Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Nebraska Politics

The big news in Nebraska today was the announcement that Lt. Governor Lavon Heidemann had been issued a restraining order involving a dispute with his sister on the management of family land. He also was the running mate as Lt. Governor with Gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts. This morning he resigned as Lt. Governor and also withdrew from the November ticket with Ricketts. Early this afternoon Ricketts presented Mike Foley as his new running mate. Secretary of State John Gale is reviewing regulations to determine if or how Foley's name may appear on the November ballot. It was noted earlier that the only way a running mate's name could be changed after September 1st was in the case of their death. Gale is to announce his decision tomorrow. Foley has an excellent reputation serving as State Auditor for the past 8 years and in the Unicameral prior to that. He was one of the leading candidates for Governor but beat out by Ricketts. It is rather ironic that Governor Heinemann appointed Heidemann to the Lt. Governor position following the resignation of Rick Sheehy for misuse of State equipment. Sheehy was also appointed by Heinemann following Governor Mike Johann's appointment as Secretary of Agriculture and Heinemann moving up from the Lt. Governor position. No word on an appointment by Heinemann to fill the remaining 3 months as Lt. Governor. I would recommend that he appoint his wife, she wouldn't embarrass him. Weather warnings over the State and the beginning of Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island couldn't compete with political news today and we haven't heard what Chuck Hassebrook, the Democratic candidate of Governor, has to say about it.  

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