Several widely known names appear among the 37,600 signatures listed on recall petitions, including a critic of city finances who is often mentioned as a possible successor if Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle is removed from office.
David Nabity, an Omaha businessman and spokesman for the Omaha Alliance for the Private Sector, said Friday that he signed a recall petition soon after the campaign began Oct. 21.
Nabity, a Republican, has criticized Suttle for the way the mayor has handled labor negotiations with police and firefighters, and has questioned Fire Department finances. Suttle is a Democrat.
Nabity's name has been mentioned as a potential candidate for mayor in the event that Suttle is recalled. Others, including former Mayor Hal Daub, also have been mentioned as possibilities. Daub did not sign a petition.
Nabity said it's “premature” for him to decide on a run for mayor.
The World-Herald received copies of the petitions from the Douglas County Election Commission. Under state law, the petitions are considered public records.
Not surprisingly, Omaha restaurateurs also were among the petition signers.
Some Omaha restaurant owners, unhappy with the city's new 2.5 percent tax on restaurant, bar and catering tabs, allowed circulators to collect signatures at their establishments.
Chuck Caniglia, co-owner of Caniglia's Venice Inn, 6920 Pacific St., said he was upset that the city gave businesses only about a month to prepare for the new tax, which took effect Oct. 1.
“I thought they should have given us more time, plus I thought it should have been a vote of the people to decide,” he said.
Other Omahans of note who signed the recall petitions include:
>> Pete Ricketts, a wealthy Omaha businessman and Republican who ran an unsuccessful Senate campaign against Sen. Ben Nelson in 2006. He is a national committeeman for the Nebraska Republican Party. Since losing to Nelson, Ricketts has put money toward numerous conservative causes.
>> Chip Maxwell, a former Nebraska state senator and Douglas County Board member. The Republican ran an unsuccessful City Council campaign in 2009, losing to Chris Jerram.
>> Chuck Sigerson, a member of the Omaha City Council from 2001 until he suffered a stroke and heart attack last year and resigned. Sigerson worked in politics on the local and state levels for 30 years, including six years as chairman of the state Republican Party.
>> Former City Councilman Frank Brown, a Democrat. Suttle and Brown had a contentious relationship while both served on the City Council.
>> Lee Terry Sr., a former Douglas County election commissioner and Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska's 2nd District congressional seat in 1976. Last month his son, Rep. Lee Terry, won his seventh term to that seat.
>> Virgil Patlan and Rebecca Barrientos-Patlan, South Omaha neighborhood activists. Virgil Patlan, a retired Omaha police officer, said he signed because “I was a big Hal Daub fan. That's common knowledge.”
>> KFAB radio personalities Tom Becka, Gary Sadlemyer and Jim Rose.
Contact the writer: 402-444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com
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