Osborne announces plans to run for governor
HASTINGS — If it's Saturday afternoon, it must be game day.
Tom Osborne chose a day and hour when he used to go to battle on the gridiron to kick off a gubernatorial campaign that shakes up Republican politics in the state.
In his hometown and on the campus of his alma mater, Hastings College, the 3rd District congressman announced he'll forgo a bid for a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives to seek the governorship.
After a year or so of consideration, he said in his familiar low-key style, "I figure that's what we'll do."
That declaration set in motion a GOP showdown in May 2006 between Osborne and Gov. Dave Heineman, with Sen. Chuck Hagel endorsing the governor.
Omaha businessman Dave Nabity is the third contender in the race.
Heineman called a news conference at the Governor's Mansion three hours after Osborne's announcement to suggest the contest will be determined by "my job performance" during the next year.
"What gives me an edge is I'm the governor," he said. "I intend to win this race."
Osborne said he'd "like to take a shot" at resolving some fundamental challenges facing Nebraska, including divisions in the state, population loss in most counties and unfulfilled economic potential.
What he has in mind, he said, would be a single four-year term during which he'd like to work with Nebraskans to "set the state on course and then get out of the way."
Osborne, 68, who had open-heart surgery 20 years ago, told a packed news conference before a battery of television cameras that he sought a physical examination before finalizing his decision to "make sure I'd be vertical for the next five years."
His doctor assured him he's in "pretty good physical shape," Osborne said.
Asked whether he's concerned his entry into a race against a Republican incumbent endorsed by a Republican senator might be divisive for the party, Osborne said: "The only thing I was concerned about was that I might not be true to myself."
And he wouldn't be if he sat on the sidelines, he said.
"Everybody's got to do what they've got to do," Osborne said.
"I like Dave very much. He's a very good guy. You'll never hear a bad word out of me about Dave Heineman."
Hagel issued a statement describing Osborne as "an excellent candidate for governor."
"Like all Nebraskans," he said, "I have the highest regard for Tom. Primaries are good for parties. As I've said, I will enthusiastically support the winner of our gubernatorial primary."
Osborne acknowledged he had been "a little surprised" when Hagel endorsed Heineman while he was still considering entering the race.
"I get along OK with Chuck," he said. "It's no problem. Everyone is entitled to their opinion."
Hagel said his endorsement follows his pattern of endorsing able incumbent Republicans. Heineman became governor in January when Mike Johanns resigned to become U.S. secretary of agriculture.
Although Heineman has the advantage of being the incumbent, Osborne brings unique celebrity status to the contest. During his 25 years as Husker football coach, his teams won three national championships, and Osborne emerged as an iconic figure still besieged for autographs and snapshots.
Osborne was elected to the House in 2000 and is serving his third term as western and central Nebraska's congressman.
Early indications point to state Sen. Adrian Smith of Gering as one likely contender for the GOP nomination for Osborne's seat in 2006.
In reaching his decision, Osborne said, he wants to use his remaining productive years wisely and believes he could "probably best serve as governor."
As a coach, he said, he found the Huskers were most successful when they played as a team, not as individuals. Osborne said he'd like to work at healing tensions and rifts in the state so all Nebraskans would recognize that "when things go well in Scottsbluff, it helps Omaha," and vice versa.
As governor, Osborne said, he'd pursue initiatives to try to reverse the trend of population loss in most counties. That means teaching entrepreneurial skills in schools, taking advantage of Internet opportunities, focusing on strengths, addressing weaknesses and battling the growing danger of methamphetamine, he said.
"We better put this thing out," he said. "We'd better jump on it with both feet as fast as we can."
Biotech research offers a big opportunity for Nebraska, Osborne said. And the Ogallala aquifer is a huge asset for the state.
"We're sitting on top of the best pool of underground water in the world," he said, and that means "this state is poised to do well."
Osborne said he would address government efficiency by instituting a private-sector study of state agencies and seeking recommendations within 120 days. He'd like to move state government to more outcome-based accounting, he said.
His campaign will accept no corporate or political action committee contributions, Osborne said. He placed a $1,000 limit on individual contributions in the primary and, if he wins the GOP nomination, in the general election.
Those limitations are designed to demonstrate "everybody has access," he said. "No one has claim on my vote or my opinion."
Although his intention would be to serve a single term, Osborne said, "if we're in the middle of a whole bunch of stuff" at the end of four years, he'd consider a second term.
But, he said, he's "90 percent certain" he'd serve only one term.
One advantage of an early commitment to a single term is it removes any perception that "a guy is thinking of the next race," Osborne said. "I would want people to feel I was making my best judgment, deciding what I thought was best for the state."
Heineman said he believes competition is good for the party.
Hagel's endorsement, he said, "gives me credibility and momentum."
Heineman said he learned of Osborne's decision when he retrieved a voice mail message from the congressman's chief of staff, Bruce Rieker, after riding in a Nebraska City parade. Rieker placed the call prior to Osborne's announcement.
"I was not surprised," the governor said.
Republican State Chairman Mark Quandahl of Omaha welcomed Osborne into the race.
"He's a good example of a public servant living his life and exercising his public duties in a manner that makes all Nebraskans proud," Quandahl told The Associated Press.
"The Republican Party of Nebraska has always embraced robust primaries," he said.
Nancy Osborne, the congressman's wife, said she is comfortable with the decision.
"When we first talked about it, I had a lot of reservations," she said. "But it's such a natural evolution for Tom. I'm a lot more comfortable with it now, and I would look forward to it."
Laughing, she said: "I surrender. I give up. There will be no retirement. This man is going to die in his boots."
If Osborne is elected, she said, she'd like to be a first lady who works on issues affecting education, the social services system, children and families. And she'd continue to be a voice against expanded gambling, she said.
After wrapping up his news conference, making his way through a crowd of well-wishers and conferring with his wife, Osborne climbed behind the wheel of a white Ford Explorer and drove away alone.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.
Tom Osborne chose a day and hour when he used to go to battle on the gridiron to kick off a gubernatorial campaign that shakes up Republican politics in the state.
In his hometown and on the campus of his alma mater, Hastings College, the 3rd District congressman announced he'll forgo a bid for a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives to seek the governorship.
After a year or so of consideration, he said in his familiar low-key style, "I figure that's what we'll do."
That declaration set in motion a GOP showdown in May 2006 between Osborne and Gov. Dave Heineman, with Sen. Chuck Hagel endorsing the governor.
Omaha businessman Dave Nabity is the third contender in the race.
Heineman called a news conference at the Governor's Mansion three hours after Osborne's announcement to suggest the contest will be determined by "my job performance" during the next year.
"What gives me an edge is I'm the governor," he said. "I intend to win this race."
Osborne said he'd "like to take a shot" at resolving some fundamental challenges facing Nebraska, including divisions in the state, population loss in most counties and unfulfilled economic potential.
What he has in mind, he said, would be a single four-year term during which he'd like to work with Nebraskans to "set the state on course and then get out of the way."
Osborne, 68, who had open-heart surgery 20 years ago, told a packed news conference before a battery of television cameras that he sought a physical examination before finalizing his decision to "make sure I'd be vertical for the next five years."
His doctor assured him he's in "pretty good physical shape," Osborne said.
Asked whether he's concerned his entry into a race against a Republican incumbent endorsed by a Republican senator might be divisive for the party, Osborne said: "The only thing I was concerned about was that I might not be true to myself."
And he wouldn't be if he sat on the sidelines, he said.
"Everybody's got to do what they've got to do," Osborne said.
"I like Dave very much. He's a very good guy. You'll never hear a bad word out of me about Dave Heineman."
Hagel issued a statement describing Osborne as "an excellent candidate for governor."
"Like all Nebraskans," he said, "I have the highest regard for Tom. Primaries are good for parties. As I've said, I will enthusiastically support the winner of our gubernatorial primary."
Osborne acknowledged he had been "a little surprised" when Hagel endorsed Heineman while he was still considering entering the race.
"I get along OK with Chuck," he said. "It's no problem. Everyone is entitled to their opinion."
Hagel said his endorsement follows his pattern of endorsing able incumbent Republicans. Heineman became governor in January when Mike Johanns resigned to become U.S. secretary of agriculture.
Although Heineman has the advantage of being the incumbent, Osborne brings unique celebrity status to the contest. During his 25 years as Husker football coach, his teams won three national championships, and Osborne emerged as an iconic figure still besieged for autographs and snapshots.
Osborne was elected to the House in 2000 and is serving his third term as western and central Nebraska's congressman.
Early indications point to state Sen. Adrian Smith of Gering as one likely contender for the GOP nomination for Osborne's seat in 2006.
In reaching his decision, Osborne said, he wants to use his remaining productive years wisely and believes he could "probably best serve as governor."
As a coach, he said, he found the Huskers were most successful when they played as a team, not as individuals. Osborne said he'd like to work at healing tensions and rifts in the state so all Nebraskans would recognize that "when things go well in Scottsbluff, it helps Omaha," and vice versa.
As governor, Osborne said, he'd pursue initiatives to try to reverse the trend of population loss in most counties. That means teaching entrepreneurial skills in schools, taking advantage of Internet opportunities, focusing on strengths, addressing weaknesses and battling the growing danger of methamphetamine, he said.
"We better put this thing out," he said. "We'd better jump on it with both feet as fast as we can."
Biotech research offers a big opportunity for Nebraska, Osborne said. And the Ogallala aquifer is a huge asset for the state.
"We're sitting on top of the best pool of underground water in the world," he said, and that means "this state is poised to do well."
Osborne said he would address government efficiency by instituting a private-sector study of state agencies and seeking recommendations within 120 days. He'd like to move state government to more outcome-based accounting, he said.
His campaign will accept no corporate or political action committee contributions, Osborne said. He placed a $1,000 limit on individual contributions in the primary and, if he wins the GOP nomination, in the general election.
Those limitations are designed to demonstrate "everybody has access," he said. "No one has claim on my vote or my opinion."
Although his intention would be to serve a single term, Osborne said, "if we're in the middle of a whole bunch of stuff" at the end of four years, he'd consider a second term.
But, he said, he's "90 percent certain" he'd serve only one term.
One advantage of an early commitment to a single term is it removes any perception that "a guy is thinking of the next race," Osborne said. "I would want people to feel I was making my best judgment, deciding what I thought was best for the state."
Heineman said he believes competition is good for the party.
Hagel's endorsement, he said, "gives me credibility and momentum."
Heineman said he learned of Osborne's decision when he retrieved a voice mail message from the congressman's chief of staff, Bruce Rieker, after riding in a Nebraska City parade. Rieker placed the call prior to Osborne's announcement.
"I was not surprised," the governor said.
Republican State Chairman Mark Quandahl of Omaha welcomed Osborne into the race.
"He's a good example of a public servant living his life and exercising his public duties in a manner that makes all Nebraskans proud," Quandahl told The Associated Press.
"The Republican Party of Nebraska has always embraced robust primaries," he said.
Nancy Osborne, the congressman's wife, said she is comfortable with the decision.
"When we first talked about it, I had a lot of reservations," she said. "But it's such a natural evolution for Tom. I'm a lot more comfortable with it now, and I would look forward to it."
Laughing, she said: "I surrender. I give up. There will be no retirement. This man is going to die in his boots."
If Osborne is elected, she said, she'd like to be a first lady who works on issues affecting education, the social services system, children and families. And she'd continue to be a voice against expanded gambling, she said.
After wrapping up his news conference, making his way through a crowd of well-wishers and conferring with his wife, Osborne climbed behind the wheel of a white Ford Explorer and drove away alone.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.
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