Johanns says he's trusted, tested choice

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By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Mike Johanns is positioning himself as the experienced, trusted and dependable conservative in Nebraska’s 2008 Senate race.

He’s also the best-known, best-financed and most highly credentialed candidate.

“My message is less government, lower taxes, pro-agriculture, build the economy, create more jobs,” Johanns says.

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Mike Johanns, with his wife, Stephanie, announces his Senate bid during a news conference Oct. 10, 2007, in the Capitol Rotunda. (LJS file)

Mike Johanns, with his wife, Stephanie, announces his Senate bid during a news conference Oct. 10, 2007, in the Capitol Rotunda. (LJS file)

“I’ve been there,” he says.

Johanns, 57, grew up on a dairy farm. He was mayor of Lincoln and served six years as governor, winning two statewide elections.

In 2005, he resigned as governor to accept President Bush’s nomination as U.S. secretary of agriculture and served in the Cabinet for nearly three years.

In terms of bedrock conservative values, Johanns is pro-life and pro-gun rights, and has the political endorsements to prove it.

Both Nebraska Right to Life and the National Rifle Association have endorsed him.  

Johanns is a prohibitive favorite to win Tuesday’s Republican primary election and would emerge as the man to beat in November.

“I think the economy really will be the issue,” he says.

Johanns supports congressional action to make the 2001 and 2003 federal tax cuts permanent.

“A time when the economy is sputtering is not a time to tax it more,” he says.

“Thousands of Nebraskans have benefited” from the Bush administration tax cuts, Johanns says. And people need to be assured those benefits are permanent, he says.

As governor, Johanns says, he led state government’s prudent response to the economic downturn that followed the 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.

Cutting budgets, reining in spending, putting conservative fiscal policy to work.

“Proven, tested, trusted,” his campaign advertising proclaims.

The ag economy is critical for Nebraska, Johanns says, and that’s where he brings a lifetime of experience, punctuated now by his years as ag secretary.

During his tenure in Washington, he was particularly active in agricultural trade negotiations.

Johanns places priorities on energy policy and national security in his campaign.

“We need to balance conservation, exploration, renewable fuels, nuclear power,” he says.  “We need to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

“So much of our energy-based policy has been based on the word ‘no’ and consumers pay the price.”

Johanns argues against a precipitate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and believes the United States must leave the option of military action on the table in dealing with Iran.

If Iran is allowed to develop nuclear weapons, he says, “this is a threat to Israel” and could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Johanns quickly emerged as the 900-pound Republican gorilla when he passed the word he’d be returning to Nebraska to seek the Senate seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel at the end of the year.

His candidacy chased away Attorney General Jon Bruning and former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub.

Schuyler businessman Pat Flynn is Johanns’ sole primary barrier.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.