4B • SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014OMIDLANDS MAHA WORLD-HERALD NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 46 JAMES BOWERS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PIONEER Age: 25 Home: Lincoln Party: Democratic 3 focus on experience, not age Occupation: Iowa native never Youth and Two Democrats and one Republican agree that jobs, to Nebraska. He said he’ll fi ght community to pass an increase in the state’s coordinator, Nebraska Children economic growth are crucial for the Lincoln district minimum wage and prohibit and Families Foundation settled, family says worker discrimination based on Public offices held: None BY FAIZ SIDDIQUI sexual orientation. Education: Bachelor’s degree, LANCASTER “Working with multiple fam- University of Nebraska at BY STEVE JORDON Kristy Paper WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER The 60-year-old COUNTY ilies through all walks of life, Omaha; master’s degree, WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER Knocking on doors across their through all the work that I’ve Florida State University Council Bluffs A funeral will be held Mon- native drowned district, the three candidates vy- done, I’ve been put in a place Family: Single 25 day for Council Bluffs native April 25 while ing for a legislative seat in north 21 where I see daily the needs of my Faith: Non-practicing Kristy Joy Anthony Paper, a on vacation in Lincoln have become accustomed neighbors and my community,” Website: www.bowers2014. pioneer information technol- Puerto Rico. to hearing the same question. 46 he said. com ogy executive who drowned Her funeral is How old are you? The sole Republican in the Monday. None of the three men in the race, 26-year-old Hunter Paneitz, ADAM MORFELD April 25 while on vacation in District 46 race is older than 28. 27 28 works as an avionics electrician Age: 28 Puerto Rico. Paper, 60, was vice president None has ever held elected office. 29 at Duncan Aviation. Paneitz, Home: Lincoln ship programs in Omaha and But the candidates — two originally of Plymouth, moved Party: and chief information officer Kansas City, leading the KC for Burns & McDonnell En- Democrats and one Republican 32 back to Nebraska in July after Democratic Influence Group for more than gineering Co. in Kansas City, — say voters should not mistake serving seven years in the Navy, Occupation: a decade and sponsoring many 30 Mo., and held IT positions with youth for inexperience in the race repairing navigational and radar Executive other women in the programs. Aquila Energy, Utilicorp Unit- to replace Sen. Danielle Conrad, systems on other fi ghter jets. director, Starting as what she called ed and Peoples Natural Gas of a term-limited Democrat in the Inspired by the entrepreneurship Nebraskans for Civic Reform a “girl programmer” at Kiewit Council Bluffs during a career officially nonpartisan Legislature. and economic opportunity he saw Public offices held: None Co. in Omaha, she was one of more than 30 years. They agree that jobs and eco- in Hong Kong during his military Education: Bachelor’s degree, of few women information The Associated Press report- nomic opportunity are primary service, he wants to reinvigorate University of Nebraska-Lincoln; technology professionals at ed that Paper drowned at the concerns for the district, which his Lincoln district through tax law degree, University of the time. Information Week Caza y Pesca beach in Arecibo, includes both University of Ne- THE WORLD-HERALD incentives for businesses. Nebraska College of Law magazine’s fall 2012 edition Puerto Rico. Family members braska-Lincoln campuses and the “District 46 has got a lot of Family: Not married recognized her as one of the said she was caught in an Veyance Technologies (formerly hard-working, mostly blue-col- Faith: Christian nation’s top 500 innovative Morfeld says. “What I have seen undertow. Goodyear Tire & Rubber) plant. lar people that are just really Website: www.adammorfeld. users of technology. change over the last few years is Daughter Kimberly Paper The oldest candidate, 28-year- skilled,” he said. “It’s just a very com “Kris espoused and lived by there are a lot of families that are and son Adam Paper said their old attorney Adam Morfeld, says strong working class.” these three tenets: teamwork, working two or three different mother had the ability to see If elected, Paneitz said he also HUNTER PANEITZ attitude and leadership,” said economic development is his jobs just to get by. That has an greatness in people and loved would target human trafficking. Age: 26 Greg Graves, CEO of Burns main goal for the area, which impact on how much time they spending Saturday afternoons Organizations like Nebraska Home: Lincoln & McDonnell. “Kris was also felt the strain of hundreds of job can spend with their children, baking with her granddaugh- losses when Goodyear reduced Family Alliance say human traf- Party: a great mentor to those that how much time they can spend ter, Ava Minae. its Lincoln presence in 2007. A fi cking is a problem in Nebraska, Republican worked for her, and many that with their spouse.” “She never settled for medi- Lincoln native and a Democrat, although comprehensive data Occupation: worked with her.” Fellow Democrat James Bow- ocrity and always endeavored Morfeld founded the nonprofit is not available. Paneitz said he Avionics Other survivors include fa- ers, 25, once resided on Mor- electrician, to teach others that they, too, ther Loren E. “Tony” Anthony Nebraskans for Civic Reform in saw the horrors of the industry should never become compla- 2008 while studying at the UNL. feld’s dorm fl oor in Harper Hall, fi rsthand in time spent in the Duncan Aviation and sisters Teri Anthony and when Bowers was a student and Public offices held: None cent,” they said. The family Cindy Anthony. Visitation will If elected, he said, he would Philippines. is setting up a scholarship for focus on creating good-paying Morfeld was a resident assistant. Morfeld had received about Education: Nebraska Lutheran be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sun- Now Bowers, who grew up in the High School (Waco) young women entering tech- day. The funeral will be at 11 jobs in the district. Morfeld said $39,000 in contributions and about nology fi elds. Nebraska can attract desirable district, works for the nonprofit $11,300 cash on hand as of April Family: Single a.m. Monday at Cutler O’Neill Nebraska Children and Families Faith: Lutheran Paper had management Chapel in Council Bluffs. employers by providing work- 8. Bowers had received about degrees from Buena Vista Uni- Foundation as a youth and com- Website: https://www. force training incentives. He said $12,000 and had nearly $8,600 in versity and Bellevue Univer- Contact the writer: munity coordinator. facebook.com/pages/Hunter- 402-444-1080, [email protected] he wants any tax incentives or cash. Paneitz had yet to raise or sity and was active in leader- twitter.com/buffettOWH state funding to go to employers If elected, he hopes to beef up spend $5,000 on his campaign. Paneitz-for-Nebraska-State- only if they offer what he called a state support for the child welfare The top two vote-getters in the Senate-District-46/76341 living wage. system, and bring jobs to his May 13 primary will face off in 7090353838 “The community is still strong,” district and Medicaid expansion the November general election. Fallenservice members, NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 12 JOSEPH HERING Age: 46 Party: Republican familieshonoredinwalk Home: Omaha Candidates boast strong résumés Occupation: BY LIZ MCCUE is friends with Dick Lerner, City of Omaha one of the organizers. decisions that have long-term WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER inventory Brunkalla served in the Ma- The three vying for Sen. Steve Lathrop’s seat have implications.” partskeeper Hundreds of family mem- rine Corps for 25 years. Besides his Bergan Mercy Public offices held: None backgrounds in hospitals, horse racing and city work bers and friends of fallen “I know what it’s like to work, Riepe also worked as pres- Education: Bachelor’s degree, service members gathered lose friends,” he said. “I can’t ident of Children’s Physicians. Bellevue University; master’s BY CHRISTOPHER BURBACH Saturday in downtown Omaha imagine what it’s like to lose a W. Dodge Rd. He said working with doctors and degree, Bellevue University to remember. WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER managing a hospital honed skills Family: Divorced family member.” Yolanda and Cesar Robles Brunkalla helped to get post- 46 St. 72nd. that would be beneficial to a state Faith: Baptist The race to represent a legisla- drove from Scottsbluff for the ers made bearing the names 4t St. 144th legislator. Website: vote4hering. tive district that includes Ralston Pacific St. weekend. Their son, Marine and images of fallen service and the Millard area features Hospitals have multi-mil- squarespace.com Cpl. Adrian Robles, 21, was 20 lion-dollar budgets, are very members since 2003. two candidates with management killed in action in Afghanistan The posters included infor- 80 political, complicated environ- GREG HOSCH experience in diverse Omaha 31 in 2008. mation on where they were ments and include a wide variety Age: 62 This is the second year they institutions. L St. from, where they served and of functions. “A hospital is like a Party: have come to participate in For Greg Hosch, it’s horse rac- 12 how they died. They were held Harrison St. small city,” Riepe said. Democrat the Honor and Remember ing. He worked his way up from by Boy Scouts who lined the Riepe, who has run unsuc- Home: Omaha Walk, watch baseball and share horse groomer at Fonner Park to walk route to the stadium. cessfully for the Ralston School Occupation: stories with other Gold Star racing secretary at the Ak-Sar- Jeff Zavoras, leader of Boy DOUGLAS Board, said he would not take General families that have lost rela- Ben racetrack. He now runs COUNTY Scouts Pack 83 of Ralston, hospital consulting jobs if elect- manager, tives to war. Horsemen’s Park in Omaha. organized eight packs from Merv Riepe is a former chief ed. Horsemen’s Park; vice “They’re going through the “I will serve in a full-time president of racing, Omaha same thing we are,” Yolanda Omaha, Ralston, Bellevue and operating officer and CEO at Ber- Gretna — about 100 boys and gan Mercy Medical Center. He capacity,” Riepe said. Exposition & Racing Robles said. A Navy veteran who grew up their families. works as a hospital management Public offices held: None She is glad that people re- THE WORLD-HERALD on a farm, Riepe called himself a Zavoras said some of the consultant. Education: Associate’s degree, member her son. common-sense Nebraskan “with boys have relatives in the The fi eld also includes a third Metro Community College The walk was part of the Sa- a deep interest in the state and a military. Some received hugs candidate, Joseph Hering, who Family: Married, two children lute Our Military Community Hosch said, he has built relation- deep interest in my district.” from the families who walked has a clerical job with the City of Faith: Methodist annual tribute to the families ships with senators and learned He said he has gone to 5,000 by and saw the posters bearing Omaha. Website: www.greghosch.com of those who died, veterans, ac- how the Legislature works. doors in District 12. He said the names of relatives. They are seeking the Leg- tive-duty personnel, National And he said he used fi scal re- voters have expressed concern MERV RIEPE John “Hammer” Hanzlik islative District 12 seat being sponsibility to steer Horsemen’s Guardsmen, reserves and fi rst about health care costs, public Age: 71 was one of the American vacated by State Sen. Steve Park successfully through tough responders. The activities safety, prison reform, education Party: Legion riders who stood along Lathrop. The May 13 primary will times since 2007. included the Creighton-Seton and taxes. Riepe said he would Republican the route. He said the walk is a eliminate one of the candidates. Hosch said that experience Hall baseball game at TD prioritize those issues. Home: Ralston “cool deal.” Hosch, 62, has been involved would serve him well while work- Ameritrade Park. His campaign contributions Occupation: “You think back to the way in horse racing for most of his ing on such legislative priorities Robert “Bronk” Brunkalla, include $1,500 from the Nebraska Health care Vietnam was — we’re not go- adult life. He is vice president of as education, expanding veterans an Iraq War veteran, said there State Bankers PAC and $1,000 administration racing for Omaha Exposition & programs, public safety issues were about 300 people at the ing to let that happen,” Hanzlik from the Greater Omaha Cham- consultant, former chief Racing, the not-for-profit corpo- such as fi xing the state emergen- start of the walk. Brunkalla said, referring to a war that ber of Commerce PAC. operating officer of Bergan ration that operates Horsemen’s cy radio system, and economic has gone to the baseball game bitterly divided Americans. Hering, 46, works as a Mercy Medical Center Park and the Lincoln Race Course development in Ralston and before, but this was his fi rst Contact the writer: partskeeper for the City of Public offices held: None simulcasting facility. Omaha. time helping with the walk. He [email protected] Omaha. Education: Bachelor’s degree, Hosch has advocated for the An Army veteran, Hosch grew He said his major priorities University of Nebraska at horse racing industry in the up in Fremont and has lived most include requiring voter identifi- Omaha; master’s degree, Legislature, including recent of his life in Nebraska. “I know what it’s like to lose friends. I can’t imagine cation. University of Iowa measures to allow gambling, via “I’ve done well in the state,” Douglas County Court records Family: Married, one son video terminals, on old horse rac- he said. “I’m at a point where I’m what it’s like to lose a family member.” show a judgment was issued Faith: Christian es. A bill failed in 2012. This year, blessed to be able to give back.” against Hering after a bank sued Website: www.voteriepe.com Robert “Bronk” Brunkalla, an Iraq War veteran senators voted to put the matter Merv Riepe, 71, said his 30 him in 2005 for $346.46 for his un- on the Nov. 4 ballot. years of experience in health paid debt. The judgment was The Nebraska Horsemen’s care administration would help paid off in 2009, after Hering’s Benevolent and Protective Asso- make him effective in Lincoln. wages at Harrah’s Casino and Silver Restoration Event ciation donated $7,500 to Hosch’s With Medicaid and other health Hotel were garnisheed. campaign. care costs consuming much of He said it was a problem Hosch said he has no precon- the state budget, it would be good of long-term unemployment, Are you proud to use& Before ceived agenda if he were elected, to have a senator with practical after being laid off from Ava- displayyour familysilver… SAVE 20% although he said he would “look experience in the fi eld, he said. ya, but that his work history or do you hide it away after the horse-racing industry’s He said he doesn’t have specif- demonstrates responsibility. interests.” ic cost-saving proposals yet, but becauseit’sold or broken? 3DaysOnly! 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