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Beatrice radio personality withdraws school board bid

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By TIMBERLY ROSS / The Associated Press

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 - 04:38:40 pm CDT

An on-air personality at a Beatrice radio station withdrew his bid for school board after some of his opponents suggested that reporting farm news and hosting a morning show gave him an edge.

Four of the candidates running against Dave Niedfeldt for a seat on the Beatrice Public Schools’ board demanded that the station, KWBE-AM, give them equal air time. Their claim falls under a Federal Communications Commission rule that requires broadcasters giving time to a political candidate to provide comparable air time to their opponents.

Niedfeldt said Thursday, “Any time I’m on the air, they can come in and ask for equal time.”

He discussed the rule with his boss, then decided to withdraw from the race. Another option was to stay off the air until the Nov. 4 election, but Niedfeldt said that would have burdened co-workers who’d have to take over his duties.

Niedfeldt said he’s won two elections for four-year board terms, but the equal-time issue didn’t come up until last month. He’s worked for the rural station since 1987. It serves southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas.

“I don’t know why it has become an issue now,” Niedfeldt said.

Niedfeldt’s withdrawal leaves seven candidates running for five seats on the board.

Efforts to reach Jon Zimmerman, the first candidate to request equal air time, were unsuccessful. His phone number is not publicly listed.

A message left Thursday for candidate Randy Coleman was not immediately returned. A call to candidate Pamela Kemp Jones rang unanswered.

Candidate Michael Fakler said he learned about the FCC rule from Zimmerman and decided that if others were going to get air time, then he should, too.

“There’s this person who’s been on the board for years and is on the air every single day. I knew (Niedfeldt’s) name and I never met him before,” Fakler said. “The law is there for that particular reason: to make the playing field even for everyone.”

Niedfeldt said he’s made a point while on the air of not talking about Beatrice Public Schools or the election. He reports on agricultural news for KWBE and hosts a morning show most weekdays.

He’ll remain on the school board, as president, until his term expires in January. He’s served on the board since being appointed to an empty seat in 1996.

The district has an estimated enrollment of 2,200 students.


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Beatrice Reader wrote on September 4, 2008 2:08 pm:
" We need new blood on the school board so this is not exactly terrible news for the residents of Beatrice. "

 DR wrote on September 4, 2008 7:51 pm:
" Taking away my right to vote for the candidate of my choice is unfair. No wonder voters are disillusioned and don't vote. Dave has served the district well, has NEVER used his position with the radio station to promote school board issues and has always been ethical and above board. I know that I will not be voting for the candidates who have made this an issue because they were afraid to run "straight up". "

 KM wrote on September 5, 2008 9:11 am:
" This is so childish!! Dave is only doing his job as a broadcaster. I can't believe people would stoop to this level! Do they not realize that this will now cast a shadow on the whole community. I personally will not vote for any of these candidate's I don't want those kind of people deciding what's best for our school district. I agree with DR Dave has served our district well and will be sorry to see him go. As for "Beatrice Reader" new blood can be good, but going at it like this is not the right way. I think those candidate's who have been this into motion need to really think about it long and hard. "

 You can wrote on September 5, 2008 10:28 am:
" Those that wish for him to remain can always write his name in as a candidate.

Probably not that many people would have to do that. "

 Watching wrote on September 6, 2008 4:06 pm:
" I'm sorry, but should Dave N. as well as his radio station have been a little more prepared for this? Seems to me that if they actually were aware of this law that they should have expected that AT SOME POINT someone would exercise it? If they didn't think so, then I question their 'forward thinking' skills! I don't know about you, but I ran/owned a business in which a law could potentially cost me extra expense, I would have a plan in place to ensure I wouldn't get caught with my pants down.....Also, give it a break folks, if anyone out there thinks having your name on a small town radio station day in day out doesn't give you an advantage, you need to go back to your first political science class because clearly you have forgotten what you were taught! "

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