Jim Suttle

James H. Suttle (born June 13, 1944^{[citation needed]}) is an American corporate executive, engineer, and politician who served as the 50th mayor of Omaha, Nebraska from 2009 to 2013.

Jim Suttle
50th Mayor of Omaha
In office June 8, 2009 – June 10, 2013
Preceded by	Mike Fahey
Succeeded by	Jean Stothert
Member of the Omaha City Council
In office June 6, 2005 – June 8, 2009
Preceded by	Marc Kraft
Succeeded by	Pete Festersen
Personal details
Born	(1944-06-13) June 13, 1944 (age 80)[citation needed] Morrison, Colorado, U.S.[citation needed]
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Deb Suttle
Children	2
Alma mater	West Virginia University[1]
Profession	Engineer

Early career

Suttle attended West Virginia University, graduating with his bachelor's degree and master's degree in civil engineering.^[1] He worked for Henningson, Durham & Richardson, an Omaha-based engineering firm until 1981, when newly elected Mayor Mike Boyle appointed him as the city's public works director.^[2] He served as public works director until 1987,^[3] when he returned to HDR.^[4]

City Council

In 2005, Suttle announced that he would challenge City Councilman Marc Kraft, a Republican, in the 1st district, which was based in the neighborhoods of Benson, Dundee, and Florence. Suttle, a Democrat, challenged Kraft, a Republican, along with Republican businessman Rick Bettger.^[4] In the primary election, Suttle placed first with 39% of the vote, leading Kraft, who won 36%, and Bettger, who won 24%.^[5] In the general election, Suttle narrowly defeated Kraft, winning 53% of the vote to Kraft's 46%.^[6]

Mayor of Omaha

When Mayor Mike Fahey announced that he would not seek re-election in 2009, Suttle ran to succeed him, running against Hal Daub, the former Mayor and a former member of Congress, and fellow City Councilman Jim Vokal. At the primary election, Daub and Suttle placed first and second, winning 33% and 32% of the vote, respectively.^[7] In the general election, despite Daub's higher name recognition,^[8] Suttle narrowly defeated him, winning 50% of the vote to Daub's 48%.^[9]

In fall of 2010, shortly into Suttle's second year in office, an opposition campaign organized a recall campaign against him, citing his decision to raise taxes during a recession.^[10] The organizers ultimately gathered enough signatures to place a recall election on the ballot in 2011.^[11] Suttle narrowly defeated the recall, with voters opposed to the recall outvoting supporters with 51% of the vote.^[12]

Suttle ran for re-election in 2013, and faced several prominent challengers, including City Councilwoman Jean Stothert, businessman Dave Nabity, State Senator Brad Ashford, and former City Councilman Dan Welch. Suttle placed a distant second in the primary election, winning 24% of the vote to Stothert's 32%.^[13] At the ensuing general election, Suttle was defeated in a landslide, winning just 43% of the vote to Stothert's 57%.^[14]