Published Tuesday August 5, 2008
Second man to oppose mayor in Fremont
BY JOHN FERAK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER




RELATED

• Illegal immigration measure voted down in Fremont
• Immigrant problem is bigger than Fremont, mayor says
• Fremont mayor's 'no' vote praised, criticized
FREMONT, Neb. — Two Fremont men say they have launched bids to challenge Mayor Donald "Skip" Edwards, who cast the tie-breaking vote last week to defeat a controversial ordinance aimed at driving illegal immigrants out of the city.

Carl Schaffner said he's circulating petitions to get his name listed on the November ballot.

Schaffner, 48, has until Sept. 2 to submit about 1,420 valid signatures from registered voters, said Fred Mytty, Dodge County election commissioner.

"One hundred signatures a day for two weeks," Schaffner said. "I will have no problem getting 1,400 signatures."

Schaffner said that he considers Edwards "a nice man and a personal friend" but that he disagreed with the mayor's decision on the immigration ordinance.

He said he believes Fremont has the right to regulate immigration matters that affect the community.

"This is a serious campaign, and I am in this to win," Schaffner said. "I can't foresee losing. I realize that being mayor is a lot more than the immigration issue. It's about sewers, snow removal and city ordinances. It's a big task."

Edwards broke a 4-4 tie in defeating a proposed ordinance that would have punished landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them.

The vote followed a hearing that drew more than 1,000 people to the Fremont High School auditorium.

Edwards, 69, said he strongly opposes illegal immigration and that the vote weighed heavily on him. He made his decision after consulting with law firms, saying the city faced litigation if it approved the measure.

Another Fremont resident, Wesley Homes, 72, has filed an affidavit with Mytty to run as a write-in candidate against Edwards, who has served as mayor for almost 20 years.

By filing the affidavit, Homes is asking that any write-in votes he receives be counted, Mytty said.

Both Schaffner and Homes spoke at last week's meeting, urging the council to adopt the immigration ordinance.

Unless Schaffner collects the requisite number of signatures, only Edwards' name will appear on the ballot for mayor. The mayor's annual salary is $4,800, and the post carries a four-year term.


• Contact the writer: 444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10398404