE:
On Thursday, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined Mayor Chris Beutler in Lincoln to urge voters to reject the proposal on the November ballot that would put term limits on the mayor of Lincoln.
Stothert, a Republican, said the proposal is just a way to target the Democrat mayor.
“This is not a term limit proposal,” Stothert said. “This is a limit Mayor Beutler proposal. The way to remove an elected official from office is to field a competent candidate and have an election.”
She said if the proposal is passed, it would change the rules in the middle of the game. She said that is unfair to Mayor Beutler, who plans to run for a fourth term.
Beutler said the push for mayoral term limits is being copied in Omaha.
“Now that conversation has turned to Omaha, where those who oppose Mayor Stothert are discussing whether to place term limits on the ballot to stop her from seeking another term,” Beutler said.
“I think it’s a great conversation,” said Political Renewal Association spokesman Matt Innis. “I’m for term limits all around.”
The Political Renewal Association started the petition to get the proposal on the ballot.
Innis said three consecutive terms is enough for any Lincoln mayor and that this proposal is about getting new faces and new ideas in there.
“We see where we have a Republican mayor in Omaha and a Democrat mayor in Lincoln joining together about doing what? Keeping power,” Innis said. “It’s never for the well being of the people.
“We have a mayor of omaha that wants to hold onto her power. I think it’d be great if omaha did term limits.”
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The mayor of Omaha was in Lincoln Thursday showing support for Mayor Chris Beutler.
It’s over a proposal on Lincoln’s November ballot that would put term limits on the mayor.
Mayor Jean Stothert, a Republican, is calling on Lincoln voters to reject the term limits proposal , saying it’s just a way to target a current elected official.
“This is not a term limit proposal,” Stothert said. “This is a limit Mayor Beutler proposal. The way to remove an elected official from office is to field a competent candidate and have an election.”
Stothert said if passed, the proposal would change the rules in the middle of the game. She said that is unfair to Mayor Beutler, who is running for a fourth term.
Beutler said the push for mayoral term limits is being copied in Omaha.
“Now that conversation has turned to Omaha, where those who oppose Mayor Stothert are discussing whether to place term limits on the ballot to stop her from seeking another term.
Beutler said if communities want term limits, they should propose something that focuses on good policy and not beating opponents at all costs.
J.L. Spray of the Nebraska Republican Party, who supports the proposal, said it’s an opportunity for voters to decide if 12 years is long enough for a mayor to accomplish their goals and allows fresh ideas into the system.
