Public discussion—round 2

Mayor Suttle and other city officials appeared last night at Benson High School to discuss the proposed 2010 city budget.

And again—more speed dating.

WOWT reported it was organized similarly to Tuesday’s meeting, but went more smoothly:

“Organizers say they learned from that and changed how some of it worked. They used a bigger space this time and it was a little easier to hear.”

One issue that keeps surfacing is the big salary increases he’s giving some new appointees.

When confronted with it, Suttle has latched onto a not so subtle sound bite.

The quote—I’ll paraphrase here—the city’s having a heart attack, and we need a heart surgeon.

WOWT quoted him saying it last night: “We need professional people. We're having a heart attack. I need a surgeon and not a carpenter.”

The Omaha World-Herald reported he said it Tuesday night: “Your city is having a heart attack,” Suttle said, “and I need a heart surgeon.”

Repeating the same line over and over probably won't convince people that it’s a wise move. An explanation might go along way. Even if that explanation was that Werner Enterprises, the former employer of finance director Pam Spaccarotella, donated $1,000 to your campaign.