Omaha Mayor Faces First Recall Vote since 1987

OMAHA, Neb. — Voters in Omaha, Neb., are heading to the polls to decide whether Mayor Jim Suttle should keep his job.

Polls open at 8 a.m. in the city's first mayoral recall election since 1987. The first returns are expected as voting ends at 8 p.m.

Suttle is a Democratic former city councilman and public works director who took over the city's top job in spring 2009.

In seeking his ouster, the recall group cites "excessive taxes, broken promises and union deals that cost taxpayers millions and threaten Omaha's economic future."

But Suttle says he has turned the city's finances around, eliminating a projected $12.4 million shortfall in last year's budget to end 2010 with a $3.3 million surplus.

If the recall fails, Suttle can't face another recall attempt for one year.