Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | Suttle Does About Face After News Conference 'Mistake'

Suttle Does About Face After News Conference 'Mistake'

Omaha, NE.-One day after walking out of a news conference refusing to answer questions, Mayor-elect Jim Suttle has done an about face.

In his first one-on-one interview Suttle calls his "walk off" a mistake, defends his handling of the Matthew Samp situation, and insists his political enemies won't get the best of him.

One day after firing Samp, his co-chief of staff, who's been publicly accused but never legally accused of having sex with a minor, Suttle tells Action 3 News he doesn't know if Samp did anything wrong, that's up to law enforcement to figure out.

Suttle does think some political enemies were behind the Samp issue."Well certainly you're mind thinks in that direction. You get suspicious right off the bat when somebody is calling you from the other sides and saying well there's a question well what's the question. I don't know."

According to Suttle he got one phone call about Samp, "Once. Two weeks before the primary now you put two and two together."

Suttle says he knows the caller, but won't release the individual's name.

It was just 24 hours since Suttle called a news conference announcing Samp was fired, but then refused to answer any questions, something he says won't happen again, "When we do press conferences in the future, we'll stand there and answer questions."

Suttle admits that was a mistake, but City Councilman Chuck Sigerson tells Action 3 News the damage is done and Suttle's City Hall honeymoon is already over.

Suttle says, "I don't know what that means." He then went on to add, "I can't speak for those who wish to have me fail apparently they're putting things in motion as we speak before I ever put my hand on the bible. I've surprised a lot of people to get this far and I'll surprise them with great success as we move forward."

Suttle says he'll spend the next two weeks on three key financial issues.

This year's budget, which is already in the red, next year's budget, which doesn't look any better, and the police and fire contracts.

And one other thing, Suttle tells Action 3 News he's proposing to cut his own pay and wants the city council to take a pay cut as well.

Reported by Joe Jordan Action 3 news.