♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.

I'M NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS DIRECTOR, DENNIS KELLOGG, AND I'LL BE THE MODERATOR FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

PARTICIPATING TONIGHT IS FORMER STATE SENATOR THERESA THIBODEAU, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER, BRELAND RIDENOUR, AGRIBUSINESSMAN CHARLES HERBSTER AND STATE SENATOR BRETT LINDSTROM.

FOR THE NEXT HOUR, THESE CANDIDATES WILL FACE QUESTIONS FROM NEBRASKA JOURNALISTS.

THE RULES ARE FAIRLY SIMPLE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 1:30 TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION WITH 30-SECOND REBUTTALS IF NEEDED.

WE'LL END WITH TWO-MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENTS FROM EACH CANDIDATE.

BEFORE THE DEBATE, SEVERAL NAMES WERE DRAWN OUT OF A HAT WITH THE CAMPAIGNS TO DETERMINE THE ORDER OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DEBATE AND AS A RESULT, MISS THERESA THIBODEAU WILL FIELD OUR FIRST QUESTION, AND I'LL BE ASKING THAT QUESTION.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF COMMERCIALS FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE AND I KNOW SOME VOTERS WHO HAVE SAID THE CANDIDATES ARE ALL VERY SIMILAR ON THEIR STANCE ON THE ISSUES WITH SOME ONLY VERY SLIGHT DIFFERENCES.

HOPEFULLY TONIGHT'S DEBATE WILL ALLOW VOTERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL OF YOU, BUT LET'S START WITH THE DIFFERENCES.

WHAT'S ONE ISSUE IN WHICH YOUR STAND SETS YOU APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE IN THE RACE?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND GOOD EVENING, NEBRASKA.

ONE ISSUE THAT SETS ME APART FROM THE REST OF THIS RACE IS MY PLAN TO TACKLE PROPERTY TAXES BY HAVING THE STATE STEP UP TO THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND START FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS.

WHEN WE DO THAT, WE CAN FUND PER CHILD, AND THAT WAY, NO PART OF OUR STATE IS EVER FUNDING SOME CHILDREN MORE THAN OTHERS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF WE FUND AT THE STATE LEVEL PER CHILD, THAT WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SO MANY NEBRASKANS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR YEARS BECAUSE, FOR FAR TOO LONG, IT HAS BEEN PIECEMEAL TAX RELIEF DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE AND IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, AND I HEAR FROM A LOT OF NEBRASKANS, WE ARE JUST SICK AND TIRED OF THOSE OVERBEARING PROPERTY TAX BILLS, ESPECIALLY AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

I PAID $50,000 IN PROPERTY TAX.

IT WOULD SURE BE NICE TO REALLY HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, SOLVE THAT IMMEDIATELY AND THEN MOVE ON TO SOLVE THE REST OF OUR TAXES.

>> THANK YOU.

AND UP NEXT IS BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN GLARING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ME AND THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES IS THE FACT THAT I AM A CONSTITUTIONALIST.

I BELIEVE IN RESTORING AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF THE PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE THIS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST THE PRIORITY OF THE HIGHEST ELECTED LEADER IN OFFICE OF THIS STATE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF THE PEOPLE.

THIS ISN'T JUST A REPUBLICAN THING, IT'S NOT JUST A DEMOCRAT THING.

THIS IS WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR ALL NEBRASKANS.

>> THANK YOU.

CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> WELL, GOOD EVENING, NEBRASKA, AND GOOD EVENING TO ALL OF OUR VOTERS.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE AND IF AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE, NEBRASKA IS IN TROUBLE.

AMERICA IS NEBRASKA AND NEBRASKA IS AMERICA.

GOING FORWARD IN 2022, ALL GOVERNOR ELECTIONS IN ALL STATES WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT GOVERNOR YOU'VE POSSIBLY EVER VOTED FOR IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

GOVERNORS MOVING FORWARD WILL HAVE TWO JOBS.

NUMBER ONE, TO LEAD THEIR STATE BUT, NUMBER TWO, TO PUSH BACK AGAINST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVERREACH THAT'S COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON LIKE A TSUNAMI.

THERE'S TWO TYPES OF LEADERSHIP.

THERE'S TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND THERE'S TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

I CAN TELL YOU THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS.

TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP CONTINUES THE BUREAUCRACY TO KEEP CONTINUING TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRANSFORM THE STATE AS A LEADER, THAT MEANS YOU'RE A SERVANT TO EVERY VOTER OF THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU, AND BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> THE ONE DIFFERENCE ABOUT ME THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE THAT'S RUNNING IN THIS RACE IS THAT I'M THE ONLY PROVEN TAX CUTTER THAT IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I'VE DONE IT WITH SOCIAL SECURITY TAX, LB64 LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS THE LARGEST TAX CUT WE'VE DONE IN DECADES.

I'M DOING IT THIS YEAR TO SPEED UP THAT SAME SOCIAL SECURITY TAX TO END IT IN 2025.

AGAIN, BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST TAX CUTS.

I'M THE ONLY PROVEN TAX CUTTER WHEN IT COMES TO INCOME TAX, WHEN IT COMES TO BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE, AND WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAX.

I VOTED FOR EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT HAS COME BEFORE ME.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE LB825 UP TOMORROW WHICH AGAIN WILL END THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME FOR 325,000 NEBRASKANS PUTTING MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I AM NOW CARRYING THE BILL THAT HAS ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF ALL OF THE TAX CUTS THAT I JUST LAID OUT.

$363 MILLION REDUCTION IN INCOME TAX, PARITY IN THE CORPORATE SIDE, ANOTHER $548 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT WILL GO OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THOSE REFORMS.

THAT'S JUST THE FIRST STEP IN ADDRESSING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION TO HELP NEBRASKA GROW, BUT I'M THE ONLY ONE IN THIS RACE THAT IS A PROVEN TAX CUTTER.

>> THANK YOU.

STARTING OFF QUESTIONS FROM OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS IS COLLEEN WILLIAMS.

SHE IS A LONG-TIME ANCHOR AT NTV BASED IN AXTELL.

COLLEEN, BRELAND RIDENOUR WILL RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION FIRST.

>> NEBRASKA NOW LEADS THE NATION IN OVERCROWDED PRISONS, LONG SENTENCES AND MANDATORY MINIMUMS ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS.

DEPARTMENT DATA SHOWS THAT OVERCROWDING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 1982.

A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A NEW PRISON COMES IN AT $270 MILLION.

WHILE SOME STATE LAWMAKERS SAY MORE PRISON BEDS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

>> GREAT QUESTION, COLLEEN.

FIRST OFF, WE'VE GOT TO START WITH WHAT I CALL A 360-DEGREE PERSPECTIVE.

THAT MEANS WE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM AND THE ROOT CAUSE.

WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND EVERY FACET OF THE PROBLEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO THROW MONEY AT THIS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO FIX THE ISSUE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SOLUTION THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.

NOW WHILE WE DO HAVE AN OVERCROWDING PROBLEM, AND AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, COLLEEN, THAT'S BEEN CONSISTENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BEING ABLE TO GET A NEW PRISON, I THINK IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION THAT WE NEED TO BE APPLYING.

ONE THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT, TOO, IS JUSTICE REFORMATION.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THAT WE PROVIDE TRAINING IN A TRADE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET NON-VIOLENT INMATES, ESPECIALLY GET THEM BACK TO THE WORKFORCE.

WE ALSO HAVE A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

WE NEED THE PEOPLE.

WE NEED THE HELP.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AT THE CORE, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT IS ONE SOLUTION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US AND THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER AND MOVE FORWARD WITH.

>> CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> WELL, I WOULD TOTALLY AGREE.

THE NEW PRISON WILL NOT SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS.

WE'LL STILL BE SHORT OF BEDS, EVEN WITH A NEW PRISON.

LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

THE LOCATION OF THE NEW PRISON IS GOING TO BE PARAMOUNT, BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE LOCATED IN TECUMSEH, NEBRASKA NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE THE WORKFORCE TO SERVICE A PRISON OF ANY TYPE, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY TO NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS AND THE VERY BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS.

I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE VETERANS.

I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE SHERIFFS, BEEN MEETING WITH THE PATROL ACROSS THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

THERE IS A HUGE ISSUE TODAY WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE END UP IN A CELL IN PRISON.

THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.

THERE HAS TO BE A PLAN TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS, PUT THEM BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, AND WE NEED THOSE PEOPLE SO BADLY.

WE CAN HELP BY HELPING THOSE PEOPLE LEARN A TRADE AND A SKILL, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A KEY POINT AS WE CHANGE WHAT LOOKS LIKE IN NEBRASKA BECAUSE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME BECAUSE OF ALL THE DRUGS THAT ARE COMING ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, WHICH IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME ACROSS FROM 106 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

>> BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW AND TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SPENT TO BUILD THIS NEW PRISON.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

MY FEAR IS THAT IF WE BUILD IT, THE COST OF $270 MILLION IS JUST THE START.

THE OPERATING EXPENSES, THE WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE AND CLOSER TO PROBABLY A BILLION DOLLARS.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE TAKEN ENOUGH STEPS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HEAR ABOUT.

THAT'S MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS AND AS GOVERNOR, EXPANDING SOME OF THE COURTS, THE DRUG COURTS, THE VETERANS COURTS, THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING VERY WELL IN OMAHA AND OTHER PLACES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EXPAND UPON.

THE WORKFORCE ISSUE, THIS ISN'T JUST A THROW AWAY THE KEY TYPE OF SITUATION.

WE HAVE 152% CAPACITY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T VIOLENT HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THOSE SKILLS, AND ONCE THEY GET OUT, HAVE EMPLOYERS HIRE THEM.

I'M CARRYING A BILL RIGHT NOW THAT HAS COMPONENTS OF SENATOR WAYNE'S BILL THAT DOES THAT.

IT'S A TAX CREDIT TO PROVIDE EMPLOYERS A TAX CREDIT FOR FELONS TO GET BACK TO WORK.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE REMAINS LOW, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS ON THE UP FRONT TO GET THAT RESULT AND THAT DEALS WITH ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY "NO" TO A PRISON, BUT AT THIS STAGE, IT'S HARD TO FUND IT AND IT'S HARD TO STAFF IT.

WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH STEPS ON THE UP-FRONT TO CONTROL THE OUTCOME THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO GET.

>> AND THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL, THE FACTS ARE, WE COULD LET OUT NON-VIOLENT CRIMINALS, BUT THERE REALLY AREN'T ENOUGH NON-VIOLENT CRIMINALS TO REALLY RELIEVE THE OVERCROWDING OF THE PRISON.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT COST AND WORKFORCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH OUR CURRENT PRISON SYSTEM, IN ADDITION TO THE OVERCROWDING, IS IT'S AN UNSAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT BUILDING IS SO OLD AND CRUMBLING THAT IT WOULD COST MORE TO PUT IN THE NEEDED RENOVATIONS TO KEEP THE CORRECTIONS WORKERS AND EVERYBODY THAT ENTERS THE PRISON SAFE, SO THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO BUILD A NEW PRISON.

WITHIN BUILDING A NEW PRISON, YOU CAN ADD THOSE THINGS THAT'S EASIER FOR INMATES TO GET TO AS FAR AS THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED FOR DRUG ADDICTION OR MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INCREASES IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND NEEDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT'S GONE ON THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IN ADDITION TO THE DRUG COURTS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THEY HAVE WORKED IN SOME AREAS, BUT AS GOVERNOR, YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S WORKED IN ONE AREA SO IT WILL WORK IN ALL AREAS, AND IF, AS GOVERNOR, YOU MANDATE COUNTIES OR CITIES TO DO THOSE THINGS, WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THEM?

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT HAS TO BE A VERY CALCULATED AND WELL THOUGHT OUT DECISION ONCE THE NEW PRISON IS BUILT.

HOW DO WE KEEP THOSE CRIMINALS IN THERE THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN JAIL, MAKE SURE PEOPLE DO NOT GET RELEASED TOO EARLY?

>> THANK YOU.

LAUREN MELENDEZ IS OUR NEXT JOURNALIST.

LAUREN IS AN ANCHOR AND REPORTER AT WOWT IN OMAHA.

WELCOME, LAUREN AND CHARLES HERBSTER WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FIRST.

>> THANK YOU.

FARMERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT ALL RECENTLY.

LABOR SHORTAGES, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, FLUCTUATING COMMODITY PRICES, DROUGHTS, AND EXTREME WEATHER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO A NEBRASKA FARMER AND RANCHER AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THREAT TO AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL, NOT ONLY IN NEBRASKA BUT ACROSS THE WHOLE NATION, IS THE FACT THAT WE PRESENTLY HAVE FOREIGN COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY CHINA, WHO ARE PURCHASING OUR AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, THEY'RE PURCHASING OUR LAND, THERE'S SOME REASON THAT EVEN A BILL GATES TODAY OWNS 246,000 ACRES OF THE GREATEST FARMLAND IN THIS COUNTRY IN 18 DIFFERENT STATES.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR FOOD PRODUCTION BECAUSE WE STILL, NOT ONLY FEED AMERICA, BUT WE FEED THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I ASSURE YOU, AS GOVERNOR, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS I WILL DO IS MAKE SURE THAT A FOREIGN COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY ONE OF OUR ADVERSARIES WHO IS TRYING TO TAKE US DOWN, CANNOT PURCHASE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

TRUST ME.

IF WE THOUGHT WE HAD AN ISSUE A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HAD A PANDEMIC AND YOU WENT INTO SAM'S OR YOU WENT INTO WAL-MART AND YOU COULD ONLY BUY ONE BOX OF KLEENEX OR ONLY ONE PACKAGE OF TOILET TISSUE OR ONE PACKAGE OF TERRY TOWELS, WAIT, JUST WAIT UNTIL WE GO INTO THE STORES IN AMERICA AND OUR FOOD IS RATIONED.

THEN, WE WILL HAVE ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS POSSIBLE.

I CAN ASSURE YOU FARMERS ARE THE MOST POSITIVE, CREATIVE, TOUGH PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, AND IN NEBRASKA, WE HAVE 44.2 MILLION ACRES OF LAND DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> WITHIN THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY, I THINK THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT I HEAR ABOUT MOST OFTEN IS THE BURDENSOME TAXES THAT WE HAVE, PARTICULARLY WITH PROPERTY TAX.

AND SO AS GOVERNOR, WE'RE LOOKING AT REDUCING THOSE THROUGH AN EDUCATION PLAN.

LIKE I SAID, I'M CARRYING THE TAX CUT NOW THAT HAS $548 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS TO OFF-SET THE TAX ON THE K-12 EDUCATION, WHICH IS ABOUT 25%.

BUT WE DO NEED TO GET THAT IN ORDER.

DEPENDING ON THE AGRICULTURE EITHER BEEF, CORN, SOYBEANS, EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS HAVE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURE, CORN, OR WHEAT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE, WATER IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR THEM, PARTICULARLY MCCOOK, AND I APPLAUD GOVERNOR RICKETTS FOR TAKING STEPS DEALING WITH COLORADO ON THAT FRONT, BUT WE DO NEED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE WATER FOR OUR IRRIGATION.

WHEN IT COMES TO BEEF, THE NEXT GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF OPENING UP THOSE NEW CHANNELS ON A GLOBAL SPECTRUM, REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING FOR NEBRASKA BEEF.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN INDEPENDENT PROCESSING.

RIGHT NOW, OUR COW-CALF OPERATORS CANNOT GET THEIR BEEF TO MARKET, AND THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE FOR THEM, SO WE NEED TO OPEN THOSE AVENUES BY CUTTING RED TAPE AND INVESTING IN THOSE INDEPENDENT PROCESSING SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF AG WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ON THE OVERARCHING THEME, PROPERTY TAX IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

>> UP NEXT IS THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> A LOT OF THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS THAT I SPEAK TO ACROSS THE STATE, THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BIG CORPORATE FARMING AND THAT THE BIG FOUR HAS COME IN AND MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMS AND RANCHES TO MAKE IT.

THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR TAXES AND HOW MUCH IT IS COSTING THEM TO DRIVE THEIR TRUCKS EVERYWHERE AND IT'S NOT ONLY PROPERTY TAX, IT'S THE FUEL TAX WITH INFLATION, EVERYTHING IS JUST HURTING THEM FROM EVERY DIFFERENT AREA.

FERTILIZER IS UP.

PROPERTY TAXES ARE UP.

THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRIES TO COME IN AND ENFORCE THE 30X30 AND THANKFULLY NEBRASKA WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF STANDING UP TO STAND AGAINST THAT 30X30.

THEN WE LOOK AT THE WATER RIGHTS AND THE FACT THAT NEIGHBORING STATES ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE 1923 WATER COMPACT, AND HOW CAN THE NEXT GOVERNOR STAND UP TO COLORADO AND ENSURE THAT COLORADO IS NOT TAKING THE WATER THAT IS DUE TO NEBRASKA IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR FARMS GOING?

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE OUR FOOD, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE ECONOMY IN OUR STATE.

>> AND BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> SURE.

SO TO ECHO SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES HERE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT WOULD BE PROPERTY TAXES.

YOU CAN'T PLANT MORE SEED AND YOU CAN'T RUN MORE CATTLE ON AN ACRE OF LAND THAN WHAT THEY ALREADY DO.

THERE'S NO GROWTH AVAILABLE TO OUR FARMERS AND WE NEED A BETTER SOLUTION TO PROPERTY TAXES THAT WILL STOP CRIPPLING OUR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

AND AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE BIG FOUR MEAT PROCESSING AND PACKERS.

WE HAVE NEBRASKANS THAT ARE STARTING UP LOCAL PROCESSING INDUSTRY HERE IN NEBRASKA AND, AS GOVERNOR, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM, AS SENATOR LINDSTROM SAID, CUTTING RED TAPE BUT ALSO REINVESTING INTO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS BECAUSE NEBRASKANS WILL STAY LOCAL, THEY WILL KEEP THE MONEY HERE AND THE BIG FOUR MONOPOLY WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE ANYMORE.

HOWEVER, A GOVERNOR ALSO INTERFACES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE ANTI-TRUST LAWS.

WE NEED A GOVERNMENT, A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO WILL START ENFORCING THOSE LAWS.

ALSO, I BRING TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND SO I THINK I.T.

WE NEED BROADBAND.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GIVE BROADBAND AND GOOD INTERNET ACCESS TO OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS SO THAT THEY CAN GET UP WITH THE TIMES AND THEY CAN LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO BETTER THEIR PRODUCT AND BETTER THEIR INDUSTRY.

AND, OF COURSE, MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL.

NEBRASKANS NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEIR BEEF IS COMING FROM.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL, THE FINAL JOURNALIST ON OUR PANEL IS FRED KNAPP.

HE COVERS STATE GOVERNMENT FOR NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS.

FRED, BRETT LINDSTROM WILL RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION FIRST.

>> PEOPLE HAVE TALKED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT WANTING TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM OF INCOME SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES IN NEBRASKA AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS STARTED TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES.

YOU'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST STEPS YOU WOULD TAKE, BUT WHAT FURTHER REFORMS IN TAXES OR SPENDING WOULD YOU PURSUE AS GOVERNOR?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

LIKE I MENTIONED, I'M ON THE FOREFRONT OF WORKING ON THAT CURRENTLY WITH THE REDUCTION AND ENDING THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME, AGAIN, TAKING ON AND CARRYING THE BILL TO DRAW DOWN AND PHASE FIRST FULL PERCENTAGE OFF THE INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE, PARITY WITH THE CORPORATE TAX RATE AND DOING THE PROPERTY TAX.

I THINK THE NEXT STEP IN THAT EQUATION, AGAIN OPERATING IN KIND OF THE SHORT-TERM, IS TRYING TO TACKLE THAT DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE 18- TO 35-YEAR OLD, THE GROUP THAT IS WORKING OR COMING IN TO WORK.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST STATES LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA, STATES LIKE WYOMING AND IOWA.

IOWA IS GOING TO BE TAKING THEIR TAX RATE DOWN TO 3.9%.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF CONTROLLING SPENDING.

WE CAN'T ASK THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO OUTPACE THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND EXPECT TAX RESULTS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND WHAT I THINK WE CAN DO UNDER OUR BUDGET IS RAISING THAT THRESHOLD FOR AN INDIVIDUAL FILER $50,000 AND A JOINT FILER OF $100,000 TO GET CLOSER TO INCOME TAX OF ZERO PERCENT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE NEXT STEPS, AFTER WE PASS THE BILLS HERE THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP AS GOVERNOR IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT WORK FORCE ISSUE, TRYING TO COMPETE, TRYING TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT TALENT AND BY TACKLING THAT IN THAT $50,000-100,000 RANGE, I THINK WE'LL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM A TAXATION STANDPOINT TO COME HERE.

THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN DOING IT, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE THING THAT I WOULD BE FOCUSED ON DOING RIGHT AWAY.

>> THANK YOU.

THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> THE TAX PROBLEM IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE TO FIX.

WE HAVE ALL TALKED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT THAT THREE-LEGGED STOOL BEING OUT OF BALANCE.

I HEAR OVER AND OVER FROM PEOPLE GOING WE NEED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WE NEED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF OR A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT, BUT THE FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON INCOME TAX.

IT'S IMPERATIVE TO LOOK AT PROPERTY TAX FIRST.

WE CAN DO THIS BY HAVING A PRIVATE AUDIT GROUP CUT THE WASTE AND THE SPENDING.

IT HAPPENED IN TEXAS.

I RESEARCHED IT.

I SAW IT.

TEXAS LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT THEY DO IT EVERY FIVE YEARS AND THEY SAVED MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WE CAN GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING THAT WILL HELP WITH THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT, IF WE NEED TO GET RID OF SOME EXEMPTIONS, LET'S DO IT SMARTLY.

LET'S NOT JUST SAY, HEY, SOUTH DAKOTA OR IOWA OR THIS OR THAT DID IT.

LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S RIGHT FOR NEBRASKA, AND A LOT OF THOSE SERVICE EXEMPTIONS THAT GO TOWARDS SPECIAL INTERESTS, THOSE COULD BE GOTTEN RID OF AND WOULD GIVE THE STATE A LOT MORE MONEY IN ORDER TO GIVE THE TAXPAYER SOME RELIEF.

>> BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> WELL, FIRST, IT DOES START WITH CUTTING SPENDING, BUT BEFORE WE CAN CUT SPENDING, WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND WHAT WE CAN CUT.

WE NEED PROPER REPORTING IN THIS STATE.

WE CAN ALSO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT EASIER, MAKE IT FASTER, AND MAKE IT MORE ACCURATE.

BUT I AM ALSO A PROPONENT FOR REPLACING THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TODAY FOR PROPERTY INCOME AND A NUMBER OF OUR TAXES, INCLUDING THE INHERITANCE TAX.

I'M A PROPONENT FOR THE EPIC CONSUMPTION TAX.

I BELIEVE CONSUMPTION TAX IS THE BEST PLAN SO FAR THAT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY RELIEF BUT ALSO A SOLUTION THAT IS SUSTAINABLE.

WHAT WE'LL END UP DOING IS ACTUALLY INCREASING OUR TAX REVENUE BUT LOWERING THE TAX BURDEN ON NEBRASKANS.

IT'S A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO TAXES, IN MY OPINION.

AND CONSUMPTION TAX, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS I LOVE ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE, AS A TAXPAYER, YOU DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU PAY AND WHEN YOU PAY.

INSTEAD OF THOSE TAXES GETTING TAKEN OUT OF YOUR PAYCHECK OR YOU GET A BILL EVERY YEAR OR TWICE A YEAR TO PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, THAT ISN'T THE CASE IN THIS INSTANCE.

WHAT STATISTICS ARE SHOWING THAT A CONSUMPTION TAX WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR REVENUE.

IN ADDITION, IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE EPIPLAN DOES, IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE OF LOWER INCOME.

IT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING A HIGHER TAX BURDEN ON THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE MOST INJURED, IF YOU WOULD, BY IT, AND SO THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE EPIC TAX PLAN AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN A SINKING SHIP AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO BUT BAIL OUT.

>> THANK YOU.

AND CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM FOR HER ENDORSEMENT FOR ME TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

WE'VE HAD MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT TAXES, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOUTH DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA.

CERTAINLY, WE LOOK AT WHAT GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS DID IN IOWA JUST RECENTLY WITH THE 3.9% FLAT TAX RATE THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT BY 2026.

I'VE LOOKED AT NORTH CAROLINA, I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER STATES.

IN NEBRASKA, WE HAVE A 1967 TAX CODE.

EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THAT, AND FOR THE LAST EIGHT OR 10 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FIXING THE TAX PROBLEM.

WE CONTINUE TO PUT A BAND-AID ON THE WOUND.

AS GOVERNOR, MY PROPOSAL IS VERY SIMPLE.

WE HAVE TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE TAX CODE OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

WE HAVE TO START FROM THE FOUNDATION, JUST LIKE YOU BUILD A HOME, YOU'VE GOT TO START WITH THE BASEMENT FIRST.

AND SO YOU NEED TO LOOK AT BLUEPRINT NEBRASKA.

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EPIC CONSUMPTION TAX.

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, AND OUT OF THAT, YOU NEED TO CHOOSE AND PICK WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR NEBRASKA.

I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY, RIGHT OFF THE TOP, NO INHERITANCE TAX.

IT CRUCIFIES FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE IN OUR STATE TO HAVE TO PAY INHERITANCE TAX, TO PASS THAT ON TO THEIR NEXT GENERATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LIVE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS DEBATE WITH SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

THERESA THIBODEAU, BRELAND RIDENOUR, CHARLES HERBSTER, AND BRETT LINDSTROM.

BACK NOW TO NTV'S COLLEEN WILLIAMS FOR THE NEXT QUESTION.

THERESA THIBODEAU WILL ANSWER THIS QUESTION FIRST.

>> PEOPLE LOOK TO OUR LEADERS FOR WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE DISCOURSE.

OPEN DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF NEBRASKA'S NON-PARTISAN UNICAMERAL HAS SEEN NAME-CALLING AND PERSONAL ATTACKS.

EVEN NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR, THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN INTENSITY IN THE WAY WE CONVERSE, AND THEN THERE'S THE CAMPAIGN ADS.

DO YOU PLACE IMPORTANCE ON "NEBRASKA NICE" AND HOW YOU CAMPAIGN AND HOW YOU WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD?

OR IS THAT WAY OF THINKING A THING OF THE PAST?

>> FOR ME, THE IMPORTANCE FOR ME IS ON "NEBRASKA NICE" AND I WAS SADDENED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE CHANGED "NEBRASKA NICE" TO "NEBRASKA, IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE."

WHAT ARE WE TELLING PEOPLE?

WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE NOT WELCOME.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON, ON THE LEGISLATIVE FLOOR, I SPENT TIME DOWN THERE AND THOSE DEBATES CAN GET HEATED, BUT WHEN THEY START TO GO TO PERSONAL ATTACKS TOWARDS INDIVIDUALS, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THAT OR NO REASON FOR THAT.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO REALLY DON'T HAVE NEBRASKA IN MIND.

THEY ARE THERE FOR THEIR OWN CERTAIN AGENDA AND THEY ARE THROWING TEMPER TANTRUMS OR THINKING THAT THEY NEED TO GET ATTENTION ON THE FLOOR TO BRING IT TO THEM AND DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU SERVE AS GOVERNOR.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT PERSON; IT'S ABOUT NEBRASKA AND ITS CITIZENS, AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE COME BACK TO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE CRAZY COMMERCIALS COME BACK TO.

IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO TO VOTE FOR WHEN, EVERY TIME THEY TURN ON THE T.V., IT'S SOMEBODY ATTACKING SOMEBODY FOR WHATEVER.

WELL, WHO ARE THE REAL PEOPLE RUNNING?

AND HOW CAN NEBRASKANS GET TO KNOW THEM?

I RUN ON WHAT I CAN DO FOR NEBRASKA AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS STATE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU.

BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO PLAY NICE.

LOOK, COLLEEN, HERE'S THE THING.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS GOVERNOR, I'M GOING TO BE A ROLE MODEL, A ROLE MODEL IN RESPECT AND PEACE, AND PRODUCING THE ATTITUDE THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE ARE NOT -- NEBRASKA IS A GREAT STATE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE TACKLED, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE STATE IF WE DON'T LEARN TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND, IF WE DON'T LEARN TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER RESPECTFULLY, EVEN IF WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF ELEMENTARY, IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.

WE'RE ALL GROWN ADULTS.

WE'RE ALL HERE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND I BELIEVE THAT, BECAUSE ANYBODY ELECTED, THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, WHETHER I AGREE WITH THEIR METHODS OR THEIR PERSPECTIVES OR NOT, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE COMMON GROUND, AND WE CAN.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT THROUGHOUT THE MY ENTIRE 14 MONTHS OF CAMPAIGNING, POLITICS IS ABOUT PEOPLE.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO OPERATE, HOW TO CONNECT, HOW TO CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, WITH NOT JUST REPUBLICANS, NOT JUST DEMOCRATS, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IN BETWEEN, BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER GET INTO THESE FIGHTS, WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE THIS DISCOURSE, BECAUSE ALL IT'S DOING IS HURTING OUR CONSTITUENTS, IT'S HURTING OUR STATE.

WE ARE ALL NEBRASKANS HERE.

THIS IS ALL OF OUR HOME, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE WANT A HOME FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, THAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS YESTERDAY, THEN WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO PLAY NICE.

>> NEXT UP IS CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> YOU KNOW, AS A BUSINESSMAN, I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS, HAVING SIX BUSINESSES IN FIVE STATES, WORKING WITH PROBABLY 30,000 FAMILIES IN 46 DIFFERENT STATES, JOHN MAXWELL SAYS IT BEST: EVERYTHING RISES AND FALLS ON LEADERSHIP.

GREAT LEADERSHIP, GREAT RESULTS.

I LOOK AT GREAT LEADERSHIP AS SERVANTHOOD, THE SERVANTHOOD OF OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WHO EXEMPLIFIED IT BETTERED THAN ANYONE.

I WILL GUARANTEE TO THE VOTERS OF THIS STATE, WHATEVER PARTY AFFILIATION, WHATEVER YOUR FEELINGS ARE, EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, I HAVE SAID OVER THE LAST 30-SOME YEARS, I ALWAYS LEARN MORE FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE CRITICAL OF ME THAN THOSE PEOPLE WHO AGREED WITH ME.

I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT, TODAY, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS, IN OUR BOARD ROOMS TO BUILD PEOPLE'S VALUE, TO BUILD THEIR VALUE.

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR US TO CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN AND ATTACK OTHERS BECAUSE WE WERE ALL CREATED IN GOD'S OWN IMAGE AND WE'RE ALL HIS CHILDREN.

>> AND BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> I SPENT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE WORKING WITH THOSE FOLKS ON POLICY ISSUES.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, OVER THOSE EIGHT YEARS, I'VE GOT ALONG WITH EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL NO MATTER WHERE THEY SIT ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE IN NEBRASKA AND I CAN POINT TO NUMEROUS BILLS THAT I'VE WORKED ON IN THE PAST.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUT.

LAST YEAR, WE PASSED THAT.

IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

IT WAS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, VOTED URBAN OR RURAL.

I WORKED WITH SARA HOWARD, A FORMER SENATOR, ON DEALING WITH THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG SYSTEM, OPIOIDS.

I WORKED WITH SENATOR TONY VARGAS ON DEALING WITH PAYDAY LENDING ISSUES AND I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE SENATORS THAT I'VE WORKED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

YES, WE DISAGREE AND SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE 90% OF THE TIME, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ONE THING THAT WE CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS ON, AND AS GOVERNOR, IT'S BUILDING THOSE COALITIONS, IT'S HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING THOSE COALITIONS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET THE BIG THINGS DONE IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA AND HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE AND WORKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE AND HAVING THE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER AND HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2023.

AS IT PERTAINS TO THE POLITICAL SIDE AND THE CAMPAIGN ADS, OUR CAMPAIGN AND WHAT I TOLD MY STAFF EARLY ON IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE POSITIVE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN'T DO BUT WHAT WE CAN DO, AND WHAT IS GOING TO COME FROM US FROM HERE ON OUT AND WHICH HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS IS A POSITIVE MESSAGE, POSITIVE CAMPAIGNING, POSITIVE ADS, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT AS WELL, IS MAKING SURE WE GET THE RIGHT THINGS DONE, DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY AND WORKING WITH ALL PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THE BACKGROUND.

>> THANK YOU.

WOWT'S LAUREN MELENDEZ HAS THE NEXT QUESTION, AND BRELAND RIDENOUR WILL ANSWER FIRST.

>> HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BE A GOVERNOR FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE?

SPECIFICALLY REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED?

FOR EXAMPLE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQIA?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO, HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT.

WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT PLAYING NICE, TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.

THAT DOESN'T JUST GO FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IT GOES FOR ALL NEBRASKANS BECAUSE AS GOVERNOR, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO, IS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE IT ALSO STARTS WITH DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEBRASKANS, NO MATTER THE LOCATION, NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM, EAST, WEST, RURAL, METRO, AND HOW YOU DO THAT IS BY GOING THERE, SHAKING THEIR HANDS, AND LISTENING.

TALKING TO THEM.

LETTING THEM KNOW.

BEING TRANSPARENT.

SAY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR ISSUES?

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU?

AS CHARLES MENTIONED, AS GOVERNOR, YOU'RE A SERVANT TO THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF OUR PERSPECTIVES, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY WE CHOOSE TO LIVE OUR LIFE.

WE'RE ALL NEBRASKANS FIRST, AND SO I WILL START AND HAVE BEEN DOING, AS I MENTIONED OVER 14 MONTHS OF MY CAMPAIGNING IS BEING THERE, BEING THERE WITH PEOPLE.

I CLOSE A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS DOWN, THESE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, I'M ONE OF THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE AS THE LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF BECAUSE I VALUE THE INPUT, I VALUE THE OPINION OF ALL NEBRASKANS.

AND I MENTIONED EARLIER, A 360-DEGREE PERSPECTIVE.

YOU DON'T GET A 360-DEGREE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ISSUES AT HAND THAT AFFECT NEBRASKANS, AND THOSE ISSUES DO VARY FROM EAST TO WEST, METRO TO RURAL AREAS, BUT YOU DON'T GET THAT FULL PERSPECTIVE BY NOT CONNECTING AND ENGAGING WITH NEBRASKANS.

AND SO, I VALUE THAT AND I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND I BELIEVE OUR LEADERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN DOING THAT WELL ENOUGH AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO ACCOMPLISHING THAT AND SETTING THAT GOAL TO A GREATER HEIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> ALREADY I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS I'VE MET WITH, BUT MANY OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, PLUS CAMPAIGNING THE ENTIRE STATE FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST.

I CAN SHARE WITH YOU PEOPLE WANT TO BE HEARD.

THEY WANT A LEADER WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEM.

GREAT LEADERS IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS IF WE STUDY TWO THINGS, EXEMPLIFIED TWO PIECES OF LEADERSHIP.

NUMBER ONE, THEY WERE GREAT LISTENERS.

THEY WERE WILLING TO LISTEN TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON AND, NUMBER TWO, THEY DIDN'T SIT IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, THEY WEREN'T IN AN IVORY TOWER.

LEADERS WERE WITH THEIR PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU SPEND TIME WITH YOUR PEOPLE OUT THERE, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT THEIR COLOR IS, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM IS.

I ASSURE YOU, AS THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE, I'M GOING TO SPEND MUCH, MUCH TIME OUT THERE WITH THE PEOPLE.

I DON'T HAVE TO GET HOME AT 10:00.

I CAN STAY UP HALF THE NIGHT.

I DO IT NOW.

I'M USED TO IT.

I'VE DONE IT FOR 30 YEARS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

BEING GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE AND BRINGING OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE WHAT A LEADER DOES IN THE SECOND EIGHT HOURS OF THE DAY AND EVEN THE THIRD EIGHT HOURS OF THE DAY AND EVERYONE KNOWS AS I'M ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THEY HAVE MY CARD, THEY HAVE MY PRIVATE CELL NUMBER, THEY HAVE MY PRIVATE EMAIL.

TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE NEBRASKA GREAT AGAIN.

>> AND BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> WELL, FIRST, WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE'RE PERCEIVED.

RIGHT NOW, NEBRASKA IS NOT FOR EVERYONE IS NOT THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO SEND THIS GOVERNOR.

WE SIMPLY CAN'T.

WE HAVE TOO MANY JOBS IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

60,000-PLUS UNFILLED JOBS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GROW ORGANICALLY AND BRING PEOPLE AND RETAIN AND RECRUIT TALENT BY SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT NEBRASKA IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER AND THAT CAN GO HAND IN HAND WITH PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE WORKED ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN KIDS TO GET A GOOD OUTCOME.

THAT'S ALSO INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED AND INVESTING IN NORTH OMAHA, SOUTH OMAHA, AND OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE A MUCH HIGHER POVERTY LEVEL AND HAVE A MUCH BROADER DISCONNECT ON SOME OF THE OUTLETS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO, WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE HOPE AND A JOB AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT EDUCATION, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A GOOD OUTCOME.

AS GOVERNOR, I WOULD BE THE GOVERNOR FOR EVERYONE, REPRESENTING 1.9 MILLION PEOPLE.

OBVIOUSLY SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL DISAGREE, BUT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE EVERY -- EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN MIND WHEN MAKING POLICY DECISIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING THE RIGHT OUTCOMES AND THAT'S PARTNERING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF NEBRASKA AND WALKING ALONGSIDE HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERING WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> WELL, VERY INTERESTING QUESTION, SINCE I'M THE ONLY FEMALE ON THIS STAGE, SOME EXPERIENCES OVER MY CAMPAIGN IS THERE HAVE BEEN LEADERS THAT HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID, WE REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU SAY.

YOU HAVE GREAT IDEAS.

YOU CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.

YOU GET EVERYDAY NEBRASKANS.

SO WHY DON'T YOU TAKE ALL OF THAT KNOWLEDGE AND GET BEHIND ONE OF THE MEN, AND LITERALLY, IT'S HAPPENED SINCE I ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER TO JUST THE OTHER DAY.

AND THAT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND AS GOVERNOR, YOU CAN BE THE LEADER IN THAT, AND I WILL WALK BESIDE ALL MEN AND WOMEN AND ALL NEBRASKANS, AND I WILL NOT GO INTO ANY COMMUNITY AND THINK THAT I KNOW WHAT THEY NEED OR TALK AT THEM OR TO THEM.

IT IS ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTING.

THERE IS THE SAYING, NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND IT'S TRUE.

AND SHARING THE EXPERIENCES OF RAISING A FAMILY, OF PAYING TAXES, OF OWNING A BUSINESS.

IT'S ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GIVE ME THE QUALITY EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN I GO OUT, I CAN RESONATE WITH ALL NEBRASKANS AND LISTEN AND WE CAN SHARE WHAT WE AGREE UPON AND SHARE WHAT EACH COMMUNITY THINKS IS BEST FOR THEM.

THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT, BECAUSE IF WE JUST KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THINGS, NOTHING WILL GET BETTER.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS, SO LET'S REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE AND SEE WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED.

>> THANK YOU.

BACK TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S FRED KNAPP, WHO WILL TAKE THE NEXT QUESTION.

CHARLES HERBSTER WILL RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION FIRST.

>> THERE ARE CURRENTLY PROPOSALS TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUILD A CANAL TO BRING WATER FROM THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER IN COLORADO TO NEBRASKA AND TO BUILD A LAKE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND OMAHA.

WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON THOSE EXPENDITURES?

>> WELL, FRED, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY I'M NOT A POLITICIAN, NEVER HAVE HELD OFFICE BEFORE IN MY LIFE, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO, BUT LET ME SAY THIS: NUMBER ONE, THE MOST IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THAT NEBRASKA HAS IS OUR PEOPLE, IS OUR VOTERS.

I'VE BUILT BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE THAT I WANT TO LIVE.

I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN NEBRASKA AS A FIFTH GENERATION FARMER/RANCHER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF NEBRASKA ARE SPECIAL.

SECONDLY, OUTSIDE OF OUR PEOPLE, THE NEXT MOST VALUABLE ASSET IS OUR LAND AND OUR RESOURCES AND THAT INCLUDES WATER.

I'VE BEEN SAYING AS I'VE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STATE WITHIN 10 YEARS OR LESS, WATER WILL BE THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC FOR THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PRESERVE OUR RESOURCES AND PROTECT OUR PEOPLE, YOU CAN BE SURE AS GOVERNOR, THAT WILL BE THE FIRST THING I THINK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP.

>> BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> THIS IS A TOPIC I BROUGHT UP BEFORE GOVERNOR RICKETTS ANNOUNCED HIS CANAL PROPOSAL AT THE FARM BUREAU FORUM IN KEARNEY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MIGRATION GOING ON INTO COLORADO AND POSSIBLY HARMING NEBRASKA AND OUR AGRICULTURE AND OUR WATER RIGHTS, YOU CAN LOOK BACK AT THE REPUBLICAN RIVER VALLEY COMPACT, WHERE WE GOT SUED BY KANSAS BY $9 MILLION.

WHAT I STATED THERE WAS THAT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT, THE MIGRATION INTO COLORADO WOULD IMPACT NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE IN PARTICULAR AND WE TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER WITH THE SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER AND TRAVELING TO MCCOOK AND MEETING THE NEEDS FOR AGRICULTURE OUT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO WATER, AND SO I AGREE THAT WE DO NEED TO SPEND SOME DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE WATER RIGHTS FOR NEBRASKA'S CITIZENS.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE 99-YEAR COMPACT.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE LAKE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, AGAIN, ALL THESE THINGS THAT STACK UP TO MAKE NEBRASKA COMPETITIVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE THAT TRAVEL ON THE WEEKENDS TO OKOBOJI AND OZARKS AND SPEND DOLLARS OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT TO LOOK AT THAT AND PUTTING THAT IN NEBRASKA AND I THINK WE'LL SEE A VERY GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT BY KEEPING YOUNGER FAMILIES HERE, KEEPING PEOPLE HERE, AND HAVING AN OUTLET FOR RECREATION AND DOING THE THINGS THAT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE LEAVING THE STATE OF NEBRASKA TO DO.

>> THANK YOU.

ANSWERING NEXT IS THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> THANK YOU.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND THE CANAL AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN ASHLAND, YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S MEDIA STORIES, THERE'S WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND JUST READING IT AND GETTING TO KNOW IT AND ASKING QUESTIONS.

NEBRASKANS AND FARMERS ARE WORRIED WITH COLORADO TAKING THE WATER THAT IS DUE TO US AND NOT ABIDING BY THAT 1923 WATER COMPACT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOUGH, BUILDING THAT CANAL COULD HELP PUT WATER IN THERE FOR YEARS LIKE WE MAY BE GOING INTO THIS YEAR, SEEING HOW DRY IT IS, SO THAT FARMERS CAN CONTINUE TO IRRIGATE IN THOSE DRY YEARS AND NOT WORRY ABOUT DRYING UP THE WATER.

IT'S CERTAINLY BACK TO PROTECTING OUR WATER RIGHTS AND PROTECTING THE ECONOMY THAT PROVIDES US MOST OF WHAT NEBRASKA NEEDS AS FAR AS FOOD AND ECONOMIC HEALTH.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL IN ASHLAND, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME, SO IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, NEBRASKANS, WE DO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LAKE THAT'S NOT IN IOWA.

IT'S CALLED LAKE MCCONAUGHY, AND ARE WE GOING TO END UP TAKING MORE MONEY AND PUTTING IT TO ONE SIDE OF THE STATE INSTEAD OF THE OTHER?

SO, LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN GROW OUR ENTIRE STATE, BECAUSE IF WE ONLY FOCUS ON ONE PORTION OF OUR STATE AND NOT THE OTHER, THE ENTIRE STATE FAILS.

WE NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY STATE ALL AROUND.

>> THANK YOU.

AND BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> WELL, WHILE I DO APPRECIATE OUR COLORADO NEIGHBORS, FOR ME, IT'S NEBRASKA FIRST.

WATER IS A CRITICAL RESOURCE, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO BUILD THE CANAL, TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THE RESERVOIR, TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE CONTRACT WE ALREADY HAVE.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT SMARTLY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS THERE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, 360-DEGREE PERSPECTIVE, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S A SOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE.

WE DON'T WANT TO COME AND FIND OUT LATER ON THAT IT'S GOING TO COST EVEN MORE MONEY.

WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

WE NEED TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT.

I BELIEVE THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE TODAY HAS APPROVED FOR ABOUT I WANT TO SAY A LITTLE OVER $50 MILLION.

PART OF THAT MONEY IS TO BE USED FOR A STUDY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, TO GET THAT FULL PERSPECTIVE.

THAT'S SMART AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING MOVING FORWARD.

NOW, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I POTENTIALLY SUPPORT THE LAKE BETWEEN LINCOLN AND OMAHA IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE CAN GET ONTO A CONSUMPTION-BASED TAX HERE IN NEBRASKA.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WITH THE CONSUMPTION TAX, WE BRING IN MORE REVENUE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.

MORE TAX MONEY FOR OUR STATE AND IT DOESN'T COME FROM NEBRASKANS.

AGAIN, THAT'S COMMON SENSE.

THAT'S A SMART APPROACH.

AND AS LONG AS WE CAN FUND IT APPROPRIATELY, AND WE HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE AND IT'S A SOLUTION THAT MAKES SENSE AND IS SUSTAINABLE, THEN I WILL SIGN MY NAME ON IT.

>> THANK YOU.

AND THIS IS THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE.

WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.

WE ARE GOING TO ASK OUR CANDIDATES, THOUGH, TO LIMIT THEIR RESPONSES TO ONE MINUTE.

ONE MINUTE EACH FOR THESE RESPONSES.

THE QUESTION WILL COME FROM LAUREN MELENDEZ OF WOWT.

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN FORCED TO GRAPPLE WITH THE PANDEMIC IN MORE THAN A CENTURY.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS DURING THIS GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS AND WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE WAY GOVERNOR RICKETTS HAS HANDLED NEBRASKA'S PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> AND BRETT LINDSTROM WILL ANSWER FIRST.

>> I THINK GOVERNOR RICKETTS DID A VERY GOOD JOB DURING WHAT WE WERE UP AGAINST.

IT WAS SOMETHING AS A LEGISLATOR WE WERE GETTING INFORMATION ON THE FLY BACK IN MARCH OF 2020, AND MAKING DECISIONS ON THE FLY, WORKING WITH OTHER GOVERNORS ACROSS THE STATE TO PUT IN PROVISIONS TO PROTECT PEOPLE.

SO I WANT TO SAY THAT GOVERNOR RICKETTS DID A GOOD JOB WITH THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAD IN FRONT OF HIM.

ONE OF THE THINGS AS GOVERNOR, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT MANDATES, VACCINE MANDATES, OTHER MANDATES THAT ARE COMING DOWN, MASK MANDATES, AS GOVERNOR, I WILL PUSH BACK AGAINST ANY TYPE OF MANDATE THAT COMES FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE OR EVEN FROM THE STATE SIDE.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT I DISAGREE WITH, WE NEED TO KEEP BUSINESS OPEN.

THE ECONOMY IS VITAL AND I APPLAUD GOVERNOR RICKETTS FOR DOING THAT.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE THINGS THAT SHUT DOWN, CHURCHES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN, THAT AS GOVERNOR, WE WILL STAND UP AGAINST ANY TYPE OF MANDATE, BOTH FEDERAL OR STATE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS SIDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS FOR ALL NEBRASKANS.

>> THANK YOU.

UP NEXT IS THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> WELL, NOTHING SHOULD EVER OVERRIDE OUR CONSTITUTION, AND OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.

SHUTTERING BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE WE ARE NEBRASKANS.

WE'RE INDIVIDUALS AND WE CAN MAKE CHOICES OF WHAT'S BEST FOR OURSELVES.

THE MANDATES AND THE SHUTTING, 15% OF NEBRASKA'S CHILDCARE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE MANDATES TO CLOSE DURING COVID, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BRINGING MORE PEOPLE AND YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, COUNTRYWIDE, OVER A MILLION AND A HALF WOMEN HAVE LEFT THE WORKFORCE.

WELL, IF WE ALREADY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SPOTS OPEN FOR CHILDCARE AND WOMEN ARE WORKING THE WORKFORCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE BACK.

SO AS GOVERNOR MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD ALWAYS TAKE ALL INFORMATION IN, STUDY IT, BUT I WILL NEVER VIOLATE OUR CONSTITUTION IN ORDER TO MAKE A SOLUTION THAT'S WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM.

>> THANK YOU, AND BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> WELL, AS I'VE ALREADY PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, I'M A CONSTITUTIONALIST AND I PRIORITIZE THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF THE PEOPLE, EVEN IN A PANDEMIC.

I DO BELIEVE GOVERNOR RICKETTS DID THE BEST WITH WHAT HE KNEW AND WHAT HE HAD AT THE TIME, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WOULD HAVE DONE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, AND I DO AGREE WITH THERESA THAT THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED OR RESTRICTED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF A PANDEMIC.

WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE.

THAT'S ONE OF GOVERNMENT'S FIRST JOBS.

BUT, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A PLAN IN PLACE.

PANDEMICS HAPPEN.

WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE COVID WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

WE NEED TO NOT SHUT DOWN OUR ECONOMY.

WE CANNOT DO THAT.

AND GOVERNOR RICKETTS DID A GOOD JOB NOT DOING THAT, BUT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT SHUTTING DOWN THE ECONOMY IN MANY OTHER STATES HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS.

LASTLY, I WOULD HAVE CALLED FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION TO MAKE SURE WE GET LEGISLATORS BACK HERE IN LINCOLN AND GET LEGISLATION IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE SO THAT WE WOULD NOT FORCED MANDATES WITH VACCINES AND MASKS.

>> THANK YOU.

AND FINALLY, CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY AS GOVERNOR, MY PLAYBOOK WOULD BE THE PLAYBOOK OF MY GOOD FRIEND, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IN FLORIDA.

I THINK HE DID IT PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYONE.

WHEN IT COMES TO MANDATES, ZERO MANDATES.

I AGREE.

I WOULD HAVE CALLED THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN SESSION.

I DON'T THINK WE WENT FAR ENOUGH.

THE PANDEMIC'S REAL.

I JUST LOST MY FATHER-IN-LAW AT 94 YEARS OLD TO COVID BUT LET ME SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU.

THE PANDEMIC CAME FROM CHINA.

DON'T KID YOURSELVES.

I WON'T BACK AWAY FROM THAT.

IT WAS THE ONLY THING THEY HAD TO DO TO GET DONALD J. TRUMP OUT OF OFFICE, AND IF WE ALLOW THEM TO MANDATE, IF WE ALLOW THEM TO CLOSE OUR CHURCHES, WE WILL LOSE THE COUNTRY OUR FOREFATHERS DEVELOPED AND BUILT AND FOUGHT FOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS IN TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

NOW, EACH OF THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.

NAMES WERE ALSO DRAWN OUT OF A HAT TO DETERMINE THE ORDER AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH CHARLES HERBSTER.

>> I SAID EARLIER THAT AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE.

AND LET ME JUST TALK A MINUTE ABOUT HOW YOU TAKE DOWN A FREE NATION, A NATION THAT WILL SOON CELEBRATE ITS 246TH ANNIVERSARY OF A FREE REPUBLIC.

THE PANDEMIC ALLOWED US TO SHUT THE CHURCHES DOWN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

WORST DECISION THAT WE EVER MADE.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EVERY STATE AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE HAVE LOST OUR MORAL COMPASS.

NUMBER ONE, OUR FAITH IS UNDER ATTACK.

WE'VE TAKEN GOD OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WE'VE TAKEN GOD OUT OF THE CORPORATE BOARDROOMS, AND WE'VE TAKEN GOD OUT OF MANY OF THE CHURCHES.

OUR FAITH IS UNDER ATTACK.

IT WAS THE REASON AMERICA WAS FOUNDED.

SECOND OF ALL, OUR FAMILIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.

PART OF THAT WAS THE MASKING, THE DIVISION THAT TOOK PLACE FROM THE PANDEMIC AND, THIRDLY, OUR FREEDOMS ARE UNDER ATTACK.

LET ME SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU.

YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE A COUNTRY WITH OPEN BORDERS, ALL THE PEOPLE COMING IN, THEY'RE NOT TESTED, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO A VACCINE, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING AND YET NURSES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND WERE WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN 2020 WHO TOOK CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN NO ONE KNEW HOW SERIOUS THE PANDEMIC WAS, TODAY IN AMERICA WE TELL THEM IF YOU DON'T DO EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT, WE'RE GOING TO FIRE YOU.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNCALLED FOR.

I WILL ASSURE YOU AS GOVERNOR, EVERY MORNING I GET UP, THE NUMBER ONE THING I'M GOING TO DO IS PRAY BECAUSE WE WILL NOT GET OUT OF WHERE WE ARE UNLESS WE TURN THE GREATEST NATION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH BACK TO GOD.

MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE IS CALL UNTO ME AND I WILL SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS OF WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT WAS CHARLES HERBSTER.

OUR NEXT CLOSING STATEMENT COMES FROM BRELAND RIDENOUR.

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU, NEBRASKA, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

I WANT TO SAY, I'M A MIDDLE CLASS GUY.

I'M NOT SOMEBODY WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY.

I'VE WORKED MY WAY UP FROM THE BOTTOM.

I WASN'T BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON, AND SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE NEBRASKA A BETTER PLACE, NOT THE JUST FOR ME, NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WHEN I'M DONE AS GOVERNOR, WHAT I PLAN TO DO IS STAY HERE IN NEBRASKA, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS MY HOME.

AND I DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE NEED LEADERSHIP IN THIS STATE THAT NOT ONLY RESPECTS PEOPLE, NOT ONLY HAS SOLUTIONS, BUT WILL FIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE TOP PRIORITIES THAT MATTER MOST TO NEBRASKANS, AND I RELATE TO THOSE TOP PRIORITIES.

SOME OF THOSE ARE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, LIBERTIES, FIGHTING AGAINST ABORTION, TO BAN IT, FIGHTING TO GET A NEW PROPERTY TAX -- OR, EXCUSE ME, NEW TAX SYSTEM IN ORDER AND GET RID OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

SO MANY OF THESE CANS HAVE BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD AND WE NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP TODAY.

I'M TIRED OF HEARING OF THINGS LIKE GOVERNOR DESANTIS, WHO'S A WONDERFUL GOVERNOR, I'M TIRED OF HEARING HOW GREAT THINGS HE'S DOING OR GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM.

WE NEED TO START HAVING THAT LEADERSHIP HERE IN NEBRASKA.

I WANT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO BE SEEING NEBRASKA AS A LEADER AND MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND STANDING UP FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

MY NAME IS BRELAND RIDENOUR AND I'LL BE HUMBLED AND HONORED TO RECEIVE YOUR VOTE ON MAY 10.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S BRELAND RIDENOUR.

OUR NEXT TWO-MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT COMES FROM THERESA THIBODEAU.

>> YES, NEBRASKA, WE TALKED EARLIER, STARTED OFF THIS EVENING, ABOUT WHAT DIFFERENTIATES US.

WE ALSO TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL THE COMMERCIALS GOING AROUND AND SILLY SHOTGUNS OR ATTACKS, SO I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND SAY WHAT REALLY DIFFERENTIATES US BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT THE CANDIDATES ARE ABOUT, AND HERE WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, ONE DECIDED NOT TO SHOW UP AND IS CAMPAIGNING FROM FACEBOOK AND SPREADING LIES ABOUT CANDIDATES.

THERE IS ANOTHER THAT TALKS ABOUT REDUCING TAXES AND BRINGING BUSINESS HERE, YET WON'T BRING THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS HERE.

AND I'D HAVE TO SAY HOW CAN A GOVERNOR RECRUIT OTHER BUSINESSES HERE WHEN THE C.E.O.

SITS IN FRONT OF THEM AND SAYS, WELL, IS YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR MAJOR BUSINESS, IN NEBRASKA?

WE THEN HAVE ANOTHER WHO HAS DONE SOME GREAT TAX RELIEF THIS SESSION, BUT NOT TOO LONG AGO, PASSED THE BIGGEST GAS TAX INCREASE.

ALSO SAYS FOR VOTER INTEGRITY AND VERIFICATION, BUT VOTED AGAINST VOTER I.D.

BECAUSE IT SAID IT COSTS THE TAXPAYERS TOO MONEY, YET TURNED AROUND AND VOTED FOR THAT GAS TAX.

I AM A WIFE.

I'M A MOTHER.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE CORPORATE LEVEL.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE AS A BUSINESS OWNER.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE; IT'S ABOUT YOUR QUALITY OF EXPERIENCES.

AND EIGHT YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE IS GREAT, BUT AS GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH ALL GOVERNMENTS, CITY, COUNTY.

I'VE SERVED CITY GOVERNMENT.

I'VE SAT ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO APPOINT PEOPLE TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND JUDGES.

I HAVE THE WELL-ROUNDED EXPERIENCE TO STAND UP AND SERVE THIS STATE.

I AM THERESA THIBODEAU AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE ON MAY 10.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S THERESA THIBODEAU.

OUR FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT FOR TWO MINUTES COMES FROM BRETT LINDSTROM.

>> THIS ELECTION COMES DOWN TO NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE.

AS MY TIME AS A STATE SENATOR, I'VE PASSED NEARLY 60 BILLS, ACTUALLY THIS YEAR OVER 60 BILLS, RANGING ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

AGAIN, WHAT DISTINGUISHES ME AMONGST THE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE IS THAT I'M A TAX CUTTER.

I'VE SLASHED TAXES OVER MY YEARS, I'M CURRENTLY SLASHING TAXES, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS GOVERNOR.

AS A NEXT GENERATION LEADER, WE NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENT.

WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE.

THIS IS WHAT MY CAMPAIGN IS ALL ABOUT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS TO GET THE BEST RESULTS.

THAT INCLUDES RURAL BROADBAND.

THAT INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING ON GETTING OUR ROADS BUILT OUT, 275, 81, CONNECTING CHADRON TO RAPID CITY.

WE NEED RURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING, HOUSING IN GENERAL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE, WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND INVESTMENTS AND AMENITIES FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO RESIDE AND STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE THREE YOUNG KIDS, 10, 8, AND 5 AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD AS A KID, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL NEBRASKANS AND ALL YOUNG FAMILIES HAVE THOSE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, TOO, AND PROVIDING THAT WALK ALONGSIDE TYPE OF APPROACH AS YOUR GOVERNOR, MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH BIG THINGS AND GOALS AND I WOULD BE HUMBLED TO EARN YOUR VOTE HERE ON MAY 10.

>> AND THAT IS SENATOR BRETT LINDSTROM.

AN HOUR GOES BY VERY QUICKLY.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE CONCLUSION OF TONIGHT'S NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS DEBATE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO THANK ESPECIALLY OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF NEBRASKA WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD IN HELPING US PUT TOGETHER THIS DEBATE.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS, ANCHOR FROM NTV IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALSO, LAUREN MELENDEZ, AN ANCHOR AND REPORTER FROM WOWT IN OMAHA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND FOR FRED KNAPP, NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS STATE LEGISLATIVE REPORTER.

WE THANK YOU ALL AND WE THANK OUR CANDIDATES AS WELL, THERESA THIBODEAU, BRELAND RIDENOUR, CHARLES HERBSTER, AND ALSO BRETT LINDSTROM.

YOU MISSED ANY OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE, YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE, AND THAT IS nebraskapublicmedia.org.

AND MAKE SURE YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THE NEBRASKA PRIMARY IS MAY 10.

IF YOU NEED A MAIL-IN BALLOT, REQUEST ONE BY THE MONDAY BEFORE AND THAT'S MAY 2.

THANKS AGAIN TO THE CANDIDATES WHO PARTICIPATED TONIGHT, TO OUR CREW, TO OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS AND TO YOU FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO BE A MORE INFORMED VOTER.

FOR ALL OF US AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS, I'M DENNIS KELLOGG.

GOODNIGHT.

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