NATE JENKINS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, September 21, 2006 7:00 pm
Candidates for three Lincoln legislative seats spoke Thursday night at a forum sponsored by the NAACP and Lincoln-Lancaster County Women’s Commission.
The candidates are vying for three seats open because of term limits, which soon will force Sen. Marian Price (District 26), Sen. Chris Beutler (District 28) and Sen. David Landis (District 46) from the Capitol.
District 28
Candidates: Bill Avery, professor of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Bob Swanson, teacher at Hamilton College.
Both candidates for this south-central district stressed the need to heighten the state’s economic standing, which Avery highlighted while criticizing a current approach to job growth.
“We’ve spent millions of dollars trying to grow our large corporations, and we still rank 49th in job creation,” Avery said. More should be done to help small business and expand trade markets for Nebraska products, he said. He also offered a specific plan to reduce property taxes.
Property taxes for some retirees, he said, should be capped.
Swanson expressed concerns about stagnant wage and job growth in Lincoln and the state. He also cited one aspect of state government spending that needs to be carefully managed — payments for Medicaid, the state and federal program that pays healthcare costs for low-income people.
“With the current rate … it’s going to swallow up almost every other part of the budget,” Swanson said.
As for his support of education, Swanson said, “I’m as pro-education as anyone you’re ever going to find.”
Swanson, a Republican, said he opposes the death penalty; Avery, a Democrat, supports it as punishment for some crimes.
District 26
Candidates: Amanda McGill, college services executive at New Digital Group; Steve Guittar, commercial real estate broker.
McGill spent much of her time Thursday relaying her experience as a television reporter, saying it made her familiar with issues facing Nebraskans. Guittar, meanwhile, said his experience in the business world and working with government officials would benefit constituents in this northeast Lincoln district.
Guittar said reading a state financial report left convinced him the state needs to do a better job of managing its money and that lobbyists have told him to “drop the issue.”
“I don’t plan on dropping it,” Guittar said. Guittar was the only candidate that spoke about the proposed cap on state spending that will be on the ballot. He opposes it, saying it will increase local property taxes.
Property taxes, said McGill, are the “number one issue on people’s minds.”
She said she would support giving more state aid to schools in the state and expressed concern about the energy devoted to teaching non-English speakers the language in schools.
“ELL (English-language learners) is becoming a bigger and bigger burden in our schools across the state,” she said.
Like the District 28 candidates, McGill and Guittar gave surprising answers about the death penalty considering their political parties. Guittar, a Republican, is opposed to the death penalty; McGill, a Democrat, supports minimal use of the death penalty.
District 46
Candidates: Danielle Nantkes, attorney with Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest; Carol Brown, small business owner and business development specialist at Lincoln Action Program.
Brown and Nantkes both tried to distinguish themselves by focusing on how their experiences would help them represent constituents of this north Lincoln district.
“As a resident of north Lincoln for over 30 years, I have a very strong love for the people, families, children and individuals,” Brown said. She often cited her work with a variety of groups in the area, such as neighborhood organizations.
“I am a very strong, grassroots-type volunteer.”
Nantkes, meanwhile, tried to separate herself as “a candidate that has actual legislative experience.” She has helped craft state legislation and worked with senators regularly.
“Having that actual legislative experience will help me hit the ground running,” said Nantkes.
Brown considers reforming foster care and boosting job growth top state issues. Nantkes cited affordable post-secondary education and helping working families.
Both women are Democrats. Brown supports the death penalty; Nantkes does not.
Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@journalstar.com.