Heineman takes reins as next governor
The small horde of photojournalists standing outside Larry Bare's closed door in the governor's reception room was getting restless.
Nearly 10 minutes had passed since Mike Johanns was confirmed U.S. agriculture secretary, and Bare, Johanns' acerbic right-hand man, was still holed up in his office, presumably with a resignation letter on his desk that would officially make Dave Heineman the new governor of Nebraska.
With Bare's door still closed, a crisply dressed man bounded into the reception area, breaking the silence.
It was Heineman.
"Is he coming, or what?" Heineman said, half serious, half in jest, referring to Bare and the resignation letter. Heineman then held court during an impromptu press conference where he spoke about everything from lieutenant governor to his conversation with Johanns. The "former governor" congratulated me, Heineman said, and he congratulated Johanns.
The scene was emblematic of how Heineman appeared to confront the weight of history and the state's highest office Thursday, when, at 3 p.m., he became only the third lieutenant governor in the state ever to replace a sitting governor: with an embracing, spry confidence tempered by some aplomb.
Two hours after Bare and Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell made the transfer of power official by exchanging Johanns' resignation letter with one from Speaker Kermit Brashear that accepted the resignation, Heineman spoke of the "awesome responsibility" that is now his.
"You're humbled by that, and nervous about that, but also looking forward to the challenge," Heineman said. Throughout the afternoon, Heineman, who has long desired to be governor and turned down other political opportunities to attain the office, noticed changes that made the switch more palpable — his name replacing Johanns' atop the entrance to the governor's office, for example.
Such little things made him wake up, he said, and realize, "Wow, this is really true."
The resignation letter and the acceptance of it were, like the U.S. Senate confirmation of Johanns, brief and concise.
"Dear Speaker Brashear," the Johanns letter says. "Pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. Section 32-562, I hereby resign my position as Governor of the State of Nebraska, effective today at 3 p.m."
Brashear's letter: "Greetings! On behalf of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, I hereby accept your resignation as Governor of the State of Nebraska. Please accept my congratulations on your new position as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Best wishes in your new position."
In a press release issued 15 minutes before Heineman officially became governor, Johanns said it had been an honor to serve the state, and "I resign … with great confidence that Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman is fully prepared to assume the office."
Heineman planned on eating dinner in the Governor's Mansion Thursday night with his son Sam Heineman, who already has begun helping his family move into the residence. They were to be joined later by Sally Ganem, Heineman's wife and Sam's mother. She is principal of Howard Elementary School in Fremont.
Dave Heineman's mother, who lives in Wahoo with his father, planned to stay in the mansion tonight, Heineman said. Both are still in a bit of disbelief about his position.
The 49 state senators Heineman will have to work with to bring his still-veiled agenda to fruition are in a generally expectant, and somewhat uncertain, state.
Asked if he had any trepidation about a Heineman governorship, Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln, chairman of the Education Committee, responded: "If I did, I better get over it.
"There's always some uncertainty, but you've got to deal with it and if you're a stick in the mud like me, you don't like uncertainty. But Dave Heineman has been around … it's not brand new. He seems approachable."
Heineman's plan for the state is expected to become clearer on Wednesday, when he will deliver the State of the State address before the Legislature. Part of his agenda was revealed in the recently delivered budget, which calls for a nearly 10 percent increase in funding for the state's schools and does not raise taxes. He has said in the past he wants to have a broad discussion about how to better and more efficiently deliver state services.
One decision Heineman said he already has made is indicative of his fiscal conservatism, a trait associates have said largely defines his political presence. Just a small amount of "Gov. Heineman" letterhead will be printed to correspond with heads of state, officials and others. Instead of being shipped new letterhead, state offices must use the paper issued under Johanns until they run out.
"They can just put ‘Dave Heineman' on the bottom (of letters)," Heineman said. "We're not going to waste that paper."
Though he officially became governor Thursday, Heineman must still be sworn in before the Legislature. That was planned for 10 a.m. today, followed by a public reception.
Thursday's activities were more informal, with Heineman watching the U.S. Senate confirmation of Johanns in his lieutenant governor's office. Hands clasped and joined by Lori McClurg, director of the Department of Administrative Services, Heineman was anything but pensive. He joshed with reporters and McClurg while the historic event in Nebraska political history unfolded on a small television perched below a framed newspaper article about Johanns appointing Heineman to replace Dave Maurstad as lieutenant governor in 2001.
Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@journalstar.com.
The hand-off
The transfer of power from former governor and current U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to former lieutenant governor and current Gov. Dave Heineman was swift. A timeline of what occurred Thursday at the Capitol:
Early afternoon: Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell has a letter from Speaker of the Legislature Kermit Brashear accepting Johanns' resignation as governor. Heineman practices giving his swearing-in speech, which he plans to give formally this morning.
2 p.m.: The U.S. Senate convenes and prepares to confirm Johanns as agriculture secretary. Heineman watches the proceedings on a television in his office.
2:25 p.m.: The Senate, with a voice vote, confirms Johanns.
2:45 p.m.: Larry Bare, Johanns' chief of staff, walks Johanns' resignation letter to O'Donnell's office. It says Johanns is resigning effective 3 p.m. Thursday. O'Donnell gives Bare the letter from Brashear that accepts the resignation on behalf of the Legislature.
3 p.m.: Heineman officially becomes governor.
Nearly 10 minutes had passed since Mike Johanns was confirmed U.S. agriculture secretary, and Bare, Johanns' acerbic right-hand man, was still holed up in his office, presumably with a resignation letter on his desk that would officially make Dave Heineman the new governor of Nebraska.
With Bare's door still closed, a crisply dressed man bounded into the reception area, breaking the silence.
It was Heineman.
"Is he coming, or what?" Heineman said, half serious, half in jest, referring to Bare and the resignation letter. Heineman then held court during an impromptu press conference where he spoke about everything from lieutenant governor to his conversation with Johanns. The "former governor" congratulated me, Heineman said, and he congratulated Johanns.
The scene was emblematic of how Heineman appeared to confront the weight of history and the state's highest office Thursday, when, at 3 p.m., he became only the third lieutenant governor in the state ever to replace a sitting governor: with an embracing, spry confidence tempered by some aplomb.
Two hours after Bare and Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell made the transfer of power official by exchanging Johanns' resignation letter with one from Speaker Kermit Brashear that accepted the resignation, Heineman spoke of the "awesome responsibility" that is now his.
"You're humbled by that, and nervous about that, but also looking forward to the challenge," Heineman said. Throughout the afternoon, Heineman, who has long desired to be governor and turned down other political opportunities to attain the office, noticed changes that made the switch more palpable — his name replacing Johanns' atop the entrance to the governor's office, for example.
Such little things made him wake up, he said, and realize, "Wow, this is really true."
The resignation letter and the acceptance of it were, like the U.S. Senate confirmation of Johanns, brief and concise.
"Dear Speaker Brashear," the Johanns letter says. "Pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. Section 32-562, I hereby resign my position as Governor of the State of Nebraska, effective today at 3 p.m."
Brashear's letter: "Greetings! On behalf of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature, I hereby accept your resignation as Governor of the State of Nebraska. Please accept my congratulations on your new position as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Best wishes in your new position."
In a press release issued 15 minutes before Heineman officially became governor, Johanns said it had been an honor to serve the state, and "I resign … with great confidence that Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman is fully prepared to assume the office."
Heineman planned on eating dinner in the Governor's Mansion Thursday night with his son Sam Heineman, who already has begun helping his family move into the residence. They were to be joined later by Sally Ganem, Heineman's wife and Sam's mother. She is principal of Howard Elementary School in Fremont.
Dave Heineman's mother, who lives in Wahoo with his father, planned to stay in the mansion tonight, Heineman said. Both are still in a bit of disbelief about his position.
The 49 state senators Heineman will have to work with to bring his still-veiled agenda to fruition are in a generally expectant, and somewhat uncertain, state.
Asked if he had any trepidation about a Heineman governorship, Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln, chairman of the Education Committee, responded: "If I did, I better get over it.
"There's always some uncertainty, but you've got to deal with it and if you're a stick in the mud like me, you don't like uncertainty. But Dave Heineman has been around … it's not brand new. He seems approachable."
Heineman's plan for the state is expected to become clearer on Wednesday, when he will deliver the State of the State address before the Legislature. Part of his agenda was revealed in the recently delivered budget, which calls for a nearly 10 percent increase in funding for the state's schools and does not raise taxes. He has said in the past he wants to have a broad discussion about how to better and more efficiently deliver state services.
One decision Heineman said he already has made is indicative of his fiscal conservatism, a trait associates have said largely defines his political presence. Just a small amount of "Gov. Heineman" letterhead will be printed to correspond with heads of state, officials and others. Instead of being shipped new letterhead, state offices must use the paper issued under Johanns until they run out.
"They can just put ‘Dave Heineman' on the bottom (of letters)," Heineman said. "We're not going to waste that paper."
Though he officially became governor Thursday, Heineman must still be sworn in before the Legislature. That was planned for 10 a.m. today, followed by a public reception.
Thursday's activities were more informal, with Heineman watching the U.S. Senate confirmation of Johanns in his lieutenant governor's office. Hands clasped and joined by Lori McClurg, director of the Department of Administrative Services, Heineman was anything but pensive. He joshed with reporters and McClurg while the historic event in Nebraska political history unfolded on a small television perched below a framed newspaper article about Johanns appointing Heineman to replace Dave Maurstad as lieutenant governor in 2001.
Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@journalstar.com.
The hand-off
The transfer of power from former governor and current U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to former lieutenant governor and current Gov. Dave Heineman was swift. A timeline of what occurred Thursday at the Capitol:
Early afternoon: Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell has a letter from Speaker of the Legislature Kermit Brashear accepting Johanns' resignation as governor. Heineman practices giving his swearing-in speech, which he plans to give formally this morning.
2 p.m.: The U.S. Senate convenes and prepares to confirm Johanns as agriculture secretary. Heineman watches the proceedings on a television in his office.
2:25 p.m.: The Senate, with a voice vote, confirms Johanns.
2:45 p.m.: Larry Bare, Johanns' chief of staff, walks Johanns' resignation letter to O'Donnell's office. It says Johanns is resigning effective 3 p.m. Thursday. O'Donnell gives Bare the letter from Brashear that accepts the resignation on behalf of the Legislature.
3 p.m.: Heineman officially becomes governor.
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