It’s been widely reported that the Omaha mayor isn’t happy with the city council’s decision not to allow her to stay in charge when she’s out of town.

At the same time though there’s another council-mayor disagreement.

As NCN first reported, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert was looking to change the city charter—aka constitution—to move the city’s odd-year spring elections.

Mayor Stothert (October, 2021): “I think it would be more efficient if we would have it on a non- presidential election year and have a May primary and then have a November general election. This last election because of all the mail-in ballots cost us… almost $1 million to do the City Council and mayoral elections.”

The every-ten-year city charter group debated the change and despite also needing a change in state law to move the elections, liked the idea.

But the city council won’t look at the move.

According to the mayor’s office, the charter group voted 17-3, with five members absent, but the council required at least 20 votes to consider a change to the charter.

Stothert still defends it arguing it “would allow us to be ready in the event of possible action at the state level to sync the election schedules.”

But, barring some unexpected change, the next city election is still set for 2025.

As for the who’s-in-charge fight, right now when the mayor is out of town, whether its Washington, Lincoln or just across the city limits in Ralston, the city council president is in charge—becomes acting mayor.

Stothert finds the rule outdated and the charter committee agreed, passing it along to the council, but the council won’t be looking at it either.

Stothert calls that decision “partisan and personal.”

She didn’t name names, but the Republican mayor was arguably pointing fingers at Democrat City Council President Pete Festersen.

Festersen, who has said, “Anything can happen in a city at any time,” has opposed the change.

A public hearing on the proposed changes to the Charter is scheduled for the council’s August 16th meeting.