Three candidates for Nebraska’s next Governor squared off in a debate in Omaha on Tuesday, with just over one month to go before the primary election. The debate was sponsored by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Charles W. Herbster, Brett Lindstrom, and Theresa Thibodeau came to the Scott Conference Center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus just north of Aksarben Village for the debate. Jim Pillen was once again a no-show.
The debate was moderated by KETV and questions ranged from critical race theory, taxes, and illegal immigration.
Herbster started with a focus on “selling” Nebraska. “On the first day as governor,” Herbster said, “I would put the tourism department under the governor’s reign, and then I would change our motto that says ‘Nebraska’s not for everyone,'” which drew a brief smattering of applause. “The best governor any state can have is a salesman … and I’m probably the best that I can see on the stage or other people running to know how to sell the greatness of Nebraska.”
On education, Lindstrom talked extensively on Nebraska’s 244 districts and the revising the TEEOSA formula for equalization aid, (needs minus resources). “We have a huge disconnect right now, and that’s what’s creating the urban/rural divide … I was in Broken Bow, and I was talking to a family whose kid had to get up on a horse to the top of a hill to sit on their computer just to get their assignment in.”
Herbster agreed with Lindstrom on rural broadband, but he also had emphasis on school choice. “We need to make sure that the dollars follow the student. That’s extremely important.”
All three candidates were asked about critical race theory, a topic that only Thibodeau seemed to define in contrast to critical thinking. “CRT was first introduced to our schools as a way to teach critical thinking skills, but unfortunately it has done just the opposite.” She went on to tell a story about a group of girls, of different races, who were friends since Kindergarten, but then were taught they must have hated each other at a retreat. “We’ve gotten away from teaching our children how to think critically.”
You can watch the full debate here. The primary election will be on May 10, 2022.
