Candidates for Office - 2018 Statewide Election, By Jim Johnson

Candidates who are Democrats and will appear on some Lancaster County ballots are listed below in alphabetical order.

US Senator

Chris Janicek, 405 N. 40th St, Omaha 68131

Larry Marvin, 635 N. Main St Ste 222, Fremont 68025

Jane Raybould, 3015 S 20th St, Lincoln 68502

Frank Svoboda, 2030 Surfside Dr, Lincoln 68528

US House of Representatives

Dennis Crawford, 135 Lakewood Dr, Lincoln 68510

Jessica McClure, 3121 Wildbriar Ln, Lincoln 68516

Governor

Tyler Davis, 3502 Lake St Apt 211, Omaha 68111

Bob Krist, 7365 N. 122nd Avenue Cir, Omaha 68142

Vanessa Gayle Ward, 635 S. 50th Ave, Omaha 68106

Secretary of State

Spencer Danner, 15931 Yates St, Omaha 68116

Auditor of Public Accounts

Jane Skinner, 4651 Douglas St, Omaha 68132

Public Service Commissioner District 1

John Atkeison, 2601 N 44th St Unit 101, Lincoln 68504

Christa Yoakum, 330 NW 13th St, Lincoln 68528

UNL Board of Regents

District 5

Joshua Redwine, 1300 W Keating Dr, Lincoln 68521

Southeast Community College Board of Governors

District 3

Michael Hendricksen, 1640 N 52nd St, Lincoln 68505

District 4

Jim Garver, 815 Elmwood Ave, Lincoln 68510

District 5

Joe Skopp, 5410 Troon Dr, Lincoln 68526

Arlyn Uhrmacher, 3220 Sheridan Blvd, Lincoln 68502

Nebraska State Legislature

District 26

Matt Hansen, 6230 Glendale Rd, Lincoln 68505

District 28

Patty Pansing Brooks, 1925 Dakota St, Lincoln 68502

District 30

Don Schuller, 9415 East Sage Rd, Wymore 68466

District 46

Adam Morfeld, 1240 N. 33rd, Lincoln 68503

Lancaster County Commissioner

District 1

Sean Flowerday, 2901 A Unit 106, Lincoln 68510

District 5

Rick Vest, 2145 Gunnison Dr, Lincoln 68521

Lancaster County Treasurer

Rachel Garver, PO Box 84154, Lincoln 68501

Andrew Stock, 3629 S 19th St, Lincoln 68502

Lower Platte South NRD

District 1

Mechelle Sky Walker, 5123 W Kingsley, Lincoln 68524

District 2

Mark Spangler, 9426 12th St, Murray 68409

District 3

Vern Barrett, 1909 County Rd E, Ceresco 68017

District 5

Bruce Johnson, 254 West Lakeshore Dr, Lincoln 68528

District 6

Deborah Eagan, 2021 Indigo Ct, Lincoln 68521

District 7

Joseph Gruber, 630 N 31st St, Lincoln 68503

Luke Peterson, 2520 R St Apt 1, Lincoln 68503

Grady Wiedeman, 630 N 31st St, Lincoln 68503

District 8, two-year term

Dan Steinkruger, 7435 Whitestone Dr, Lincoln 68516

District 8, four-year term

Tom Green, 710 Wedgewood Dr, Lincoln 68510

District 10

Karen Amen, 3220 Joy Ct, Lincoln 68502

At Large

David Landis, 4810 S 44th St, Lincoln 68516

Lancaster County Clerk

Dan Nolte, 1853 Otoe, Lincoln 68502

Lancaster County Public Defender

Joe Nigro, 1905 Dover Ct, Lincoln 68506

Mayor of Hickman

Douglas Hanson, 905 Larkspur Dr, Hickman 68372

Hickman City Council

John Meese, 811 Maple Ct, Hickman 68372

Waverly City Council, Ward 1 Kyle Bassinger, 13845 Lancashire St, Waverly 68462

Waverly City Council, Ward 2 William Gerdes, 14311 Eastbourne St, Waverly 68462

Waverly School Board, Ward 3

Scott Claycomb, 1368 Percheron Dr, Eagle 68347

Norris School Board

Ward 2

Patty Benzinger, 17005 S 54th St, Hickman 68372

Ward 4

Jim Craig, 108 E 7th St, Panama 68419

Malcolm School Board

Verle Finke, 8600 NW 126th St, Malcolm 68402

Palmyra School Board

Susan Steward, 798 N 10th St, Palmyra 68418

Panama Board of Trustees

Jim Craig, 108 E 7th St, Panama 68419

The Lancaster County

Democrat May 2018

Notes from the Chair

Jane Egan

This is my last

newsletter article as your Chair before the county party elects new officers at our convention to be held on June 2, 2018. I have enjoyed serving as your Chair the past two

years. There are always setbacks and bumps in the road with any organization, but we have moved the party forward and plan to continue. There is still work to be done and visions of a more progressive and professional organization are still our goals. I ask for your support as I run for a second term as your Chair. New blood is vital to any organization, but we must also embrace and honor the people that do the work every day and have the historical and institutional knowledge to keep the wheels spinning. Together we can build this party!

I want to thank newsletter editor Jean Sanders for producing an excellent product every month. Jean generously volunteers her time and expertise to make the newsletter a place for people to freely share ideas, opinions and events without undue censorship. Jean solicits people from many disciplines and backgrounds to submit interesting articles each month. Jean also chairs the History Committee. Many thanks to you Jean for your fine work and dedication to the Lancaster County Democratic Party!

Thanks go to Jim Johnson for his production and distribution of the newsletter. Jim chairs the Communications and Public Relations Committee that is responsible for the newsletter and producing our Watchful Citizen cable television show. Your work over so many years is much appreciated. Kudos to Jean Sanders and Jim Johnson. You are both one of the many behind the scenes volunteers that keeps the county party wheels turning and deserve our deep gratitude.

I also want to thank Ann Hopkins, Jerry Kurth, Roger Eschliman, John Atkeison and Maryjo Shibata for staffing our office and for doing so many other things for the county party. You have been wonderful volunteers and valued members of the team. Ted Kessler and Debi McGee have contributed their talents and time to the county party for many years. Your work is appreciated every day.

The Lancaster County Democratic Party will hold a convention June 2nd at the Southeast Community College, 8800 O Street, in Lincoln. Delegates will elect new officers, central committee members, delegates to the state convention and will adopt bylaws, resolutions and a platform. This is your opportunity to come together with Democrats from Lancaster County to have a say in how the party will be directed in the next two years.

Delegates will register from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. The convention gavels in at 1:30 and adjourns at 6:30 p.m. Bring your own snacks and a sack lunch if you plan to stay for the entire convention. We have a lot of business to conduct and will keep a tightly paced agenda. The Honorable State Senator Kate Bolz will chair the convention. If you have questions about the convention, call our office. Delegate forms are due no later than May 25th and are available on our website and at 830 L Street. Our venue at Southeast Community College accommodates up to 300 people. We will cut off registration of delegates when we reach that number of attendees. You must be a registered Democrat by June 2nd to be a delegate.

May 15th is Election Day! The Lancaster County Democratic Party will host an election night watch party at the Single Barrel restaurant. Polls open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Voter returns will be reported by the media around 9:00 p.m. Candidates and elected officials will attend along with Democratic supporters from Lancaster County. Join us in celebrating the winners and honoring all candidates who work so very hard to run for office.

Come Celebrate Primary Night with the Lancaster County Democrats at The Single Barrel, 130 N 10th St, Lincoln Nebraska, Tuesday, May 15th, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Come early and enjoy dinner from their delicious menu. Go to TheSingleBarrel.com or phone 402-904-4631 to make your dinner reservations.

REMEMBER! DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT. GET OUT. GET ACTIVE. IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER!

See you election night and at the convention!

Crawford for Congress on Women’s Health

Fortenberry and his fellow D.C. Repub-licans would like the voters to believe that they support freedom and limited government. This has become the mantra of today’s GOP.

The catch in the D.C. Republicans’ freedom

“vision” is that their version of freedom only applies to businesses and gun owners but not individuals. It is big business, the wealthy and gun owners who benefit from the Republicans’ so-called freedom agenda. Everybody else is saddled with big government.

One critical area where Fortenberry and the D.C. Republicans believe in big government is in the area of women’s health care. Fortenberry wants to put politicians, bureaucrats, judges and CEOs in charge of women’s health care decisions. They want these third parties to make reproductive decisions for women.

I trust the women of Nebraska CD01 to make the appropriate decisions regarding their health care and reproductive choices. I’m also a small business owner who has employed many women over the years. Their health care choices are none of my business.

Mr. Fortenberry wants to allow the boss to dictate whether or not company health insurance policies allow birth control coverage. That is simply wrong. Moreover, those company health insurance policies are not a gift from the employer — those are benefits that are earned by the female employees. That is part of their compensation package.

I believe that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and should remain a binding precedent. I believe the Constitution protects a woman’s right to make the most intimate and difficult decisions about her health care. I believe in a woman’s right to choose.

I’m running for Congress because I strongly disagree with Fortenberry’s position on women’s health care issues. If you want different results out of Washington, you have to vote for different people. That’s why I’m running for Congress.

Team McClure is ready to make a big push

through the primary on May 15th! We are proud to announce endorsements

from a wide array of organizations and Democratic Party members:

Moms Demand Gun Sense Candidate Distinction

Nebraska Democratic Party LGBTQIA Caucus Nebraska Democratic Women’s Caucus Women Under Forty PAC Seeing Red Nebraska Adelle Burke Kate Wolfe

We have made over

11,000 voter contacts, but we need your help to Get Out the Vote for Jessica on May 15th!

A member of our team will be in our office every day from May 1 - May 15. We have opportunities for all levels of experience and all levels of social interaction from knocking doors to making phone calls to addressing letters. If you’d like to volunteer, give Alexis a call at 402-719-7349 or drop in during the following office hours: Monday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Friday-Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

We are located at Turbine Flats at 2124 Y Street, Flat 210 in Lincoln.

Don't hesitate to contact us via Facebook at Jessica McClure for Congress or through our website, JessicaMcClureforCongress.com. We are always posting new content and policy information on Facebook, our website, and on Twitter@Clure4Congress.

May 15th is Primary Election Day. Here are some quick tips:

Get out and vote and take a friend! Don’t forget to fill out the entire ballot. If you won’t be able to vote on the 15th, you

can still vote beforehand in person at the Lancaster County Election Commissioner office at 601 N. 46th Street in Lincoln.

Complete information, including a list of polling places, sample ballots, and a list of candidates can be found here: http://www.lancaster.ne.gov/election/18elections.htm.

If you experience any problems attempting to vote, it’s important that you call 420-312-3266 for assistance and to document it.

Spencer Danner is unopposed for Secretary of

State in the primary, so we hope that everyone will get out and vote for Spencer. Even though we’re advancing to November, a big vote count in the primary will help show a strong level of support in Lancaster County and across the state. Help the Danner campaign

MAP Nebraska’s Future: Modernize Voter Registration and

Education; Advance Economic and Civic Responsibility; Preserve Election Integrity and Security!

Support Spencer by donating to his campaign, signing up to volunteer, or offering to host a house party at www.dannerfornebraska.com and let’s Energize Nebraska!

COMMITTEES

All Lancaster County Democratic Party committees

meet at the County Party office, 830 L St., Lincoln.

Central Committee membership is not required for

participation. Volunteers are welcome.

Candidate Services – Last Wed. each month, 7:00 p.m.

Jen Seaman, Chair, jen.seaman@doane.edu

Fundraising – 2nd Wed. each month, 7:30 p.m.

John Markey, Chair, JMarkey265@gmail.com

History – last Tues. Feb., May, Aug., Nov., 7:00 p.m.

Jean Sanders, jsanders@neb.rr.com

Issues – 2nd Tues. each month, 7:00 p.m.

Ken Snyder, Chair, neilsen01@windstream.net

Membership – 2nd Mon., each month, 7:00 p.m.

Maryjo Shibata, Chair, mjes627@gmail.com

Public Relations – 1st Tues. each month, 5:30 p.m.

Jim Johnson, Chair, jimjohnson@neb.rr.com

Technology – 2nd Sat. each month, 11:00 a.m.

James Baldus, Chair, jhbaldus@gmail.com

Come Celebrate Primary Night with the

Lancaster County Democrats at

The Single Barrel 130 N 10th ST

Lincoln, NE Tuesday, May 15th

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Come early and enjoy dinner from their delicious

menu. Go to TheSingleBarrel.com or phone

402-904-4631 to make your dinner reservations.

Dearest Democrats,

It’s been a while since I wrote something for

you to read and I apologize for the delay. My life has been super busy; however, I know that isn’t the best excuse for not sharing the activities I have been doing not only for my campaign for the Lower Platte South Natural Resource District, but also something that I have been working on for years. So please allow me a few moments to explain myself.

First, I truly want to thank all of the support shown to me for my campaign to the Natural Resource District. It’s been months in the making to get to this point and I still have a way to go to be where I want to be.

This journey began last summer when I simply reached out to the board member whose term would be up for reelection: Dick Bolte. All I did was write a handwritten letter to him and he had the temerity to respond back with a phone call and asked me, “Are you interested in running?” Who knew how big of an impact it is to show a little bold intrepidness.

Since then I have been going to all the meetings I can, talking to all the interested persons there are for the environment and raising money for the race to be successful. I even have a few endorsements over my race and one I am really proud to share with you all: Lincoln City Councilman Carl Eskridge. I have known Carl since he first ran for City Council back in 2011 and I couldn’t be more grateful to have his endorsement.

However, what really humbles me is the ballot selfies people have been privately sharing with me over social media. I did not expect that, considering that I still need to raise some more money to pay for my palm cards so then I can start knocking on doors. I am happy to report that I am halfway to my fundraising goal! So if you are so moved by my efforts, I would greatly appreciate your generosity and it can be made here, with the link provided: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/luke-peterson-for-lower-platte-south-natural-resource-dist-1

The second thing I want to mention about what I have been doing is something that I haven’t given up on ever since the experience of wrongdoing happened. Back in January, I was approached by a freelance journalist contracted by the Gill Foundation to help with a grassroots campaign over awareness of the inequality that still exists in 31 states across the United States that have no equal protection laws beyond marriage. I couldn’t say no to the opportunity. So I am very happy to share this website with you today: www.beyondido.org. Now I will disclose that the website isn’t necessarily accurate in terms of names of my story but that’s okay because I won’t fret over little details like those. It’s just a privilege to even have been asked to help.

That being said, I have to share with you my family’s desire for me to be discrete about my advocacy. In fact my father told me to not do a public announcement for my race to the Lower Platte South Natural Resource District because he fears for my safety if I am too much “out.” It’s a major reason why I have been keeping my life behind the scenes. However, if I want to effect change not only about climate change going on, but also the brain drain that Nebraska is hemorrhaging due to having a statewide policy of intolerance and bias towards our LGBT loved ones, I can’t keep my mouth shut over these issues I care about.

So I need your help! Not only help in keeping me safe and having peace of mind for myself and others, but also to help with the advocacy, and your help to get me elected so then together we can pursue a vision of environmental sustainability that Lincoln can be proud of! With Pride, Luke Peterson

Carl Eskridge and Luke Peterson

I want to represent you on the Public Service Commission! My constant activism against KXL dates back to 2011 and my first Opinion columns against it in the Journal Star and the World Herald. Many things that affect our everyday lives are regulated by the PSC, from phones to pipelines and from moving vans to natural gas, from party buses to taxis and Uber and Lyft, from broadband Internet access to grain elevators and the 911 emergency call system. Nebraska's PSC should serve the public, not just the big corporations with lots of lobbyists and lawyers. I am trained and I am experienced. As director for climate and clean energy with the Alliance for Affordable Energy from 2007 to 2010, I represented grassroots groups and coalitions before the Louisiana Public Service Commission. I’ve been trained at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners School and used that regulatory training here in Nebraska to support clean renewable energy and Nebraska’s Public Power institutions. I’m a self-made man in the working class sense. I adapted to the constantly shifting economies of the 20th and 21st centuries, with new jobs and careers that included university classrooms, management responsibilities and union negotiator roles. In 2003 I gave up a career in software development to focus on public education and organizing around the issue of global warming. The greenhouse gas pollution that traps heat in our atmosphere causes climate change, which is warping climates in an extremely dangerous way. While I’m a life-long activist in areas of peace, gender equity, racial justice, immigration, and trade unions, my history of formal public service begins with that change of career from software to service. Please support me on my website and with your vote in the primary election on May 15!

No Substitute For

Experience

I'm trained and experienced. I'm ready to go, and ready to represent people like you and me.

Elect John Atkeison

to the PSC! www.JohnForPSC.com

And on Facebook

Atkeison for PSC, 2601 N 44th St, Lincoln 68504

Friends and fellow Democrats,

Soon, you’ll enter the voting booth and fill out

your ballot for the Democratic primary. If you’re an

early voter, you might already know who got your

support and are excitedly waiting along with the rest of

us for the results on May 15. One final time before the

primary, I’d like to ask for your support of my campaign

for Public Service Commission. Embarking on this

journey has been a dream come true and I am energized

when talking about our state’s future with voters. Since

January, I’ve crisscrossed my district, from kickoffs to

phonebanks to parades, and through it all have stayed

true to the pledge I made in my campaign

announcement: I’ll put people first as Public Service

Commissioner.

There’s a whole lot of policy behind that

commitment:

● Protecting Nebraskans against eminent domain

for private gain

● Expanding internet access equitably and

efficiently

● Stewarding our natural resources and our

environment

● Ensuring transparency and professionalism in

the PSC’s decision-making

● Implementing a reliable and innovative next

generation 911 system

● Listening to our communities and looking out

for the best interests of people

All of these are what putting people first is all

about.

Throughout my lifetime of involvement with the

Democratic Party in Nebraska, election season has

always been an exciting time for me. This year, it takes

on a special significance during my first campaign for

public office ever. I believe that my long history as a

community organizer with the LCDP and the Nebraska

Democratic Party has proven my integrity and

demonstrated my knowledge and leadership as an

advocate for our Democratic values. I’ve served the

Party on numerous committees, including stints as the

Chair of the Candidate Services Committee and on the

Executive Committee as Secretary. Statewide, I was a

longtime chair of the CD 1 Women’s Caucus and

currently serve as the CD1 Associate Chair. Through all

of these experiences as a Nebraskan Democrat, I’ve

upheld our common commitments to inclusion,

accessibility, and progress in our communities.

I have been so incredibly thankful for the

opportunity to meet many voters and community

members passionately engaged in our civic process. I’m

especially appreciative for all of my supporters who

have given me the encouragement to bring our voices to

the Public Service Commission.

As you enter the voting booth on May 15, I’m

asking you to cast your ballot for Christa Yoakum for

Public Service Commission. We need a Commissioner

who serves with integrity, who listens with compassion,

and who puts people first in every decision. And I

believe I’m the right woman for the job. Thank you for

your support and for your commitment to our

Democratic community!

All the best,

Christa

Fiscal Integrity and the Lancaster County Treasurer’s Office By Rachel Garver, Candidate for Lancaster County Treasurer

What is fiscal

integrity? Definitions are a key component to communication. By understanding a word’s definition, we can all be on the same page. This fosters meaningful dialogue between opposing or concurrent viewpoints.

FISCAL - Definition: Relating to government revenue, especially taxes. INTEGRITY - Definition: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

The County Treasurer is accountable to taxpayers through transparent and fiscally responsible practices. To deliver high quality services in the most efficient and effective manner possible, fiscal integrity is of the utmost importance in the daily operation of the County Treasurer’s office.

Good ethical practice starts within the

organization by creating trust and loyalty among staff through informed, fair and predictable leadership. A good leader driven to ensure fiscal integrity will:

Foster collaboration and communication Establish proper oversight Maintain a positive environment Leverage professional expertise Connect with staff Value staff Deal with issues immediately

Develop good relationships, both formally and informally

Ensure staff feels comfortable bringing ideas and concerns to management

Fiscal integrity is about managing finances

responsibly. It starts with a strong, committed organization led by caring, experienced and honest management. I will bring that leadership to the Lancaster County Treasurer’s Office. I have a proven track record through 24 years of on-the-job experience, managing and leading staff at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln’s Student Accounts, as well as a degree in Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University.

I have valued and practiced honesty and

embraced strong moral principles throughout my life. Sometimes that has meant delivering communication that some may wish to avoid. Sometimes that has meant feeling uncomfortable, but knowing honesty is the best path for all. In both the immediate and the long run, honesty and integrity provide the foundation for trust with staff and the public. Without these values, we lose sight of the common good. In the case of the County Treasurer, we diminish respect for the office.

Public service is about placing the needs of the community before one’s own selfish interests. Public service is not about acquiring prestige or superior resources, it’s about giving of one’s self so that the whole community can prosper. I am committed to these values. These values are primary among the reasons I have opted to run for Lancaster County Treasurer.

The citizens of Lancaster County deserve qualified, ethical leadership. I am counting on your vote on May 15th to be able to bring my commitment to public service to Lancaster County.

My Fellow Democrats,

On the campaign trail, I’ve talked a lot about

absorbing credit card and debit card DMV fees as a cost

of doing business. In fact, sometimes it feels like that’s

all I’ve talked about the last few months. But that’s not

my only idea for the office. Another change I'd like to

make is to give residents the option to pay their property

taxes in monthly installments through electronic fund

transfers (EFTs) rather than bi-annual payments. This

could be a welcome convenience to many residents—

especially those on a fixed income who like to plan out

their monthly budget. I’ve heard from many voters they

would appreciate having this option.

I also want to do what I can to lower the penalty

on late property tax payments. Currently, the interest on

late payments is 14%. That’s way too high. There needs

to be a reasonable interest rate on late payments, but

14% makes it hard for families to save their homes. Yes,

I understand that the delinquent property tax interest rate

isn’t under the direct control of the county treasurer—it's

set by state statute—but I’m a believer in the power of

persuasion. I think that if the next county treasurer

speaks out on this issue, it’s possible legislative change

could follow.

Finally, I would update the treasurer’s website to

make it user friendly. Many citizens prefer to do their

DMV business in the brick-and-mortar County Treasurer

buildings—and that’s great! But for those who do their

DMV business online, I want the website to be so easy

to use that people can simply pull out their smartphones

and take care of their renewals with a few quick entries

and swipes.

I also want to take a moment to point out that

with a staff of 39 and an annual budget of $3.7 million,

running the Lancaster County Treasurer’s Office is a

leadership position. And I’ve been a leader in

courtrooms. I’ve been a leader in classrooms. And I was

a leader in the fields when I led 63 migrant farmworkers

in a legal action against Monsanto Company, the largest

seed company in the world. I eventually went on to

become the project manager of Legal Aid of Nebraska’s

Migrant Law Project, where we worked hard to find

justice for migrant farmworkers across Nebraska.

But experience isn’t everything. If it were, the

Republican incumbent would have this race in the bag.

But judgment and values count for something. In fact,

they count for a lot. And that’s why when this primary

election is over and the dust has settled, if Ms. Garver is

our Democratic nominee for county treasurer, I’ll

support her. And if I win the primary on May 15th, I

hope she’ll do the same for me. It’s important that we

Democrats stick together. After all, there are only two

major political parties in this country and lately one of

those parties seems to have lost its mind.

See you at the polls!

Andrew Stock

Democratic Candidate for Lancaster County

Treasurer

Andrew Stock with Young Democrats

Lancaster County Democrats,

As your Democratic nominee for District 5 of the County Board of Commissioners, I’ve done my best to represent the Party well while talking with voters over the last few months. My district

is pretty evenly split between the two sides of the political divide and I’ve worked to understand how I can best represent both Democratic and Republican constituents as I look toward the future. This isn’t the first time I’ve run as a Democrat and faced this challenge. Back in 2016, I fought a spirited campaign for State Senator and unfortunately didn’t make it out of the primary. I was disappointed, but I immediately voiced my support for the remaining Democratic candidate because I believed he would best represent our community’s values. Earlier this year, I felt the call to run for County Board and bring those values to local government. In the coming months, we will have a tremendous chance to build bridges in Lancaster County. As a candidate, I’ll be working to create consensus across the aisle and throughout my district. I truly believe that on Election Day, I’ll count on the support of Republicans and Democrats, Independents and Libertarians, not because of party loyalty, but because my policies are based around the values we all share.

The values taught right here in our county seem simple, but they mean a whole lot. They’re values like common sense, consensus, and community, which guide our commitments and our priorities. As Democrats, our values inspire us to stick up for the little guy, look forward instead of behind, and have faith in one another.

As I’ve been telling voters, the District 5

County Board race will be a historic opportunity and a close-call. We’ll win this one by reaching out to our neighbors, family, and coworkers and healing divides ripped open by partisan politics. Building bridges won’t be easy. I won’t compromise on our Party’s commitment to equality, justice, and civility. But we can find common ground with our non-Democrat neighbors, and I’m committed to proving that on November 6.

If you’re passionate about building consensus

and promoting our community values in local government, I could sure use your help. Join my campaign as a volunteer or financial supporter at VoteVest.com/Join. And if you’re interested in learning more about my policy positions, you can check them out at VoteVest.com/platform.

As I think about the legacy we leave for my grandkids’ generation, I’m more convinced than ever that I was right to answer the call to run for County Board. Building a bright future is not a small job. We can do it, but only if our community works together. Best, Rick Vest Rick@VoteVest.com Facebook.com/VoteVest

Call for Nominations By Deane Finnegan

The Lancaster County Democratic Party Convention will be here soon. The Party will be electing our County Party Officers who will serve for the next two years.

The Nominating Committee is calling for nominations for Chair, First Associate Chair, 2nd Associate Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

If you are interested in running for one of these offices or would like to nominate someone, please send his/her name(s) to Deane Finnegan (dfinnegan38@gmail.com) by Tuesday, May 15.

While nominations will be accepted from the floor of the convention, everyone who is nominated by May 15, will be listed on a ballot and will be contacted prior to the convention to get the names of those speaking on their behalf.

The duties of the officers, as laid out in the LCDP’s Bylaws are listed below: 1. County Chair: The County Chair, in addition to any powers and responsibilities that may be elsewhere specified, shall: a. Establish such subcommittees as he or she deems appropriate; b. Appoint the chairs of the subcommittees with the approval of the Central Committee; c. Supervise the organizing and conducting of the County Convention and meetings of the Central Committee, including appointment of temporary presiding officials of the County Convention; d. Preside at meetings of the Central and Executive Committees; e. Direct day-to-day activities of the County Party organization; however, the Chair shall take no action contrary to any specific directive of the County Convention or Central Committee; f. Represent the County Party under authority and direction of the Central Committee; g. Set the time and place of the Central Committee and Executive Committee meetings each month; h. Assign duties to Executive Committee Officers as needed; i. Complete all appointments required by these Bylaws within sixty (60) days of the conclusion of the County Convention. 2. Associate Chair. The Associate Chair, who must be of the opposite gender of the Chair, shall: a. Assume the powers and responsibilities of the County Chair if the office of County Chair falls vacant, and shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee. An election shall be held to fill position of

Associate Chair only if the same gender would be filling both County Chair and Associate Chair positions, and this would be done according to the Bylaws of the County Party in place at the time the vacancy occurs. Then the Second Associate Chair shall retain said position; b. Serve as representatives of Executive Committee

at Standing Committee meetings, as assigned by the

Chair;

c. Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Chair. 3. 2nd Associate Chair. The duty of the Second Associate Chair, who may be any gender, shall be to: a. Assume the duties of the Associate Chair if that office falls vacant; b. Serve as representative of Executive Committee at Standing Committee meetings, as assigned by the Chair; c. Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Chair. 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall: a. Keep the minutes of the Executive and Central Committee meetings; b. Maintain a list of the current Central Committee members and their attendance. c. Handle correspondence with elected officials; d. Make provisions for retaining records for reference and historical purposes in a way that is accessible to current and future members of the County Party; e. Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Chair. 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive, keep and disperse the funds of the County Party, as directed by the Central Committee, and shall serve on the Executive Committee. The treasurer assumes the fiduciary responsibility of prudent handling of County party funds and must ensure that these monies are not commingled with other accounts.

LANCASTER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

CONVENTION JUNE 2, 2018

Delegate Registration Form Purpose: This form is used to register as a delegate to the county convention.

Instructions: Please complete the form in its entirety, by printing the information requested in the spaces provided.

Be sure the form is legible. Be sure to sign the form in the space provided.

REGISTRATION DUE BY MAY 25, 2018 Mail To: LCDP Hand Deliver To: LCDP Office

P.O. Box 83213 830 L Street

Lincoln NE 68501 Office Hours: Mon – Fri (10:00 am to 2:00 pm)

Office Phone: (402) 476-2268

Required Information

Registered Voter’s Name: __________________________________________ ______________________________________ (First, Middle Initial, Last) (County of Residence)

Registered Voter’s Address: ____________________________________ _____________________ _______ _________ (Street address where you reside & are registered to vote) (City) (State) (Zip)

Email: 1. ________________________________________ Phone Number: _________________________ (Home)

2. ________________________________________ __________________________ (Cell) __________________________ (Work)

I declare my intention to become a delegate to the Democratic County Convention in Lancaster

County.

I am (or will be) a registered Democrat in Lancaster County no later than May 25, 2018.

Signature ________________________________________ Today’s Date _____________________

For Office Use Only

Janet Chung to Run for County Chair

I’m excited to announce that I will run for Chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Party at the annual convention June 2.

If ever there was a time for Democrats to unite at the Federal, State and local level, it is now.

I began attending the Lancaster County Democratic Party meetings because I felt the need to help Democrats get elected.

It’s an exciting time with 500+ Democratic candidates running for elected office throughout the state of Nebraska. There’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm as volunteers knock doors, make calls and get people to the polls.

I currently serve as Legislative District 26 Leader, attending Executive Committee meetings, and serving on the Disciplinary Committee.

I’ve been busy attending campaign kickoffs and supporting candidates. I am active on Twitter (@janet_chung) and Facebook, reaching voters and supporting Democratic candidates. Early this year, I created the Facebook group Democratic Candidate Activities in Lancaster County where we have 600+ members following the activity of our candidates running for office.

I have been described as a quiet, thoughtful leader who is a good listener. I ask questions and encourage people to bring solutions to the team to accomplish goals and get the job done. My experience with business management, event fundraising, establishing relationships and creating trust, make me an exceptionably unique candidate for Lancaster County.

As County Party Chair, I will help bring people together to get Democrats elected! I would be honored to have your vote on June 2. Janet Chung

Greetings, my fellow Lancaster County

Democrats!

This month marks the one-year anniversary of

my election to the Lincoln Airport Authority Board of

Directors. It has been an honor and a privilege to be

representing you all as the sole Democrat on the Board.

Although I am the only Democrat on the board, I have

had no problem whatsoever in working with the other

board members to ensure that I am faithfully serving the

residents that I represent. There has been no lack of

cooperation or bipartisanship in the work that we do.

This cooperation and bipartisanship amongst our

local governing body is something that I believe is

sorely lacking on the state and national level of

government. Over the course of the past year, I have

worked with my fellow board members to ensure

continued economic growth in our industrial park, by

approving various new and continued lease agreements

with the numerous small businesses and companies that

help provide the economic prosperity that we all enjoy in

Lincoln. Together, we have also been diligently working

to bring a third airline carrier to Lincoln, which will help

drive down prices for consumers and will also alleviate

the economic leakage we have been experiencing with

would-be passengers opting to travel to Omaha, Kansas

City and elsewhere.

Our continued deliberations and commitment to

make this happen will greatly contribute to continued

economic growth for our small and local businesses here

in Lincoln. I am hopeful and confident that the hard,

bipartisan work of the Airport board and more

importantly, the Airport staff to bring more flight

options, will soon provide dividends for our

extraordinary community and all those who live and

work in it. I am looking forward to what the next few

years will have in store for our small, but mighty airport!

Again, it has been a privilege to serve on the

board, and I cannot thank you all enough for the support

and votes you cast for me last May. As a life-long

Lincolnite and as a proud Lancaster County Democrat,

you cannot imagine how blessed I feel to be one of our

community’s local public servants. Local government

and local political participation is the most important

aspect of a strong, vibrant democracy!

Zachary Mora James,

Lincoln Airport Authority

A LIFE WELL LIVED Remembering Dr. Janet Malone By Roger W. Eschliman “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Janet Malone’s laughter was infectious, her intelligence razor sharp, and her dedication to progressive causes awe-inspiring. Put it all together, and I will always remember Janet fondly as my fascinating friend.

The phone rang at the Lancaster County Democratic Party offices. I was lucky to be the volunteer on duty, because I was about to meet a new friend. “Hello, this is Janet Malone, and I’ve just moved here from Wisconsin. I’m living at the Legacy.” “Oh, it’s so nice that you’ve called,” I responded back in my friendliest voice. “Well,” Janet continued, “sometimes I just need to find another Democrat that I can talk with.” “You’ve come to the right place,” I responded.

During that initial phone call, Janet and I talked for well over an hour. When our conversation was coming to a close I suggested, “Tell you what, I’ll be finishing up my duties at the office soon, and I’d love to stop by the Legacy and meet you.” “That’d be great,” responded Janet. “We’ll meet in the ice cream parlor. They have great coffee there.”

Over the three plus years that followed, Janet and I would enjoy many “coffee sessions.” Often times we’d meet in her apartment or at my home. We even joked that we were conducting a research project together—wanting to discover the very best pie and coffee cafe in Lincoln. But whatever the venue, the conversations would always be even better than the treats. I’ll never forget those chat sessions. How I’ll miss my conversations with Janet!

For every Democratic Party meeting, I’d also provide transportation for Janet. Those conversations were really interesting too. Several years ago, on January 14, I stopped by The Legacy to provide Janet’s ride. “Today’s my birthday,” she announced. “No, it can’t be,” I responded with surprise in my voice. “Yes it is,” protested Janet. “Why do you find that so hard to believe?” “Because,” I chuckled, “today is my birthday too.” Janet and I shared more than a birthdate in common. Over time, she and I discovered that our life-experiences, thoughts about religion and political views intersected far more than we could have imagined.

Sometimes Janet and I would chat about family. She grew up on a farm close to Waverly and

attended the Prairie Home Church as a child. Remembering her roots was very important for Janet. That’s why she moved back to Nebraska from her home in Wisconsin, spending her final years in Lincoln. She wanted to reconnect with those childhood memories and live close to her nieces and their families. The Malone Family cares deeply for one another. Janet was an important member of their family circle. She was loved, and I was deeply touched by their role modeling of how a strong, caring family is supportive of one another. In memorializing Janet on Facebook, one of her nieces called her Aunt Janet “my cool aunt.”

Janet’s career path also made for good conversation. Janet was a scholar and an educator: high school teacher, then official of the New Mexico Department of Education, and finally she enjoyed a long career as a University professor. Most of those years, and until her retirement, Dr. Malone served on the faculty of the Stevens Point, Wisconsin, campus in the School of Human Development and Nutritional Sciences. In that leadership role, Janet was a loud voice in advocating for quality early childhood education and in her appreciation for strong public schools. She and I had long talks about her appreciation for public schools and what teachers are doing every day to make a difference in the lives of kids. She was not a fan of any politicized scheme that would draw dollars away from and thus weaken public education. She believed that the future of the nation is depended upon the maintaining of strong public schools.

Following Janet’s death, one of her former students, now an elementary school teacher, shared deeply appreciative thoughts with the Malone family. “Janet’s patience, love of children and ability to make every college student who walked into her classroom feel like they were somebody special, continues to drive me to be a better teacher every single day. Her voice and influence pop into my mind when a par-ticular student is ‘pushing the limit’ or expectations seem to be too much. Janet developed in me the drive and belief that I was trained to do a very important job. She developed confident students who were ready to nurture the youngest learners and provide the education that they deserve. Janet encouraged us to get out there, do what we love and make a difference in the lives we touch.” - Karrie Freina

After retiring, Janet became politically active, devoting hundreds of hours to progressive causes and Democratic candidates. She made thousands of phone calls, wrote hundreds of letters and made monetary contributions on behalf of causes that she believed in. Whether it was fighting for sensible gun legislation, protecting public education, sticking up

for kids, or protecting the rights of women, Janet was ready to stand up and be counted. Another niece lovingly said of her Aunt Janet, “She was the original feminist.”

My conversations with Janet about political happenings were always insightful. I especially appreciated her personal knowledge and searing concerns over what’s happening in Wisconsin.

Janet worked tirelessly on the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. She viewed the political winds blowing there as protecting the power structure and trampling on everyone else. She was deeply pained by the “dumbing down” of the University System in Wisconsin. She believed the state was choosing tax reductions over kids. And for Janet, that was intolerable. On her beloved Stevens Point campus, she had followed the sad published news that the school planned to drop English, history, philosophy and 10 other liberal arts majors. “They want to turn my campus into more of a trade school,” Janet lamented. “And all because they’ve deeply cut taxes, and so now they have to cut programs.” She was not happy about the political trends in her adopted home state.

Just a few weeks ago, while bravely fighting the effects of lung cancer, Janet made posters for the Lincoln March for Our Lives, although she was unable to attend in person. “I’ve made lots of protest sign in my day,” she chuckled, “I can do this with my eyes closed.” She also made signs for participants to carry in the Women’s March last January. Even in failing health, Janet found a way for letting her voice be heard as marchers made their way from the UNL Student Union to the State Capitol.

When Janet received the devastating news of her cancer’s progression, she telephoned me. “You’re going to have to help get me through this,” she said. “I’ve had a wonderful life, I have no regrets.” She asked that I plan her memorial service. She called it, “her party. I want it to be a celebration,” she said. “Don’t let it be sad. Remember, it’s a party.” Well, I did all I could for Janet, as she embarked upon her final journey. Her wonderful family was there too. We were all feeling the loss.

I asked Janet if she had a favorite scripture reading. She didn’t hesitate in answering, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13) We then talked about Janet’s strong faith and the love of God which had sustained her through all of the days of her 81 years.

April 4, 2018, Janet passed from this life. Her nieces and I were at Janet’s bedside to bid her farewell. Well done Janet. Yours was a life well lived.

A memorial service has been planned for July 6, 10:30 a.m., at the Prairie Home Church. It has to be an unconventional service. I think we’ll hang a banner above the door that reads, “Janet’s Party.” Maybe we’ll all sign petitions in favor of strong local public schools. How about releasing brightly colored helium balloons skyward as we remember the resurrection? Janet’s faith will definitely be celebrated. God’s presence will be felt. Laughter and applause will be appreciated.

Can We Please Just Play Nice?

Civility in Politics By Janet Malone

Civility—a word that we hear often these days.

However, when I told an individual from the opposite

political persuasion that I was writing this article, he

said, “What the hell does that mean?” My immediate

thought was: You don’t know the meaning of civility?

Perhaps you are not alone and that is the reason that we

see so little of it when political discourse arises.

And so, thinking I should keep it fairly simple, I

said that civility means “being nice.” This is, of course, a

bare-bones definition. Civility might be defined as

showing regard for others through words and actions. It

includes such things as listening respectfully to the ideas

of the other person; focusing on ideas rather than upon

personal attacks, making an effort to understand the

point of view of the other and striving for an end result

of learning and understanding rather than winning or

being right.

On the flip side, civility does not mean lying

down and playing dead. Holding tight to our First

Amendment rights, we each have the right to make our

ideas known. What we don’t have the right to do is to

belittle, to put down, or to issue personal attacks against

others. This is where civility—playing nice—comes in.

President Obama, speaking at a bipartisan

gathering said, “In America, there aren’t laws that say

we have to be nice to each other, but there are norms,

there are customs, there are values that our parents have

taught us and that we try to teach our children.”

Unfortunately, this does not happen in all families, but in

a civil society there exist certain expectations regarding

how we treat those with whom we come into contact.

The more confrontational and the more divisive the

group, the greater the need for civility. Such is the case

when rhetoric turns to politics. And so, we see the 2016

election cycle filled with example after example of

incivility.

We have all seen evidence, or lack thereof, of

civility as we have watched the 2016 elections unfold.

We have seen name-calling, cursing, use of false or

inaccurate facts and condescension as we have watched

debates and other speeches. We have also observed body

language that speaks to a sense of incivility. The curled

lip, the clenched fist and the pointed finger all serve to

say, “You are wrong and I am right.” Since we have all

seen myriad examples of incivility ala Donald Trump

and others, there is no need to talk further about that.

Instead, I want to take a further look into civility at

home, in the workplace, on the city streets or other

places where you meet your family, your friends, or your

colleagues and where political discussions are common.

I know of people whom I consider to be good,

intelligent people who seem to lose all sense of civility

when political discussions arise. I have seen family

relationships severed and long term friendships broken

when political discourse occurs. Though we have

managed to avoid any complete breakups in my own

family, definite breaches have occurred. I have been

called shameful and immoral because of my stand on

abortion. My belief in Bernie Sanders’ platform has been

called a bunch of crap and I have been told that if

Obama was Hitler that I would still believe in everything

he did. Though these were only words that came across

on social media and hence easy to delete and ignore,

they were hurtful and pitted family member against

family member. Relationships have never been the same.

Incivility can spread far beyond family and

friends. Not too long ago, I was sitting by a very casual

acquaintance at dinner. For some reason, the subject

turned to this political cycle. As we talked, I could feel

the vitriol begin to grow. The lady’s body language and

the tone of her voice as well as her condescending

manner toward me provided me with evidence that this

was no longer a civil conversation. After she said, “Oh

honey, President Obama is the worst President ever,”

and “Oh honey, the only place you can get the truth is

Fox News,” she asked me what my occupation was

before I retired. Strange question. When I told her that I

was a college professor she banged her hand on the table

and said resolutely and quite loudly, “I knew it. I knew

you were one of those. Those people all think just like

you.” WOW! I got a double dip of incivility in this

conversation. Not only were my political views stomped

upon, but also my profession. I felt as if I had been

slapped in the face. I felt completely put down when she

consistently called me “honey” or “my dear”—terms

more often used with a young child. Putting the

conversation together with her tone of voice and body

language, I had had enough. I stood up and said, “I

seriously disagree with you, but I still like you” and I

walked away.

Blaming Republicans for incivility problems

which cause them not to “play nice” is easy in this

election period. However, exclusive blaming of the

opposition is naive and Pollyannaish. Unfortunately,

Democrats do it also. As I reflect on my past, I can think

of times when I said or did something that I now regret.

But I have learned a lot since I have been thinking about

the meaning and the implications of civility. Next time, I

will play nice.

This article first appeared in the April 2016

edition of The Lancaster County Democrat.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln By Jean Sanders

Civility and unity should be mandatory for everyone everywhere, but especially for people working toward the same goal. We may not always agree, but we should treat each other with respect. We should propose and question ideas, rather than attack the people we work with. Often when people are attacked their natural reaction is self-defense. Unfortunately, this can set up a ripple effect with unintended consequences. The concept that “they” are all wrong and “we” are completely right only serves to alienate people even further. Then, instead of listening to each other and trying to find common ground, the people involved can become rigid and entrenched in their version of “the only way to do things.” Instead of naysaying and trying to mentally form a comeback while the other finishes speaking, how about responding with “What do we want to accomplish?” and “How can we help?” We can try different ideas. Times and situations change. What works for one situation at a specific time and place may not work for another situation at a specific time and place, but how do we know that if we don’t try? Pre-judgement of people, places, ideas or things without knowledge or experience can be dangerous and is certainly counterproductive. So let’s be kind and respectful of each other. Let’s encourage and utilize each other’s strengths and not waste time and energy pointing out others’ weaknesses. Let’s practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is essential because people make mistakes. An honest, heartfelt apology helps too. Is it our main business to be sniping at each other, or is it our main business to be helping each other? Let’s emphasize what we do right and try to improve what needs to be better. Let’s aspire to emulate the lessons provided by two of our greatest governors. Past Governor and

Senator J. James Exon, wrote the following in his Preface to My Journey Through the Twentieth Century by Governor Frank B. Morrison.

“As a decent human being he [Morrison]

has no peer. Even in the hotbed and aftermath of political wars, I never knew him to hold a grudge. He is a true believer in ‘do unto others.’ After he was first elected Governor, we were discussing whether or not to retain a department head who served in the previous administration and who said many unkind and untruthful things about Morrison in the primary contest. During the deliberations Morrison seemed unconcerned and when we reminded him about the things he said, his response was, ‘but what has he said about us lately?’”

Opinion

The Good of T Time By Suzanne Jouvenat

As we approach the

tension of the Primary

Election in Nebraska,

anxiety may be higher due

to the psychic trauma in

the national citizenry.

Understandably each

election cycle has its own

sense of angst for each group. Perhaps we can shift our

worries into an emerging positive as we seek lessons

from recent negative news and aspects. Rather than

pushing away from, we can move forward toward the

very areas of Good that have sprung due to the campaign

and election of T.

As I sit with clients in mental health/addiction

therapy, I hear a reflection of various dynamics from

their digestion of the public dialogue. It is notable that

more women have come forward with sexual trauma

issues from their past. I attribute this to the national

exposure of disrespectful and abusive behaviors from

men in politics, business and entertainment. Because of

this president’s blatancy and entitled narcissistic

responses, the Good is emerging with women

understanding their rights to know it is acceptable to

speak out and be heard, i.e.: the “Me Too” movement.

Likewise the LGTBQ community, with their long

history of fighting for acknowledgment and

acceptance, is beginning to receive an increase in

affirmations of equality that applies to all humans.

Another area of seeming darkness is the

barricade to instill change in the gun debate. The

outstanding rallies and truthful voices of our youth have

provided courageous examples and encouragement to

honor the countless lives lost and to efficaciously battle

on for awareness and change. Enlightened voices cover

the darkness of stubborn opinions. Good can be born

despite this president’s Machiavellian motives

manifesting the true reasoning for his expediency in the

lust for power and wealth from the Gun Lobby.

Additionally, the dichotomy of huge tax cuts for

corporations and wages for average hard working

Americans is in full view. Teachers in many states are

now protesting not just for a decent salary for

themselves but for their schools to have adequate

funding for their students’ needs. What a sobering

statement for this country of 10.8 million millionaires to

hold the educating of our children and honoring those

certified and licensed to facilitate eradication of

ignorance as a low priority! Have we become more like

the very despots we declared independence from in the

seeming political control of an “aristocracy” of the

“haves”? The Good comes from those who wish to

repair inequities as they realize the minimum wage has

slipped downward from its steady median line since the

‘80s. According to the current Economic Policy

Institute findings, the top U.S. incomes are now 271

times greater than the average workers’ pay. Our own

Nebraska billionaire, Warren Buffett, appears to be

attempting for more equity along with other conscious

individuals.

The premise that negativity can awaken the

promotion of the positive continues. Chaos is the chosen

mode of operation for this current president and his

group of confused followers in Congress appear

impotent to be the Constitutional “checks and balance”

monitors. This feeds the angst often spoken of by my

clients and is further nourished by the concurrent

spreading of distrust in truth of our news sources, people

and agencies. In this writer’s view, the daily public

struggle displaying a duality of opinions broadcasts the

Good of this noble fight for truth. Clarification of the

false emerges through finding the fullness of facts

through studying, researching and attending events, such

as those offered by the LCDP. Opportunities prevail

with our listening and speaking “truth to power” in a

civil format and discussion.

Religion is a topic not generally discussed in the

political composition of this newsletter. Therefore,

mentioned here is the politicization of particular faith

groups that compromises their doctrine to implement a

premise that manipulates and proposes an ideology as a

means to an end. There is a possible Good from this as

individuals/believers begin, as with partisan politics,

seeking knowledge and empirical data to support their

belief structure. Likewise, the propaganda about other

faiths or philosophies needs to set off alerts to carefully

consider information on the culture and backgrounds of

various groups. There is the possibility of Good

emerging from what seems a continual struggle for

respect of others’ beliefs in this America that has been

called “a Christian Nation.”

Lack of civility and the “reality show” mentality

permeates, even subconsciously, the psyche of many in

this country. The loneliness and isolation of Americans

is both a reason for and a contribution of this shift to the

technological dependence. Unfortunately I have young

children in my therapy who get depressed if they are

made to be suddenly “sober” from their video game

binges. The American mindset is often: “Give me my

pleasures . . . NOW . . . and I do not want to have to put

too much effort into it.” I doubt this is the thinking of

those reading this newsletter but it does seem to mirror

some of the supporters of this presidential mindset. The

Good from this is the awareness and acceptance that

certain cultural practices are in place, and knowing the

truth, we can act to create a more healthy sense of

community.

In therapy we seek to assist others in finding

inner wellness. We use psycho-babble words like

individuation, wholeness, integration of self,

authentication, etc., to distinguish that they know

themselves, warts and all, and are able to accept that

being human is progressing forward. So in closing, and

recognizing there are many more areas such as the

environment and immigration, let us look at the Good

that comes through the seeming unfavorable and share in

hope and boldness as “one Nation, indivisible.” Let’s

speak up with voice and vote for the fine and positive

possibilities for America as we gain strength and use T

time for growth and Good.

Grading Jeff Fortenberry By George E. Wolf

Maytime. The progression of magnolias, Bartlett pears, ornamental apples, and redbuds finally in bloom. Primary election season. Also, for many Nebraskans, the often unnerving season of final exams and grades.

And as thoughts turn to grades in this primary season, it’s a fitting time to review some of the grades Congressman Jeff Fortenberry’s been netting from nongovernmental organizations that track the votes of our representatives to check on how well they’ve been representing us. Here are a few of the recent grades and scores appearing on Jeff’s report card that should tickle the interest of Lancaster County residents.

The National Education Association’s Legislative Report Card measures Congressional support for public education and educators. For his votes in 2017, the NEA awarded Jeff a grade of F for, among other things, voting against restoring or increasing funds for the afterschool programs of 21st Century Community Learning Centers, many of which operate in Nebraska, receiving strong parental support.

The “National Environmental Score Card” of the League of Conservation Voters, using percentages rather than letter grades, gave Fortenberry a total score of 17% for 2017, for, among other things, voting to open drilling in the Arctic Refuge; voting to eliminate funding for the Obama administration’s Social Cost of Carbon Rule requiring analysis of the real economic impacts of a project’s or proposed rule’s carbon pollution; voting in favor of a bill (H.R. 998) that would threaten critical environmental protections; voting to eliminate environmental review of cross-border pipelines, like the Keystone XL pipeline; and voting for a bill (H.R. 953) eliminating Clean Water Act safeguards protecting communities from toxic pesticide exposure occurring when pesticides are discharged directly into bodies of water without meaningful oversight or public transparency.

When it comes to guns, Jeff gets both high grades and low. For his faithfully toeing its anti-gun-reform line in 2017, as reported in our March newsletter, the National Rifle Association bestowed on Fortenberry an A. For 2015-2016, on the other hand, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence found Jeff deserved a score of 0%, easily translatable to an F, on expanding background checks.

On critical issues involving civil rights, the NAACP keeps a watchful eye on how Congressional voting records address discrimination. In 2017, it informs us, Fortenberry voted against requiring federal

contractors to comply with basic federal labor and nondiscrimination laws, and voted to overturn regulations requiring states to report on how school districts treat such historically marginalized groups as racial and ethnic minorities, LGBT students, children with disabilities, and low-income populations. For these, and similar votes, the grade Fortenberry made on the NAACP’s “Civil Rights Federal Legislative Report Card” was yet another F.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 diverse national organizations charged to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all US residents, also issues annual report cards. Addressing a wide array of issues ranging from budget and appropriations, criminal justice, education, and employment rights to financial reform, health care, immigration, and regulatory reform, the Conference’s 2017 “Voting Record” handed Jeff another 0%.

On matters of critical importance to retirees, the Alliance for Retired Americans followed 10 key Congressional votes in 2016 on such issues as health care, insurance, domestic spending, taxes, and water standards. For that year’s votes, the Alliance affixed yet another score of 0% on Fortenberry’s report card.

Our First District Congressman has earned many other grades and scores during the past two years—highs from groups like the John Birch Society (yes, it’s still with us) and the Koch brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity, and lows from groups like NETWORK (a national Catholic social justice lobby), and the Human Rights Campaign. But let’s end the tally here with the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s assessment. In 2017 Jeff voted to gut animal protection rules adopted during the final year of the Obama administration. He also voted to revoke a US Fish and Wildlife Service rule prohibiting specific trophy hunting methods in Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuges that include killing wolf pups and their mothers at their dens and scouting grizzly bears from planes to shoot them. In addition, he voted to block a rule prohibiting scientifically unjustified methods of trophy hunting on over 20 million acres of National Park Service lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting swimming and defenseless caribou. For these and other votes, the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s “Humane Scorecard” gave Fortenberry a score of 17%.

Experts, such as the folks at Stanford Children’s Health, who offer parents advice about what to do when a youngster brings home a bad report card caution not to “react with disappointment. A poor grade is often a red flag for a potential problem area, not a measure of your child's worth or your

parenting skills. Collect your thoughts and respond in a calm, clear way.” But what to do when it’s your adult Congressman who’s racked up a report card chockfull of failing grades? A calm, clear answer is simple: It’s time to get to the polls and give him the boot.

Caring for the Body By Bob Haller To keep an inflammation from returning to my back and thus to keep me playing tennis, my excellent PT who had rid me of an inflammation devised a set of stretches for every day. Not to waste time, I do the stretches watching CSPAN so that I hear opinions straight from experts and avoid ads. One day a few years ago the expert was a law professor from the University of Georgia, talking about the injustice of payday lending. I am a local member of an NGO. We visit people who have called for help, to provide aid and comfort. We incidentally observe how our country’s institutions sometimes fail those they are meant to assist. I am on this organization’s national advocacy committee, which has made reform of payday lending a priority. Two years ago we got Richard Cordray of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau as a speaker at our national gathering, and I urged the group also to invite the law professor I had seen on CSPAN. She had published a book—How the Other Half Banks—which presents the history of banking that led up to the current condition, where many of the least-wealthy half of our country also have to spend money to use their money, as when they take a short-term loan from a payday lender and, if unable to pay it back, take out another loan with a further charge and are trapped in a debt that never ends. (Note that our Legislature just passed a reform that stops this repayment cycle after a small number of repeats.) She and Cordray gave inspiring talks, a highlight of the 2016 national meeting, but that is not the end of the story. This past week the Lincoln Journal Star had an AP story that, on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination, African Americans in this country were very far from believing that they were enjoying the freedoms promised by the Civil Rights laws passed in response to the efforts of that time. As it happened, I had just finished reading this same law professor’s book, The Color of Money,

the shocking history of policies, starting immediately after the Emancipation Proclamation, and continuing to the present day, supposed to bring African Americans into the economy so that they would enjoy the fruits of liberation and share in the prosperity of their White fellow citizens through African American banking, but inevitably failing. The Freedmens Savings and Trust Company set up in 1865 failed in 1874, and all the newly-liberated depositors lost their savings. All the banks started in the African American community and managed by or for them since that time suffered similar fates, such as the ShoreBank in Chicago that applied for a TARP bailout of $70 million in 2010 and was turned down and later failed while those banks “too big to fail” were bailed out. As a consequence, the African American share of wealth in the American economy has scarcely increased since 1865 and stands under 2%. In the meantime, the courts have determined that even when a trial has determined that African Americans have suffered harm from unequal treatment in financial affairs—redlining, investment restrictions, and the like—there can be no damages assessed to compensated for what was lost due to racially-motivated policies. The aggrieved had to start over the investment cycle from zero. This law professor is Mehrsa Baradaran, an immigrant from Iran, who came to this country as a child with her surgeon father, activist mother and younger sister, became a Mormon after the family had been so generously treated upon their arrival in this country by the Mormon community. Her name and picture are on the dust jacket; otherwise, reading the book, you would infer from the passionate outrage of the author that she was herself one of those wronged by the policies she describes. It is easy to know that a Physical Therapist who keeps you playing tennis is competent. It is not hard to recognize when someone who knows how banking works, can use that knowledge to expose the incompetence of policy makers who claimed to enrich our fellow citizens who are African American, and failed because banking is a part of the whole culture in which it is imbedded. It does not take a refugee to see the injustices in our society, but escaping from systemic harm can foster the outrage when injustice is made known. It is our calling to understand the workings of our bodies and our communities to keep them healthy and available for the activities that give life meaning.

Thank you CSPAN.

Local News About Global Climate By John Atkeison Chair, Nebraska Democratic Climate Caucus 402-915-3210 ◊ jatkeison@gmail.com

News about the changing climate is never in short supply. That is partly because it is caused by global warming, which is to say that it happens all over the world and frequently all at once.

There are at least two kinds of news stories that many of us find interesting. One is any story about what is happening to us and our neighbors. Another is a story about predictions made by climate scientists that is confirmed, or not, by events in the real world.

The Lincoln Journal Star had an editorial on April 21: Studies show warming trend threatens state farm economy. In it the Editors discuss recent scientific studies: http://bit.ly/WarmingThreat

One of those studies … posits the geography and climate of the 100th meridian are slowly shifting toward the 98th meridian. Moving by just those two degrees would affect a quarter of the state, including the Tri-City hub of central Nebraska, as the line would creep roughly 100 miles from Cozad to Aurora.

That swath of Nebraska boasts some of its most productive cropland. But, if the trend continues as the Columbia research suggests it could, the state economy could suffer mightily.

After all, more than 90 percent of Nebraska’s land area is used for agriculture. Lack of access to groundwater and drier conditions has made grains that thrive from dry land farming, such as wheat, the dominant crops. Other arid ground, such as in the Sandhills, is used for grazing cattle.

Those uses obviously work well in that land area. But the techniques required for success demand more land and larger operations – and fewer farmers, as indicated by the wave of rural depopulation that’s most acute in western Nebraska.

Logic and love of the land demands that we prepare to adapt while we do our best to prevent the worst of what is yet to come. All of this will be difficult, and the difficulties will be worse due to the inaction of pro-fossil fuel politicians in Congress. So what do we do? First, we find ways to help each other get over the hope that things will just auto-magically turn out not to be as bad as it might be. We adults can handle the news that science is not perfect, but we have built our whole modern world around it, so let’s not ignore what the relevant science and scientists are telling us.

We also need to accept that we “regular folks” need to take more responsibility to make things happen for the simple reason that our leaders have not it done it —for a lot of reasons. That is the job, first and foremost of political leaders, and it is how we know who the real leaders are. We’ve known what to do—eliminate greenhouse gas pollution by eliminating fossil fuels—for decades. But the decision to actually do something is a political policy decision. This is true at every level and in every office. It is just that critical. Let’s talk about the latest major confirmation of how the understanding of the effects of global warming has matured. The Washington Post reports: WorrisomeGlaciers

Two years ago, former NASA climate scientist James Hansen and a number of colleagues laid out a dire scenario in which gigantic pulses of fresh water from melting glaciers could upend the circulation of the oceans, leading to a world of fast-rising seas and even superstorms. Hansen’s scenario was based on a computer simulation, not hard data from the real world, and met with skepticism from a number of other climate scientists. But now, a new oceanographic study appears to have confirmed one aspect of this picture — in its early stages, at least. The new research, based on ocean measurements off the coast of East Antarctica, shows that melting Antarctic glaciers are indeed freshening the ocean around them … When cold surface water no longer sinks into the depths, a deeper layer of warm ocean water … can reach the bases of glaciers, retaining its heat as the cold waters remain above. This warmer water then rapidly melts the glaciers and the large floating ice shelves connected to them. … the melting of Antarctica’s glaciers appears to be triggering a “feedback” loop in which that melting, through its effect on the oceans, triggers still more melting.

Once again, Dr. Hansen has been ahead of the community, as he has been since at least 1988. What do you say that we start listening to him while we still can?

What are They Hiding? NADP Update - 5/1/18

Last week, the chair of the Legislature’s

Judiciary Committee, Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete, asked Department of Corrections Director Scott Frakes to appear before the committee to be questioned as a part of the investigation into the validity of the department’s new lethal injection protocol. Director Frakes declined the invitation, citing the pending litigation on the matter. So, the Judiciary Committee requested permission to subpoena him, which the Executive Board of the Legislature granted by a vote of 5-3. So he was subpoenaed to testify at a hearing at the capitol at 9 AM on Tuesday, May 8th.

Good news, right? Maybe we’ll finally get some answers about just how this new protocol was drafted.

Well, hopefully, we still will but the Ricketts administration isn’t going to be open and honest about how they intend to kill citizens without putting up a fight. Even if they’re forced to bring their secret execution plans to the light of day, they’re going to do it kicking and screaming. Yesterday afternoon, Attorney General Doug Peterson sued the Clerk of the Legislature, the Judiciary Committee and the Executive Board to stop the subpoena.

This administration is trying everything they possibly can to keep the details of the execution protocol a secret. They clearly have something to hide! The Lincoln Journal-Star said it well in a recent editorial: “Before Nebraska can hold convicted killers accountable, it first must do so for itself—something it’s shown more interest in obfuscating than pursuing.” (‘State Must Hold Itself Accountable Before Any Killers are Put to Death’ - 4/29/18) Are you frustrated by the state’s continued commitment to secrecy? Do you want to do something to make a difference and work towards a more just society? Well here’s a great opportunity: NADP will be participating in Give to Lincoln Day again this year, which is on Thursday, May 31st. But, online giving has already begun! https://www.givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/nebraskans-for-alternatives-to-the-death-penalty

This is the best time of the whole year to give to NADP because every Give to Lincoln Day donation helps increase our portion of a $400,000 match fund from the Lincoln Community Foundation. These critical resources will help us continue the fight for a criminal justice system that’s more transparent, more accountable and provides the real justice that

victims’ families deserve. Every donation, large or small, makes a big impact and is greatly appreciated. Towards Justice, Matt Maly On Behalf of all of Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The Lancaster County Democratic Party has been and is one of the strongest political operations in the state of Nebraska. Its history as a totally dedicated and focused political force has certainly had an impact on the City of Lincoln and on Lancaster County. That strength has also assisted Democrats across the state of Nebraska by demonstrating to Democrats that their beliefs and voices are not only important and can be heard and respected but those beliefs have an impact. This vital county party must be nurtured and kept strong and that only happens when the Democrats in the party are aware of their responsibility and duty to this bright spot for Democrats in this state. As members we must remain focused on our purpose: to elect good Democratic candidates to office in our city, in our county, in our state and in our nation. Right now the nation in is chaos and turmoil and it is easy to join in the cynicism and scorn that is screaming at us all the time. But we must keep calm and remember just what it is we have set out to do. We must be civil and courteous and respectful to all the ideas that come our way. Factions make groups stronger and more interesting, enlarge the canvas of ideas but factions can also cut and slice and harm. Our county party cannot afford for that to happen and must do everything we can to prevent that. We cannot squander this very vital county party. We must gather together and continue the historic road this party has traveled. We must control our passions, respect each other and unite so we can elect good Democratic candidates in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska and the United States of American. Sincerely, Marlene Cupp

In My Humble Opinion By John Atkeison, Associate Chair Lancaster County Democratic Party May 2018 ~ jatkeison@gmail.com

First of all, thanks to Jean Sanders and Jim Johnson for getting this thoughtful newsletter in our hands and in our minds yet again! Please contribute to this publication—you’ll find them good to work with.

The next days and weeks will set the stage for the future of the Lancaster County Democratic Party. The primary election (May 15) and the County Party Convention (June 2) will both occur before the next issue of the newsletter is published. Please participate: the future is up to you.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is that across the USA Democrats are winning. “Over-performing” some people call it. One thing is for sure: there will be no Blue Wave if we don’t work very hard for it.

Democrats cannot win in many areas unless we win over a large number of people who register as Nonpartisan voters, those we call Independents. That is not necessarily a bad thing—we should propose ideas and policies that are good for most of us Nebraskans, not just the Democrats. We should not pander to voters nor do we have to; we should provide the most thoughtful and practical ideas and policies that benefit our people and our future.

More good news is that there is more diversity in our Party, and in a good way. I would not welcome the Dixiecrats back into our Party in the name of diversity, but I will celebrate more progressives. I’m not happy with some of our “Reagan Democrats” but we do seem to co-exist in a civil manner at least some of the time. There were many real Sanders supporters who came in and stayed in 2016 and after.

Can this Party hold on to new active members and integrate them? Eventually the answer to that question will determine our fate.

In my humble opinion, a very significant block of local Democrats participate to serve one often heard slogan, we exist only to elect Democrats.

That slogan, IMHO, confirms the doubts and fears held by many people: that both of the Major Parties in America today care a lot more about their partisan advantage than they do about what they can do for the people that they represent. What is important to us, the common good or what is good for me, the politician?

Some Democrats have attempted to start a discussion about what it means to be a Democrat,

starting with a discussion of our common values. Those who have attended the forum that Chair Jane Egan organized before County Central Committee meetings have participated in the beginnings of the process.

Sometimes in the process the work of serving our people goes undone. Take the example of low wages for many working people. Especially for a non-professional worker or a non-skilled worker it is often extremely difficult to find a job that pays more than $10 per hour. Not many people can live on that, especially since so many services are withheld or limited, and most especially if poor health intervenes. Many employers, including our beloved University, require low-pay workers to limit the number of hours worked simply to avoid the responsibility to provide benefits, like health insurance. Shouldn’t that be an important issue for the Party that claims to support working people? If you return the current Chair and Associate Chair to office at the convention on June 2, I promise you that discussion.

RegeNErate Nebraska Workshops Inspire Farmers, Consumers to Go Regenerative By Julie Wilson | April 4, 2018 Reprinted with permission from Regenerate International

Nebraska and surrounding states have some

of the richest soil in the world. Yet throughout the state, Nebraskans have little access to locally produced food.

RegeNErate Nebraska wants to change that. How? By reclaiming local control of the food system, and removing it from the grip of corporate agribusiness.

“Many people have been left behind as industrial agriculture has replaced cooperation with competition, separating us from our connection to the soil and to each other,” said RegeNErate Nebraska founder and local farmer Graham Christensen. “RegeNErate Nebraska is a community of Nebraskans who are bucking the system, in favor of the solution which lies in the soil. Regeneration is about going back to the way farming was.”

“The solution lies in the soil,” said Christensen. “Everything comes from the soil—all that feeds us, nourishes us, provides us with strength and community. It’s who we are. Nebraskans know that soil is soul.”

RegeNErate Nebraska held a series of workshops March 24 – March 27 focused on building regenerative alternatives to the state’s dominant industrial ag system. The workshops took place over a four-day period across four cities: Lincoln, Fremont and North Omaha, Nebraska; and Sloan, Iowa.

The events brought together local and national leaders and members of the community to discuss the benefits of transitioning from a conventional, degenerative agriculture system to a regenerative organic model that increases access to locally produced, nutrient-dense food, restores soil health, promotes biodiversity, treats animals humanely, revitalizes local economies and prioritizes farmworker fairness.

Nebraska’s soil is on life support

If there were a category for soil on the endangered species list, it would be number one—”our soil is on life support,” said regenerative rancher Del Ficke.

Ficke, aka the “Graze Master” of Ficke Cattle Company, based in Pleasant Dale, Nebraska, has practiced no-till farming since the late 1980s, when he transitioned from conventional agriculture to regenerative. That process included downgrading the

amount of land he managed from 7,000 acres to less than 600 acres. He told attendees those 600 acres are 70 percent more profitable under regenerative practices than they were under conventional farming methods. Ficke was one of several presenters who spoke about the human health and environmental benefits of regenerative food, farming and land use at a workshop ‘People have no idea’

RegeNErate Nebraska’s workshop series kicked off in Lincoln, Nebraska, with John Fagan, PhD, of Health Research Institute Labs, based in Fairfield, Iowa. HRI Labs conducts scientific research and laboratory testing to identify and quantify environmental contaminants in food, water, soil and the human body.

Fagan’s presentation served as a wakeup call to the fact that most Americans have trace amounts of glyphosate, the key active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller, in their bodies. “People have no idea,” said Fagan, that the primary route of exposure is through industrialized food.

HRI Labs offers human urine test kits for people concerned about glyphosate. The weedkiller has been found in human breast milk, urine, drinking water and countless foods. A recent study found that glyphosate levels in humans increased 500 percent from 1993 to 2016.

Fagan also talked about how to get chemical contamination out of humans and the environment. The good news, he said, is that our food and farming system is currently undergoing a massive transformation, one that’s driven by two things: concern about soil degradation and the demand for pure, safe healthy food.

The growing demand for clean, healthy and chemical-free food grown from nutrient-rich soil was an underlying theme at the workshops, which attracted a diverse audience that included local, regenerative farmers and ranchers, agroforestry and urban gardening experts, food co-op leaders, refugee farmers, conservationists, prairie restorationists, tribal representatives and even conventional farmers in search of guidance on how to farm with nature, instead of against it.

Transforming vacant lots into food forests

Local afro-soul music group Wakanda One set the mood for the RegeNErate North Omaha workshop at the Metropolitan Community College, Institute of the Culinary Arts.

Urban Forester Graham Herbst of Omaha Permaculture kicked off the event by talking about

urban food forests, a sustainable plant-based food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems that incorporate fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vine and perennial vegetables.

Omaha Permaculture specializes in transforming vacant city lots into beautiful, functional food gardens of edible plants, trees, art and flowers. The gardens serve as a food pipeline, providing lower-income residents access to affordable and locally grown health food.

Craig Howell of Alliance For A Better Omaha delivered a similar message. Howell stressed the importance of including local and nutritious fruits and vegetables in the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“When we grow food locally, we will end hunger,” said Howell. “We can’t solve hunger without expanding community, and we can’t expand community without sustainable land stewardship.”

Through his organization’s SNAP outreach, Howell has helped put nearly 2 million meals on the tables of food insecure households across metropolitan Omaha. ‘We’re not making any money’

At the RegeNErate Fremont event I sat next to a couple who operate a conventional farm outside of Fremont, Nebraska. “We’re not making any money,” they said. They told me they want to move away from toxic crop chemicals and toward a regenerative agriculture system that builds soil health—but they also need their farm to be profitable, in addition to sustainable. They’ve already starting planting cover-crops, a step Christensen describes as the perfect segue into restoring soil health through regenerative agriculture.

One key revelation that emerged from RegeNErate Nebraska’s workshop series is the importance of thinking outside the box, while at the same time building strong community networks that support regenerative food, farming and land use. Regenerative agriculture is a native concept

The final workshop took place at the WinneVegas Casino Resort, owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. RegeNErate Native, which emphasized native food sovereignty and the need to create opportunities among tribes and on native land, featured presentations from experts on a range of topics including the Native Farm Bill, regenerative poultry and bison, sacred seed saving and pollinator protection.

The RegeNErate Native workshop focused on connections with native communities and how to facilitate the development of local food pipelines that ultimately establish food-sovereign communities. The event kicked off with Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation leader, Ernest Weston, Jr., who is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Weston, a local food activist, spoke about the importance of natives achieving food sovereignty. Up to 98 percent of the farmland in native communities is used to grow feed for livestock, the majority of which does not return to the reservation. Weston said that of the 2.7 million acres of farmland on the reservation, 95 percent is farmed by non-natives.

Weston told attendees that regenerative agriculture is good for communities, it essentially equates to being a good neighbor.

Aerial view of Dismal River in Nebraska Sand Hills near Thedford, spring scenery lit by sunrise light

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