2018 General Candidates
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2018 Legislative Candidates November 6, 2018 General Election District 2 Incumbent - Senator Robert Clements Cass and parts of Sarpy and Otoe Counties 50% Republican / 25% Democrat / 25% Independent Robert Clements (66) Republican (Elmwood) http://www.senatorclements.com Governor Ricketts appointed Clements to the Legislature in 2017. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Nebraska, with minors in Economics and Actuarial Science. He is the Executive Vice President of American Exchange Bank in Elmwood, a fifth-generation community bank. Clements is a member of the Society of Actuaries, president of the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation, Adjutant of the Sons of the American Legion, alumni of the Cornhusker Marching Band, former chairman of the Cass County Republican Party, and is a church musician and board member. Senator Clements is a member of the Appropriations Committee. He advocates the reduction in state spending and providing property tax relief, especially for Ag producers. Clements also supports lower income taxes, reduced regulations and more education opportunities. Susan Lorence (62) Democrat (Plattsmouth) https://www.facebook.com/LorenceForNebraska/ Lorence is a graduate of the University of Denver. She has worked in the telecommunications industry for 40 years and is currently a Lead Process Analyst at CenturyLink. Lorence is active in her church and is a member of the Plattsmouth Lions Club and Plattsmouth Community Foundation Fund Board. Lorence does not consider herself a politician, but a diplomat. As a parent, she wants to ensure Nebraska is always a place where quality education, access to healthcare, and job security are not just talking points, but a reality for every family. Education and funding the University are most important to prevent brain drain. She has no preconceived ideas but knows property taxes need work. She would broaden the tax base to lower taxes but wants to study best practices and see what other states have done. Lorence knows she has a lot to learn. Endorsements: Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) Campaign Manager: Stathi Patseas Committee Choices: Transportation &Telecommunications / Health & Human Services Primary election results 1 2018 Legislative Candidates November 6, 2018 General Election District 4 Incumbent - Senator Robert Hilkemann Central Omaha 51% Republican / 25% Democrat / 24% Independent Robert Hilkemann (70) Republican (Omaha) https://www.facebook.com/senatorhilkemann/ Senator Hilkemann earned a B.S. from Nebraska Wesleyan University and his M.D. from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, graduating cum laude. He founded the Foot and Ankle Center of Nebraska in mid-town Omaha and is a former chairman of the State Board Health. Prior to becoming a podiatrist, Hilkemann was a teacher in Table Rock. Hilkemann has been active in his church and served as an elder. Additionally, he was a member of the board of Abide Ministries in North Omaha and Youth for Christ. Senator Hilkemann is a member of the Appropriations Committee and supports limited spending while maintain funding for public schools. He is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and opposes Medicaid expansion. Endorsements: Senator Deb Fischer, Congressman Don Bacon and Mayor Jean Stothert Shannon Coryell (41) Democrat (Omaha) https://www.facebook.com/coryell4legislature Coryell wants to increase access to health care, enact prison reform, protect voting rights, fund public education, and champion better gun regulations. Coryell has testified in legislative hearings as a patient advocate for Title X family planning services and for the legalization of medical marijuana. She believes teachers should be recognized for what they do but also require more training on effective ways to teach kids with developmental disabilities because children don’t learn the same way. Regarding school shootings, she also believes that if we don’t do anything immediately then we are failing our kids. Primary election results 2 2018 Legislative Candidates November 6, 2018 General Election District 6 Incumbent - Senator Theresa Thibodeau Central & West Central Omaha 40% Republican / 35% Democrat / 25% Independent Theresa Thibodeau (42) Republican (Omaha) https://www.votethibodeau.org Thibodeau was appointed to the Legislature by the Governor in 2017. She graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.A. in Psychology. She was a member for the City of Omaha Personnel Board, La Vista Community Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Senator Thibodeau serves on the General Affairs, the Agriculture and the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committees. She is the owner of Primrose School of La Vista, a daycare/preschool franchise. She has “signed both sides of the paycheck” and knows what it’s like to be a struggling new parent, a small business owner, and a successful politician. Omaha City Council member Amy Melton is Thibodeau’s sister and inspiration for running. A strength is being able to relate to everyone. Thibodeau has a passion for early childhood development. Her top issue is property tax relief. She knows the legislative solution is a bill everyone can support. Each of the three legislative bills introduced by Sen. Thibodeau in the 2018 session passed and were approved by the Governor. Campaign Manager: Chris Peterson Committee Choices: Health & Human Services / Education / Govt, Military & Veterans Affairs Machaela Cavanaugh (36) Democrat (Omaha) https://www.cavanaughforlegislature.org Cavanaugh earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN) and her M.P.A. from the University of Nebraska. She works at the University of Nebraska’s Buffett Early Childhood Institute. Formerly, Cavanaugh was director of development at Opera Omaha and the American Province of the Servants of Mary, and staff assistant for former U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson. Public education is important, and she supports fully funding public schools, the University of Nebraska and community colleges. She opposes charter schools. She would focus on public policy design, implementation, and evaluation, and proactively address missteps in innovation. Property taxes, education, and Medicaid expansion (which she supports), are issues in her district. Cavanaugh believes in expanding the tax base by increasing the workforce. She does not support tax increases or cuts and approves of removing sales tax exemptions unless they result in a double tax. Mentors: Sens. Harr, McCollister, and Howard. Endorsements: AFL-CIO, teachers, Moms Demand Action. Campaign Managers: Brandon Langlois and Jessica Lathrop Primary election results: Committee Choices: Health & Human Services / Education / Interested in Everything 3 2018 Legislative Candidates November 6, 2018 General Election District 8 Incumbent - Senator Burke Harr – TERM-LIMITED Omaha – Midtown 25% Republican / 47% Democrat / 28% Independent Megan (Meg) Hunt (31) Democrat (Omaha) https://meganfornebraska.com Hunt is co-founder of a small online and storefront clothing store in Dundee. She received help from a Nebraska Department of Economic Development intern grant program and wants to extend that program. Hunt founded the nonprofit Safe Space Nebraska, which seeks to end harassment and assault in nightlife establishments. She is a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance and past board member of Friends of Planned Parenthood, Friends of the Nebraska AIDS Project and Omaha Area Youth Orchestras. Her foray into politics was helping to change the sex education curriculum in Omaha Public Schools. Issues important to Hunt include public education (PreK through college), healthcare and an end to partisanship in the Legislature. She will focus on policies for young professionals that prevent brain drain. She is a progressive and feminist. She is not supportive of sales tax on services but does support online sales tax collection. Hunt would look at the school funding formula to enact property tax relief. Endorsements: Moms Demand Action, LEAP Forward, Brotherhood of Locomotive and Train Engineers Campaign manager: Deena Keilany Committee Choices: Business & Labor / Education Marienella (Mina) Davis (24) Democrat (Omaha) http://www.minadavis2018.com Davis graduated from Millard West High School and Creighton University with a degree in Business Intelligence and Analytics with a focus on Information Technology. Davis works as a merchandise planning analyst at Oriental Trading Co, owns a small online clothing business and works weekends at Target to pay off student loans. She was a fellow for Obama in 2012, and a Bernie Sanders delegate in 2016. Davis also campaigned for Heath Mello for Mayor. Davis is running for working people who feel disengaged with politics and want to engage in a more accessible way. Davis works in predictive analytics and considers herself a numbers nerd. Important issues include: balancing property taxes and education, economic inequity, affordable housing, unaffordable health insurance, transportation investment and net neutrality. She wants to engage in research and conversations to find solutions to big problems. Endorsements: IBW Local-22, SIU, Boilermakers, Farmers Union, Progressive Campaign Change Committee, Vote Pro- Choice. Campaign Manager: Allison Bitterman Committee Choices: Appropriations / Transportation & Telecommunications Primary election results 4 2018 Legislative Candidates November 6, 2018 General Election District 10 Incumbent - Senator Bob Krist – TERM-LIMITED Bennington and North-Central Douglas County 40% Republican