Letter to the Editor: Don't simply cast your vote for an 'R' or 'D'

Dear Editor,

As November 4th approaches, a vote cast by “R” or “D” affiliation has significant ramifications. Voting should be for the best person to help Nebraska grow and prosper.

Which candidate actually has farm experience? Small business experience? Which candidate has focused on the citizens of Nebraska for support? Which has relied on money from out-of-state big PACs who care nothing about Nebraska except registering “win” in a party’s column?

Chuck Hassebrook grew up on a family farm, worked by his family for over a century. He and wife, Kate, chose to live/raise their family in a rural Nebraska town. If elected, Chuck would be the first governor in 48 years who made that choice. He has taken his rural Nebraska values of hard work, honesty, compassion, and has extensive business experience working with/fighting for family farmers/ranchers and for a better future for our small towns. Chuck would strengthen small business tax credits and lending and remove regulatory barriers. In 36 years of service, Chuck won changes in federal tax, farm, conservation and rural development policy for the betterment of Nebraskans.

As a University of Nebraska Board of Regent for 18 years, Chuck kept our University, a leading academic & research institution, affordable and accessible to a diversity of students. Chuck advocates strong collaboration between community colleges, employers and high schools to expand job training programs. Nebraska ranks 49th in the nation in state funding for K-12 education, directly resulting in extremely high local property taxes. Chuck will relieve the burden on counties and provide property tax relief.

Nebraska has the third-largest wind energy capacity in the USA, huge potential as a major producer and exporter of renewable power. Nebraska ranks near the bottom of all 50 states in actively developing one of our greatest natural resources. Chuck will collaborate with transmission companies, wind energy developers and state/local governments to create thousands of jobs, generate hundreds of millions of payment dollars to land owners and local tax revenues targeted toward property tax relief.

Pete Ricketts, son of TD Ameritrade founder and owner of the Chicago Cubs, worked in his father’s $3 billion stock trading business, holding executive positions, including President. He’s on TD Ameritrade’s Board of Directors and Board of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Pete has business experience, but, Pete has never been a farmer or rancher! 

Dr. Sandra P.H. Robnett

Sidney