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Omaha officials search for new mayorChicago TribuneOMAHA — City leaders turned Wednesday to the task of selecting a new mayor for Omaha after voters ousted Mayor Mike Boyle in an unprecedented recall election Tuesday that broke city records for voter turnout.Boyle, who has been Omaha’s mayor since 1981, was removed after a three-month recall drive that focused on accusations of abuse of power and insulting treatment of civic leaders and government employees.The new mayor will be chosen by Feb. 10, mostly likely from among the seven council members. Council president Steven Tomasek will serve as interim mayor when Boyle officially steps down Jan. 19“It has been an honor to servethe citizens of Omaha as mayor for the last 5l/» years,” Boyle said in a statement. He said he and his wife were “deeply grateful for the support and friendship so many of you have given.”“I am keenly aware of how this election has divided the city, and I plan to work with City Council President Steve Tomasek to insure a smooth transition into the new administration,” he said.With all but 334 absentee ballots counted, 55,275 people, or 56 percent, voted for Boyle’s recall, while 42,832, or 44 percent, voted to retain him.More than 98,000, or 56.4 percent of Omaha’s 173,668 registered voters, went to the polls Tuesday, more than for any municipal election in the city’s history, said election commissioner Steve Wiitaia.It was only the second time in recent U.S. history an American mayor has been recalled, said John Gunther, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.“It’s kind of hard to understand,” Gunther said of Tuesday’s vote. “Usually they (recalls) come about after a financial scandal.”The most recent successful recall was in 1984, when voters in Atlantic City ousted Mayor Michael Matthews after he was charged with extortion in an FBI undercover probe. Matthews is serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison.There were no criminal accusations against Boyle, however. The recall campaign focused more on style than substance.Mike Boyle,.. accused of abuses
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Gazette
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Thu, Jan 15, 1987
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Patuxent R.
AL, USA 21 Apr 2024
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