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County Board veteran Hudkins seeking re-election

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By JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 12:46:59 am CST

Lancaster County Commissioner Larry Hudkins, who has served more than 20 years on the board, announced his bid for re-election Thursday.

Hudkins was first appointed to the board in 1987 and elected in 1988. He holds the title of longest-serving commissioner among the five on the board.

He represents District 2, which covers northwestern sections of Lancaster County.

Story Photo
Larry Hudkins

The new jail project will be among the challenges facing the county and Hudkins said he believes his experience of having been a commissioner when the current jail was built will prove an asset.

He has invested a lot of time and energy in the jail project and wants to remain on the board to see it through, he said.

He stressed the need to continue to balance the budget and to keep up essential services to residents across Lancaster County, despite the jail’s cost.

Hudkins and his wife of 43 years, state Sen. Carol Hudkins, live on a cattle farm near Malcolm. They have two grown daughters.

Before serving on the board, Hudkins sat on the Malcolm School Board for 11 years.

Among his extensive community involvement, Hudkins has served as president of the Nebraska Cattlemen, president of the Lincoln/Lancaster Board of Health, president of the National Association of Local Boards of Health and president of the Nebraska Ag Relations Council. In November, he was elected president of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association.

As a county commissioner, he has served on several boards and committees including three stints as chairman of the County Board and the Lincoln/Lancaster County District Energy Commission. He chairs the Lincoln/Lancaster County Public Building Commission.

Hudkins is one of two incumbents seeking re-election to the board. Bernie Heier has entered the race for the District 4 seat, which covers most of eastern Lancaster County.

Hudkins will face challenger Barbara Baier, who now serves on the Lincoln school board. Heier is being challenged by Nancy Intermill of Lincoln.

Friday was the deadline for incumbents to file for re-election for the primary. Others have until March 3.

The primary is set May 13. The general election is Nov. 4.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.


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It's time for a change wrote on February 15, 2008 7:28 am:
" Larry, you've done an "ok" job, but it's time for a change. Twenty years is long enough. District 2...you need a new face to represent you. Do the right thing and let Larry retire. "

 Steph wrote on February 15, 2008 8:27 am:
" Long past time for a change. An ok job is not enough. County government needs some efficiencies built in that the current board won't even begin to adress. There's plenty of revenue opportunities that are ignored. Hudkins is a big part of our county assessor being forced to take the board to the tax equalization board for their inappropriate reversal of greenbelts appeals on rural acreages. Time for him to retire with his wife and watch the cattle graze. Bring in someone new with fresh ideas and a true desire to make Lancaster a better place. "

 Promote Lincoln wrote on February 15, 2008 8:33 am:
" Time after time our present County Board turns down economic opportunities for Lincoln. Case in point, a Drag Racing Facility that the UNL business department created a study that shown it would of brought 10 to 23 million dollars to our community. Instead on the same day, they approved another 8 plus 2 million to build additions and bail out the struggling Lancaster Events Center. Thats fine they put money toward the event center because it does benefit and create entertainment for the County. But why do our County Leaders seem to turn away private enterprise? Time for change, hopefully we have a new crop of candidates that will promote economic development and more importantly represent the people of Lincoln. "

 I agree wrote on February 15, 2008 9:23 am:
" It is time for a change in District 2! We need someone with new ideas who works for the people and not for "good ole boy" system! Larry, thanks but no thanks! "

 Northwest Lincoln, wake up. wrote on February 15, 2008 9:36 am:
" There really needs to be a Lincoln resident to fill this position. I'm not saying anything against NW Lancaster County, but after 20 years of the present representative it really should be a face from Lincoln to throw out some new ideas. In my opinion Larry Hudkins (along with Bernie Heier) tended to "vote" on the side of rural Lancaster County instead of where the majority lives/pays. This is a perfect example of the phrase "it's time for a change." "

 Eric S. wrote on February 15, 2008 10:16 am:
" Larry Hudkins is the best thing that has ever happened to District 2. "

 County resident wrote on February 15, 2008 10:40 am:
" The H&H team (Hudkins & Heier) doesn't always vote on the side of rural Lancaster County, it's more like their agenda is promoting their pet developers at the expense of the city and county people. Fair representation is needed for our county. 20 years, do we have any term limits for the county board,hmmm.... "

 Linconite? wrote on February 15, 2008 10:54 am:
" Why do we need another commissioner from Lincoln? I guess their the only onces smart enough or enough vision to move us into the future-hmmmmm I guess us rural types are just plain ignorant, uniformed and should move out of the way and let Lincolnites and their grand visions take us all over. Sorry, but I'm not going for that and Larry you have my vote anyday over anybody from Lincoln. "

 Currently wrote on February 15, 2008 11:18 am:
" There are 3 commissioners from outside Lincoln and only 2 from Lincoln. Why "do we need another commissioner from Lincoln" you ask? Ninety percent of the population is from Lincoln represented by "40 percent" of the commissioners. Uh, seems pretty clear to a dimwit like me. "

 DR wrote on February 15, 2008 12:04 pm:
" Out with the old! Lancaster County needs fresh new ideas. The old ways of an ok job is not what we need. Get out and vote people we need change! "

 Not a race fan wrote on February 15, 2008 12:55 pm:
" Yup, I'll get out and vote...for Mr. Hudkins. "

 I disagree wrote on February 15, 2008 1:00 pm:
" I disagree with the statement that 90 percent of the population is from Lincoln. I looked up this statistic last night, and (although I don't have the exact figures in front of me now), according to the InterLinc web site, Lincoln had around 252,000 to rural Lancaster county 254,000. You can look it up yourself. "

 Uh, no wrote on February 15, 2008 1:52 pm:
" Lincoln = 236146 Lancaster (which INCLUDES Lincoln) 261545. Actually, you are correct that's it's wrong. It's Lincoln 90.3 percent and non-Lincoln 9.7 percent. "

 Rural resident wrote on February 15, 2008 6:48 pm:
" Let go of the division lines. WE NEED BETTER REPRESENTATION for ALL RESIDENTS of LANCASTER COUNTY than what Hudkins has been providing. My vote will not go for Hudkins, we need new ideas. I'm a rural resident and not afraid of a 'city' resident on the county board. "

 john wrote on February 15, 2008 6:55 pm:
" BYE, Larry. Most of the time you and the rest of the board don't even show up for your meetings. Time to get rid of the county board all together. "

 Bryan wrote on February 16, 2008 1:17 am:
" Seems to me that Lincoln needs a large amount of change and this is as good as place as any! Ideas that worked 20 years ago dont work today! Its time for new ideas, and new blood in this area! Lincoln will not flurish on the ideas of more Walmarts and low paying jobs like that! The good Ole Boy network needs to go bye bye too! A fair playing feild needs to be put out here and get some one in that will listen to the people and not serve there own agendas and serve themselves and friends! Lincoln and Lancaster county lose more and more opportunities every day! If I were to sink my money into a bussiness it would not be here due to the leadership we have here and the fact they drive more income away than they bring in!!
Its time to say this year lets fire them all and start fresh!!! "

 Dana wrote on February 16, 2008 9:42 am:
" Voters - you HAVE term limits for this candidate - it's called go to the polls or vote early at the Election Office, mark the ballot for the person running against someone holding office for 20 years and you will have broken the cycle! DUH! If you don't like the current person in office, VOTE THEM OUT! Why does this seem so difficult????????? "

 Vote for Change wrote on February 16, 2008 9:25 pm:
" Don't re-elect Hudkins. Vote for someone new with fresh ideas about how to attract businesses to Lancaster County. "

 Do not elect Barbara Baier wrote on October 22, 2008 5:13 pm:
" Being new to Lancaster county I have researched the two options that are on the ballot for Commissionser, and it's scary. The thought that someone like Barbara Baier is able to run for this office is scary. I don't know much about Hudkins, but what I have learned is that he's the only person to vote for this time around. Mabe I'll run next time! "

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