NEW LAW COULD ALLOW SEVERAL CANDIDATES TO VIE FOR THE LATE SEN. RICH PAHLS' SEAT

LINCOLN- A new state law could set up a scramble among several candidates to fill out the last two years of the legislative term of the late State Sen. Rich Pahls of Omaha.

Gov. Pete Ricketts will get to appoint someone from District 31 to fill the vacancy until just prior to the start of the 2023 legislative session in January.

But under a state law passed in 2017, any qualified candidate who collects at least 2,000 signatures from voters in the district will appear on the November election ballot. Voters will choose a winner to fill out the remainder of Pahl’s term, which runs until January 2025.

Wayne Bena, deputy Nebraska secretary of state for elections, said it’s the first time the law has been used since it was passed.

The law sets no limit on the number of candidates who can appear on the ballot, and since the position is nonpartisan, there’s no limit on candidates from any particular party.

Bena said prospective candidates can request petitions from the Secretary of State’s Office. Signatures, he said, must be turned in by Sept. 1.

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A SECOND WOMAN STEPS FORWARD BY NAME TO ALLEGE CHARLES HERBSTER GROPED HER

OMAHA- A second woman who alleged in an article from earlier this month that Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster had groped her came forward Friday and allowed her name to be used.

Elizabeth Todsen was a 23-year-old employee of State Sen. Dave Murman when she attended the 2019 Elephant Remembers fundraiser for the Douglas County Republican Party. A former state chair of the College Republicans, she was excited to be starting her career. One minute, she said, she was enjoying chatting with friends at the Omaha dinner.

Then moments later, Todsen said, she was staring into space, struggling to process having just been groped in public by Herbster, who was then a major GOP donor. A friend said he had seen what happened and asked if she wanted him to confront Herbster. She said no because she didn’t want to make a scene.

“It was just all a blur after that happened because it was all I could think about,” Todsen said. “I just remember sitting there, and we were listening to the speakers … thinking, ‘How do you support this man?’”

Herbster continues to deny doing anything wrong.

“We are going to stick by our statement that Charles 100 percent denies these allegations,” Emily Novotny, Herbster’s campaign spokeswoman, said Friday.

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NEW PILLEN POLL STILL SHOWS A TIGHT, THREE-WAY RACE FOR GOP NOMINATION

LINCOLN- New polling indicates that negative political advertising and negative publicity may be having an impact on the red-hot, three-way race for the Republican nomination for governor.

It also indicated that 24% of respondents were still undecided on how they might vote in the May 10 primary.

A telephone poll of 505 Republican voters was done from April 26th-28th on behalf of the Jim Pillen campaign.

The results indicated a race still too close to tell who’s leading, with 24% of respondents saying they’d vote for Pillen, a former Nebraska football player and University of Nebraska regent. Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster got 23% support. And State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, a financial advisor, polled at 20%.

The results fall within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.4%. The poll was conducted Tuesday through Thursday by WPA Intelligence.

Seven percent of respondents supported former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau.

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NEBRASKA IS AN OUTLIER IN LATEST NATIONAL RENT TREND REPORT

LINCOLN - When it comes to the nation’s apartment rents, Nebraska reportedly is one of the few states that has seen a price dip over the last year. That’s according to the latest trends review from Rent.com, an online property site.

Rent.com said roughly 95% of states saw increases in average rent prices for both one- and two-bedroom apartments compared to a year ago.

Nebraska and Alaska were the two states that showed a year-over-year drop in the cost to rent a one-bedroom unit. In Alaska, the rent also went down for two-bedroom units.

The report also said rents were up in most cities and down in a few as well. Among the 100 largest cities in the nation, average rent costs for both one- and two-bedroom units went up in more than 80% of cities, by more than 19% on average.

The report said Lincoln's year-over-year average rent for a one-bedroom unit was down 4.3% while Omaha's rose 2.6%.

Also included in the report were a few industry developments that showed nearly one-third of U.S. renters nationwide can't afford to buy a home where they want to live.

In addition, nearly half of renters say their debt was preventing them from buying a home.

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RICKETTS ANNOUNCES NEW TUITION REIMBURSEMENT BENEFIT FOR KIDS OF STATE EMPLOYEES

LINCOLN — Children of Nebraska’s 16,000 state employees will get 100% reimbursement for two years of tuition at state community colleges under an initiative highlighted Monday at a press conference held by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Not only will the new benefit serve to improve assistance for state workers, but will also train recent high school graduates for skilled jobs now unfilled in Nebraska.

Wages have been increased in recent months for workers of state prisons and other 24/7 state facilities to help combat the current workforce shortage in Nebraska and to incentive private and public sectors to raise wages.

The new program, officials said, could assist up to 1,000 children of state employees.

“We need to do things that differentiate us as an employer,” said Jason Jackson, the state’s chief human relations officer.

Community college tuition will be fully reimbursed in the state under the new program. Students must enter school prior to their 25th birthday and complete their studies by age 27.

Paul Illich, president of Southeast Community College, said they hope the program could help fill the statewide shortage of skilled workers in fields such as health care, construction, and information technology.

The cost of the program, approved by the Nebraska Legislature during the recently ended 2022 session, was estimated to rise to about $1 million a year. The community college system has agreed to give such students a 25% discount on tuition, so the state reimbursement will cover 75% of the normal cost.

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'THERE WAS NO WAY' TO STOP WILDFIRE IN 50 MPH WINDS, SAYS SURVIVOR

LYONS, NE— Robert Byrnes and his family were driving down U.S. 77 right after lunch Saturday when they noticed a wall of flames off to the east, roaring northward.

After reversing course, the family watched as the fire raced across farm fields and grassy waterways from the top of a hill along Nebraska Highway 51.

“It looked like we were going to miss it,” Byrnes, 57, said. “Farmers were discing and saved some other farmsteads.

“But it came in on the west side. I was out there with a garden hose trying to keep it off, but there was no way. It was on me so fast.”

The Byrneses were among the victims in an outbreak of wildfires across Nebraska over the weekend that killed one firefighter, injured at least 10 others, and scorched more than 50,000 acres.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and 60 mph propelled the flames in areas that are drier than normal due to a lack of winter snow and rain.

After 10 firefighters had been injured, the federal team of Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One took over the coordination of the fight against the fire Sunday morning in southwest Nebraska.

The so-called Road 702 fire has consumed 41,155 acres of wooded draws, filled with dry cottonwood trees that continue to burn.

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NEBRASKA JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT BY BIG RED KENO OVER RIGHTS TO DEVELOP CASINO IN LINCOLN

LINCOLN — A lawsuit filed by Big Red Keno over who gets to provide casino gaming at the Lincoln Race Course has been dismissed.

As a result of the ruling, the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association can continue its partnership with the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska to expand gambling in Lincoln.

“We actually chose our partner in 2015, and we’re going to stick with the partner who will lead us to the greatest success,” Lynne McNally, the CEO of the horsemen’s association, said Tuesday.

The keno entity claimed that Omaha Exposition and Racing was reneging on an agreement to allow it to provide keno gambling through 2033, as well as any other expanded forms of gambling.

In a 14-page ruling on Monday, April 25, Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte dismissed Big Red Keno's lawsuit. His opinion was that Omaha Exposition and Racing lacked the authority to grant such an exclusive agreement under its lease on the Lincoln racetrack with the horsemen's association.

However, Otte did rule that Big Red Keno had a valid claim against the Omaha racing company for damages and gave them 30 days to file an amended lawsuit on the issue.

Warhorse is planning to build $200-million casinos at the Lincoln Race Course and at Omaha's Horsemen's Park.

Big Red Keno's attorney, Steve Mossman, said they are considering an appeal to the decision.

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ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT NEW GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION AT ALTEN PLANT

LINCOLN — An environmental watchdog group is raising concerns about new groundwater sampling that shows some high concentrations of pesticides in the vicinity of the AltEn ethanol plant in Mead.

The AltEn plant had been using waste seed corn, coated in pesticides, to produce ethanol. Eight of the nine test wells recently drilled showed some level of pesticide contamination, according to the Perivallon Group.

Perivallon spokesman Al Davis said wells more than 50 feet below AltEn's wastewater lagoons contained significant leaching of the toxic solutions.

Davis said NDEE has documented for some time that there are holes in the damaged liners.

“Once again, we see that the efforts of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, the AltEn Facility Response Group, and AltEn LLC have not been enough to protect the aquifer from contamination,” Davis said.

Director of NDEE, Jim Macy, said his agency had visited AltEn three times a week and was working closely with a group of six seed corn companies to clean the site at no cost to the state.

Perivallon said that of most concern are the levels of three contaminants found in the groundwater: Mefenoxam, a fungicide, which tested at 2,700 micrograms per liter; Thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid, at 2,000 micrograms per liter; and the insecticide Chlorantraniliprole, which tested at 960 micrograms per liter.

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NEBRASKA STATE SEN. RICH PAHLS, ARDENT OPPONENT OF TAX EXEMPTIONS, HAS DIED

LINCOLN- State Sen. Rich Pahls of Omaha, who won re-election to his post after being term-limited in 2012, has died.

Pahls, 78, had missed the last few weeks of the 2022 session of the Nebraska Legislature due to an illness that he had kept private.

The Nebraska Examiner learned of his passing on Wednesday. His office said he died of complications of cancer, and requested privacy for his family.

A registered Republican, he was first elected to the Legislature in 2004 and was re-elected in 2008. At the end of that term in 2012, he was required to leave the Unicameral due to term limits.

Pahls served a term on the Omaha City Council before reclaiming a seat in the Legislature in 2020, beating Tim Royers by about 1,000 votes in the Millard-area District 31.

In the Legislature, Pahls was somewhat of a maverick on taxes issues, known for arguing against Nebraska’s long list of sales tax exemptions. If they could be eliminated, he said, property taxes could be dramatically decreased.

Praise for Pahl’s public service and notes of condolences came in from state officials, including U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and Gov. Pete Ricketts, who ordered flags lowered to half staff through Thursday.

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FORMER U.S. REP. JEFF FORTENBERRY'S LAWYERS ASK THAT HIS CONVICTIONS BE TOSSED OUT

LINCOLN- Lawyers for former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry have asked a judge to throw out his conviction, after receiving three guilty verdicts for lying to federal investigators.

In their request for acquittal, Fortenberry’s lawyers charged that federal prosecutors failed to show that the congressman’s false statements to investigators were “material” and had an impact on the overall federal investigation.

The attorneys also said the federal statute on materiality was unconstitutionally vague and should be thrown out.

“The law does not criminalize every false statement that is made to the government. Nor does it criminalize any act of concealment from the government,” wrote defense attorney Glen E. Summers in a 23-page pleading.

Only false statements that are a “materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation,” are criminal, he wrote.

Summers cited a ruling by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in another false statement case. She wrote that “the function of law enforcement … is the prevention of crime and the apprehension of criminals” and not “the manufacturing of crime.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, which prosecuted the case, said Wednesday that prosecutors will respond with their own court filing.

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'REAL WORK' BEGINS ON $335 MILLION INVESTMENT TO REVIVE AREAS INCLUDING NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA

OMAHA- With session now complete, Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts gathered in North Omaha where a $335 million recovery plan was turned into action.

LB1024 initially focused on North Omaha, then added South Omaha, and ultimately included other low-income census tracts in the state that were disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Ricketts called the package “historic landmark legislation” and said Nebraska can’t be healthy if certain ZIP codes aren’t reaping the same success as others.

“That bill will have a generational impact,” said Ricketts. “It will invest in affordable housing, infrastructure, crime prevention, financial literacy, job training, education — all the things that go into making sure we are developing the full talent of all of our people here in the state of Nebraska.”

State Sen. Justin Wayne, who led the push for the legislation along with State Sen. Terrell McKinney, also of North Omaha, called Thursday a time to reflect on decades of neglect and also to recognize past leaders who paved the way.

State Sens. Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell, both of South Omaha, also were recognized as co-sponsors of the legislation and were among the public officials greeting about 50 community representatives.

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RICKETTS HAS REJECTED MILLIONS IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID ON ARGUMENT THAT EMERGENCY IS OVER

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts’ recent denial of federal rental assistance is the latest instance of the governor denying pandemic relief offered by the federal government.

From supplemental food assistance to expanded unemployment benefits, the governor has turned away millions of dollars in federal funding meant for Nebraskans in need, often based on the argument that it is time to return to pre-pandemic order, and often over the objections of some state lawmakers and advocates.

The latest example of Ricketts’ resistance to federal aid came Friday when the governor reaffirmed his decision not to apply for $120 million in rental assistance, after receiving pressure from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Though a majority of that funding, about $72 million, will likely be distributed across Nebraska’s most populous counties, that still leaves about $48 million unavailable to renters.

Nebraska is the only state in the country that does not plan to apply for any of its second-round funding through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

“We have not been in a pandemic emergency since the summer of 2021,” said Ricketts.

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GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER BRINGS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER VETA JEFFERY AS NEW PRESIDENT

OMAHA — The Greater Omaha Chamber named Veta Jeffery as its new President and CEO on Friday, April 29.

Jeffery will follow David Brown, who announced his intentions to retire this year after leading the Omaha Chamber for the last two decades.

"I'm excited to be able to follow the work he's [Brown] done, but also bring my own individualistic experience as well," Jeffery said. 

Jeffery's most recently worked as the county Chief Diversity Officer for St. Louis. Other leadership roles have included Manager of Community Economic Development. She was appointed to the position by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon after the Ferguson protests. 

"I think the heart of any community rests on the businesses it's made of," Jeffery said during Friday's announcement. 

“I’m excited to work with Veta on her smooth transition into the President and CEO role,” said Brown. “I’m proud of what the Chamber and our partners have accomplished over the past 18 years, and I look forward to supporting her and the Chamber team to reach new heights.”

A series of listening sessions will be held as she transitions into the role beginning in May. Her husband and daughter will relocate to Omaha later this year. 

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THREE CANDIDATES LOOKING TO FILL DISTRICT 18 SEAT

OMAHA- A race full of new candidates ready to make their mark in politics.

Clarice Jackson is a mother of two, running a screening and teaching program for people struggling with dyslexia.

"Some children learn differently, I learned that with my daughter, one of my children, my son, Mekhi, he thrived in the traditional public school, but my daughter did not. And sometimes they need a different setting," Jackson said.

Jackson has received endorsements from Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Congressman Don Bacon, former Mayor Hal Daub and State Senator Louis Linehan.

Jackson's opponent, Christy Armendariz agrees, saying taxes are a top priority when it comes to District 18, and so is growth.

"Economic development is going to be key to try to keep costs under control for the constituents of the area," Armendariz said.

She said she's focused on creating unity within the state, inspiring her to run for a seat in the legislature while setting an example for her kids. "I've always told my kids who are grown now that there is a process in place that we can take advantage of, and to do that, if they are not happy with something, take advantage of the process," she said.

Armendariz said as a negotiator in the health care field, she has the skills to get things done.

The third candidate, Michael Young owns a technology business while running his own art gallery, working as a professor and being a dad. As someone who has experienced homelessness and poverty as a child, Young said he wants his past to create change for future laws.

"To really engage and give voice to my district. I'm a huge community advocate from education, to transportation, to lowering taxes to teachers and to unions," Young said.

The seat is currently held by Senator Brett Lindstrom who is unable to see another term due to term limits. He is currently running for Governor

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TWO CHALLENGERS SEEK DISTRICT 22 SEAT HELD BY SENATOR MIKE MOSER

COLUMBUS - Incumbent Senator Mike Moser faces two challengers to represent District 22 in the Nebraska Legislature.Roy Zach of rural Genoa and Mike Goos of Columbus join Moser on the ballot with the top two vote getters moving on to November’s general election.

Moser seeks to return to the Legislature to focus on jobs and taxes.

“Creating jobs by growing our economy, solving the budget shortfall and reducing property taxes are the most important issues and will be my priorities if elected,” said Moser, a former Columbus mayor who is seeking a second term as a state senator. “Property taxes are too high. With increased valuation, property taxes have soared and have become a big burden for property owners.”

Moser said his endorsers include former Gov. Dave Heinemann, Sen. Mike Flood, Jim Pillen and Columbus Mayor Jim Bulkley.

Zach hasn’t held any previous political offices but was also a candidate to represent District 22 in 2010.

“My various work experiences have given me multiple perspectives and viewpoints on a wide range of issues in the agricultural, industrial and service sectors of the economy,” he said. “I am running for office to protect the fundamental liberties of the citizens of the State of Nebraska.”

Goos has not responded to a questionnaire provided by the Norfolk Daily News.

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IN ENDORSEMENT, FORMER U.S. SENATOR NELSON SAYS HE SEES 'MOMENT' FOR PANSING-BROOKS TO WIN HOUSE SEAT

LA VISTA — Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., typically waits until after Nebraska Democrats select a nominee before deciding whether to endorse a candidate for Congress.

But Nelson said Thursday he sees a “moment” for State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks headed into the state’s May 10 primary election and the June 28 special election in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District.Nelson endorsed Pansing Brooks on Thursday during a news conference at the La Vista Conference Center. He said Democrats and all Nebraskans want someone who can do the work, and “she can.”

“I have been reluctant to endorse in primaries, and I haven’t given a lot of endorsements since I left the Senate,” said Nelson, who served in the Senate from 2001 to 2013. “This is a special situation with a special election.”

Eastern Nebraska has a rare open U.S. House seat, representing the district that encompasses Lincoln, Bellevue, Fremont, Norfolk and more. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigned March 31 after being convicted of three felonies.

The unusual situation of holding three elections for the same race in the same year means Pansing Brooks needs to motivate Democrats to vote all three times, Nelson said. She faces photographer Jazari Kual in the Democratic primary race and former Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood, a Republican, in the special election. The winners of the May 10 primary will advance to November’s general election.

The last time Nebraska had an open-seat race in the 1st District was 2004, when Fortenberry beat then-State Sen. Matt Connealy 54% to 43%. Fortenberry went on to serve nine terms.Nebraska’s last special election for the House was in 1951, according to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. Third District Rep. Karl Stefan died Oct. 2, 1951, in Washington. Robert D. Harrison won a special election Dec. 4, 1951.

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FOUR STATE SENATORS RAISING MONEY FOR WOMEN'S DEFENSE IN WAKE OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HERBSTER

LA VISTA — Four Nebraska state senators announced a fundraising effort Tuesday to cover potential legal costs for any women or witnesses who might come forward with credible allegations of sexual impropriety by gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster. State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan, Joni Albrecht, Suzanne Geist and Rita Sanders emphasized their support for their colleague, Sen. Julie Slama. Each reiterated her belief that Slama was telling the truth when she said Herbster groped her in 2019.

“Julie is not here, but the five of us are often together on issues,” Linehan said. “We’re the only five Republican women on the floor. It makes this kind of a small but important little club. … We have each others’ backs.”

Geist and Albrecht said they have received a letter from Herbster’s legal team telling them to preserve documents in preparation for a possible lawsuit, after they and the 11 other women in the Nebraska Legislature signed a letter calling on Herbster to quit the governor’s race. Geist said any time the justice system is used to secure silence from people for telling the truth, it hurts sexual assault survivors and, in turn, the entire state.

“I won’t be intimidated into silence, and I won’t stand for any attempt to silence survivors and witnesses of this sexual assault,” Geist said. “It’s reprehensible.”

All four senators acknowledged they have endorsed Herbster rival Jim Pillen for governor. They stressed that their action in establishing a defense fund is “not about politics.”

“It’s about sending a message loud and clear that survivors and witnesses won’t be bullied or intimidated into silence in our state,” Sanders said.

Geist said Herbster’s actions could have a chilling effect on victims of any sexual assault.

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THREE GOP CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DEBATE TAXES, WATER, BROADBAND

HOLDREGE— Three of Nebraska’s top four GOP candidates for governor visited this agricultural hub Monday to debate taxes, water, broadband and more.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, former Sen. Theresa Thibodeau and Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster debated questions for an hour from reporters based in Kearney, Lexington and Axtell. University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen held a telephone town hall during Monday’s debate, the last before the May 10 primary election. Pillen has avoided debates with his fellow candidates. Instead, he attended candidate forums.

About 200 people attended the Holdrege debate, hosted by NTV News at the Phelps County Agricultural Center. Each candidate spent significant time talking about plans to address property taxes.

Lindstrom got specific about state aid for schools, saying he wants to make sure every K-12 school district in Nebraska gets equalization aid. Right now, he said, 157 districts don’t. His idea to change that: Work with the Legislature to redirect a portion of existing sales tax dollars over several years toward a goal of reducing property taxes by 20%.

Thibodeau said she wants to audit and cut spending on ineffective state programs and services so that every child in Nebraska can get the same amount of state aid to schools.

“If we grew food as much as we grow government, heck, nobody would ever go hungry,” Thibodeau said.

Herbster said he wants to rebuild Nebraska’s tax system from the bottom up, hoping to model what South Dakota does, with no income tax, or what Iowa does with a blended approach.

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THREE CANDIDATES SEEK DISTRICT 20 LEGISLATIVE SEAT

OMAHA —Political newcomer John Fredrickson is a social worker and seeking the District 20 legislative seat. He said politics was something he never thought about getting into prior to running.

The husband and father understands what it's like to have a young family living in Nebraska. He said he's running after hearing how policies were affecting people's lived experiences. The social worker who has a mental health practice said he plans to focus on mental health and keeping people in the state.

The second candidate in the race is Stu Dornan who sat on the West Side school board and currently sits as a member of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit.He said the state needs to be able to compete with other states and on the campaign trail, he’s hearing older residents say that they simply can't afford property taxes.

The political veteran, former Douglas County Attorney and former FBI agent plans to focus on property taxes, public safety and mental health.

Julie Fredrickson is the third candidate in the race and says her platform is about freedom.The real estate agent said she’s against mandates, specifically mandated vaccines and masks, vowing to protect parental rights for kids in school. The pro-life advocate plans to tackle abortion, property taxes and be transparent.

The seat is currently held by Senator John McCollister who is unable to run again due to term limits.

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FOUR CANDIDATES SEEK 4OTH DISTRICT SEAT AS SENATOR GRAGERT CHOOSES NOT TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM

NIOBRARA - State Sen. Tim Gragert did not file to run for reelection this year. Four candidates — Mark Patefield of Laurel, Keith Kube of Crofton, Barry DeKay of Niobrara and Robert E. Johnston of Clearwater — are vying for the open seat Gragert will leave in Nebraska Legislative District 40.

Patefield said he would focus on reducing taxes, controlling spending and emphasizing economic development to grow the state’s rural communities. He also said his focus would be to bring a conservative, commonsense approach to protecting resources and reducing regulations to allow more cooperation between rural areas, as well as working to improve access to broadband and health care and standing against federal overreach.

DeKay said he is running to address four major priorities: Reform the state’s broken tax structure; invest in roads and infrastructure; deliver much-needed broadband access across the state; and spur economic development in the district.

“I have spent my entire lifetime helping the people of District 40 in many areas,” DeKay said. “I believe my commonsense approach to working to achieve the best for the district is second to none.”

Kube, a native of Nebraska who sought the seat 4 years ago, said he has had the opportunity to work throughout North American for nearly a thousand different businesses, helping them to successfully navigate the task of ownership by “stress testing” them to find problems before they became an issue. He is motivated to run because he feels his experience in agriculture, business and consulting would allow him to best serve the district and state.

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