This could get interesting. Seems like I remember Fahey and office didn't want things stirred up during the CWS when there were petitions being circulated for his removal. So they send the letter out to Sokol at the beginning of the CWS. Personally I feel is petty payback by Fahey and am betting he loses on this one.
Mayor Mike Fahey seized an opportunity and decided to replace his leading adversary on the board that runs the Qwest Center Omaha: David Sokol.
The city's Law Department determined that Sokol vacated the post in February by canceling his Nebraska voter registration and listing Wilson, Wyo., as his residence. Fahey put in the mail on Friday a letter informing Sokol of his intention to name a new member to fill out the term.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and Freeman disagreed with Kratz's legal opinion that Sokol disqualified himself.
In a lengthy memo dated May 24 to Kratz and Paul Landow, Fahey's chief of staff, Freeman argued that resident elector does not mean the same thing as registered voter. A MECA board member can be removed by the mayor only for "incompetence, neglect of duty and malfeasance in office," Freeman wrote.
"Even if Sokol could be found not to have been a 'resident elector' for some short period of time, it's an immaterial breach and there wouldn't be nearly the 'death sentence' consequence you threaten to impose," Freeman wrote.
On the other hand, he deserves a lot of credit for the success of the Qwest Center, as well as the fact that he still chooses to live here.
I find the recent events and actions of Fahey to be petty and short sighted. This whole thing could have been settled with a phone call.
To not take advantage of Mr. Sokol's strengths is a severe waste of expertise, connections and resources...not to mention the fact that people like him are rare in any city.
But like I said, Sokol is a man who works on that very same wave-length, and IF there was somebody who deserved poetic justice for their actions, Sokol is definetely one of them..
Getting anyone out that thinks surface parking lots are key to downtown Omaha's development is a step in the right direction.
While I do agree that this was unbelievably transparent and short-sighted petty timing on Fahey's part, he was completely within his rights to do so - contrary to what our illustrious AG Bruning said in the article. My guess is Bruning wouldn't be as shocked if it were Daub doing the same to Fahey.
Sokol tried to one-up Fahey during the entire CWS process by being a crybaby little schmuck. This will bite Fahey in the |expletive| in the long run, but he is certainly eating his cake right now.
You think the |expletive|-slinging was fierce during the Nelson-Ricketts campaign? Wait until Daub backed by Bruning, Sokol, the OWH and every prominent Republican go after the Mayor that signed the CWS for 25 years.
I agree that the timing was very bad and he could have probably handled this differently. If he was going to do it, he should have waited until the the CWS was done at least. Things will get interesting from here.
Sokol is the doofus for moving out of town and thinking he could still serve on a governmental board. That is arrogance! I mean, he is the one that notified the election commissioner that he had relocated to Wyoming!
Fahey acted when he did, consistent with legal counsel's advice, because arguably anything Sokol voted on would be invalidated after February if it were a close vote.
I can sort of understand why Sokol was confused. When you have 5 or 6 houses in various states and countries, it is kind of hard to remember where you live.
According to the article it doesn't look like he ever really 'moved' outside of Omaha. It states he moved from his house to a condo in Old Market in April.
joeglow wrote:There is no interesting about it. Fahey just guaranteed a Daub win.
Ha, I wouldnt get too sure about that. In my opinion I would say a majority of Omahans are satisfied with the job Fahey has done.
I have talked with a lot of my relatives who have had dealings with Sokol and have always had nothing but complaints about his ethic and demeanor. I dont feel sorry for him a single bit.
As much as people say he had it coming, Sokol's still one of the "big boys" of Omaha politics and philanthropy. This has been touched on in the ballpark thread, but I've got to wonder what this somewhat petty move by the mayor, ousting Sokol on a rules violation (he's still and Omaha resident, even if he didn't have an address for a couple of months), will do to fundraising for the ballpark. A large portion of the ballpark funding is counting on private donations, and Sokol could have pulled some big purse strings (either his own or those of his friends) to make this a reality. If he blackball's Fahey's efforts now, I've got to wonder if there's still enough political capital out there to get the necessary money raised.
Sokol, chairman of MidAmerican Energy and a Berkshire Hathaway officer, learned from The World-Herald that Fahey had mailed the letter on Friday.
It almost is like Fahey said I have got my contract now I don't care what anyone thinks. He might having the NCAA wondering what they go into.
While Fahey has the option of reappointing Sokol, he has said he would look to other qualified candidates.
Daub said Sunday that Sokol is the most qualified person. He cited Sokol's management of the Qwest Center construction and operations, Sokol's current position on an NCAA leadership advisory board and the challenge ahead in building a new baseball stadium.
Sokol's still one of the "big boys" of Omaha politics and philanthropy.
Fahey is also going to be looking for money for other 'pet' projects such as the streetcars..... I wonder if this action could effect the giving to those.
Erik wrote:Both Fahey and Daub are tremendous mayors, and the Sokol situation doesn't make me think less of either mayor..
Sokol knew better, and for somebody like him to cry foul is really pathetic.
He's a loose cannon that does this kind of act to people all around him.. He is eating the bread that he feeds his own... :D
Yes, all three have done wonderful things for the city, but this mess is just getting old. Its been going on since the Fahey first decided to run for mayor.
In regards to the ballpark and different projects, i think that people may be giving Sokol too much credit... Now before everyone jumps at that, i mean 'too much credit' in that there are a lot of intelligent, hard working and decent people still involved that could still get things done without his presence. Would having Sokol make it easier to get the naming rights secured? Probably. Would Sokol be able to help, in one way or another, drum up support for a street car system? Possibly. But if you look down the road and towards the future, it could be a detriment to Omaha to have Sokol in control of so much as far as different projects goes. I could see him thinking he's more influential than he actually is, and could cost the city other things down the road if he didn't get his way when big things come around. Example: he was messing things up with the ball park when it was not yet decided who was going to have control of the facilities and only was happy after MECA was told they'd be in charge. Where's the support of the bigger picture of bettering OMAHA and not one's self? I'm not taking anything away from him, he's done a lot and set some good precedents, but then again, he's been a pain in the |expletive| on different things and i think having new blood could actually be a good thing. Plus, i think many of the corporations and philanthropists in the area are bigger than just supporting one man, and instead want to better one's CITY.
thenewguy wrote:In regards to the ballpark and different projects, i think that people may be giving Sokol too much credit... Now before everyone jumps at that, i mean 'too much credit' in that there are a lot of intelligent, hard working and decent people still involved that could still get things done without his presence. Would having Sokol make it easier to get the naming rights secured? Probably. Would Sokol be able to help, in one way or another, drum up support for a street car system? Possibly. But if you look down the road and towards the future, it could be a detriment to Omaha to have Sokol in control of so much as far as different projects goes. I could see him thinking he's more influential than he actually is, and could cost the city other things down the road if he didn't get his way when big things come around. Example: he was messing things up with the ball park when it was not yet decided who was going to have control of the facilities and only was happy after MECA was told they'd be in charge. Where's the support of the bigger picture of bettering OMAHA and not one's self? I'm not taking anything away from him, he's done a lot and set some good precedents, but then again, he's been a pain in the |expletive| on different things and i think having new blood could actually be a good thing. Plus, i think many of the corporations and philanthropists in the area are bigger than just supporting one man, and instead want to better one's CITY.
I don't understand why people would give Sokol this continuous unconditional support, it's sad how he can do and say what he likes and people give him a slap on a wrist and a handshake, but when fahey has a reason to do something that 'seems' petty that he is a petty man and it's getting old and such..
thenewguy wrote:In regards to the ballpark and different projects, i think that people may be giving Sokol too much credit... Now before everyone jumps at that, i mean 'too much credit' in that there are a lot of intelligent, hard working and decent people still involved that could still get things done without his presence. Would having Sokol make it easier to get the naming rights secured? Probably. Would Sokol be able to help, in one way or another, drum up support for a street car system? Possibly. But if you look down the road and towards the future, it could be a detriment to Omaha to have Sokol in control of so much as far as different projects goes. I could see him thinking he's more influential than he actually is, and could cost the city other things down the road if he didn't get his way when big things come around. Example: he was messing things up with the ball park when it was not yet decided who was going to have control of the facilities and only was happy after MECA was told they'd be in charge. Where's the support of the bigger picture of bettering OMAHA and not one's self? I'm not taking anything away from him, he's done a lot and set some good precedents, but then again, he's been a pain in the |expletive| on different things and i think having new blood could actually be a good thing. Plus, i think many of the corporations and philanthropists in the area are bigger than just supporting one man, and instead want to better one's CITY.
I don't understand why people would give Sokol this continuous unconditional support, it's sad how he can do and say what he likes and people give him a slap on a wrist and a handshake, but when fahey has a reason to do something that 'seems' petty that he is a petty man and it's getting old and such..
are you agreeing with me, or disagreeing? I am thinking the same as you on this one
thenewguy wrote:In regards to the ballpark and different projects, i think that people may be giving Sokol too much credit... Now before everyone jumps at that, i mean 'too much credit' in that there are a lot of intelligent, hard working and decent people still involved that could still get things done without his presence. Would having Sokol make it easier to get the naming rights secured? Probably. Would Sokol be able to help, in one way or another, drum up support for a street car system? Possibly. But if you look down the road and towards the future, it could be a detriment to Omaha to have Sokol in control of so much as far as different projects goes. I could see him thinking he's more influential than he actually is, and could cost the city other things down the road if he didn't get his way when big things come around. Example: he was messing things up with the ball park when it was not yet decided who was going to have control of the facilities and only was happy after MECA was told they'd be in charge. Where's the support of the bigger picture of bettering OMAHA and not one's self? I'm not taking anything away from him, he's done a lot and set some good precedents, but then again, he's been a pain in the |expletive| on different things and i think having new blood could actually be a good thing. Plus, i think many of the corporations and philanthropists in the area are bigger than just supporting one man, and instead want to better one's CITY.
I don't understand why people would give Sokol this continuous unconditional support, it's sad how he can do and say what he likes and people give him a slap on a wrist and a handshake, but when fahey has a reason to do something that 'seems' petty that he is a petty man and it's getting old and such..
are you agreeing with me, or disagreeing? I am thinking the same as you on this one
thenewguy wrote:In regards to the ballpark and different projects, i think that people may be giving Sokol too much credit... Now before everyone jumps at that, i mean 'too much credit' in that there are a lot of intelligent, hard working and decent people still involved that could still get things done without his presence. Would having Sokol make it easier to get the naming rights secured? Probably. Would Sokol be able to help, in one way or another, drum up support for a street car system? Possibly. But if you look down the road and towards the future, it could be a detriment to Omaha to have Sokol in control of so much as far as different projects goes. I could see him thinking he's more influential than he actually is, and could cost the city other things down the road if he didn't get his way when big things come around. Example: he was messing things up with the ball park when it was not yet decided who was going to have control of the facilities and only was happy after MECA was told they'd be in charge. Where's the support of the bigger picture of bettering OMAHA and not one's self? I'm not taking anything away from him, he's done a lot and set some good precedents, but then again, he's been a pain in the |expletive| on different things and i think having new blood could actually be a good thing. Plus, i think many of the corporations and philanthropists in the area are bigger than just supporting one man, and instead want to better one's CITY.
Newguy, I agree, I don't know how much Sokol has done to foster these projects, my only feeling is that if he's offended enough by this, he certainly has the power/influence to blackball things, if he desires. Not necessarily from a political point of view, but anything that requires private fund-raising - while they're not all best buddies, the uber-rich Omaha crowd is a fairly small community, and I'm sure he could lean very hard on certain people to push them away from donating if he feels he's been snubbed enough.
Don't forget Sokol's ties in this whole thing - he's very well connected. MECA, the NCAA advisory committee, CEO of a Berkshire Co (and rumored successor as CEO of Berkshire as a whole). This last point is worth elaborating - he's a close confidant Warren Buffett, and Buffett's one of the owners of the Royals. Buffett could definitely throw his weight around and fundraise / insist the Royals play at the new stadium, but will he do so if Sokol says not to? Only time will tell....
Mayor Mike Fahey reversed course today and decided to reappoint his long-time adversary David Sokol to finish his term on the board that runs the Qwest Center Omaha.
Fahey had contended that Sokol disqualified himself from the board in February by dropping his Nebraska voter registration and claiming a Wilson, Wyo., address.
Fahey’s decision today was driven by concerns about the ability to raise $43 million in private donations for the new downtown baseball stadium.
In other words, "I'm taking all of my Republican friends' money and going home."
"Mayor Mike Fahey was advised this morning that the private funding for the new downtown baseball stadium would be in jeopardy if David Sokol was not reappointed to the MECA board," according to an official statement from the Mayor's Office.
"This whole issue has been bizarre to me," Sokol said. "It sounds like it's going away, and that would be good."
Fahey's decision to replace Sokol had set off protests by several heavy hitters who would have preferred that public attention be focused on the College World Series and harmony in the community.
Sokol, chairman of MidAmerican Energy and a Berkshire Hathaway officer, learned from The World-Herald that Fahey had mailed the letter on Friday.
It almost is like Fahey said I have got my contract now I don't care what anyone thinks. He might having the NCAA wondering what they go into.
While Fahey has the option of reappointing Sokol, he has said he would look to other qualified candidates.
Daub said Sunday that Sokol is the most qualified person. He cited Sokol's management of the Qwest Center construction and operations, Sokol's current position on an NCAA leadership advisory board and the challenge ahead in building a new baseball stadium.
Sokol's still one of the "big boys" of Omaha politics and philanthropy.
Fahey is also going to be looking for money for other 'pet' projects such as the streetcars..... I wonder if this action could effect the giving to those.
[left]
I really doubt Fahey is running office with personality rather than policy. We should give Fahey the benefit of the doubt for once. Fahey just doesn't strike me as the 'power trip' type. [/left]
Uffda wrote:Sorry I feel most politicians end up on power trips. :lol:
You have to have a certain amount of ego to want to be a politician. I don't (necessarily) consider that a bad thing. After all, do you really want someone in office that doesn't feel like they're the best person for the job?
On the flip side, do you really want someone in office that you feel like you could have a beer with? I look to the people I drink with... :shock:
the1wags wrote:While it sounded like Fahey had a legal right to give Sokol the boot, this is probably for the best.
Really? Kramer was on KFAB this morning and said there is NOTHING in the bylaws of MECA that made his move against the rules. He said there IS a quote you keep seeing in the news in the MECA agreement with the city. However, the agreement with the city also says that if either party sees a breach, they need to give notice to the other party and give them 30 days to remedy it. Based on the facts, there is NO evidence that Sokol moved his state of residence from Nebraska. The city apparently knew of the issue and sat on it until after the agreement was signed with the city. Once they notified Sokol of the issue, he remedied it the next day. Based on the AG and another attorney I heard discuss (I can't remember which show it was on), the city had a pretty weak case.
joeglow wrote:Based on the facts, there is NO evidence that Sokol moved his state of residence from Nebraska. The city apparently knew of the issue and sat on it until after the agreement was signed with the city. Once they notified Sokol of the issue, he remedied it the next day. Based on the AG and another attorney I heard discuss (I can't remember which show it was on), the city had a pretty weak case.
The issue wasn't his residency, it was his voter registration. Unless I've suddenly turned illiterate (is it Whiskey Wednesday already?) I don't think residency was ever brought up.
I agree that Fahey/Omaha sat on a technicality to use when they saw fit and now look pretty stupid for doing so, but I think they were 100% within their rights.
And I wouldn't exactly point to Bruning as a shining beacon of legal interpretation. The guy is more concerned with getting elected for whatever he runs for next than any legitimate AG work.
The Mayor got bad advice (again) on this one. It has been the one consistent part of his tenure. He could have brought this whole thing up in a way that made Sokol look bad (He had houses in how many states?) instead he looks petty.
Big E wrote:The issue wasn't his residency, it was his voter registration. Unless I've suddenly turned illiterate (is it Whiskey Wednesday already?) I don't think residency was ever brought up.
I agree that Fahey/Omaha sat on a technicality to use when they saw fit and now look pretty stupid for doing so, but I think they were 100% within their rights.
And I wouldn't exactly point to Bruning as a shining beacon of legal interpretation. The guy is more concerned with getting elected for whatever he runs for next than any legitimate AG work.
-Big E
-The interviews I saw said that the term "resident elector" does not mean registered to vote in the state of Nebraska laws. Doing searches on the internet, I saw that it meant a number of different things and was actually defined in a few places (some said it meant registered to vote and others said it did not). Frankly, I wouldn't exactly point to mayors Fahey and Landow as the shining beacons of legal interpretation. They are more concerned with.......heck the only thing I can think of is losing the biggest landslide election in our history.
Either way, it WAS a petty juvenile move and Fahey will end up paying for it.
I am thinking the same as you on this one
