If you miss one Pachyderm Luncheon in Omaha, you miss a lot. At this afternoon’s luncheon, I heard some late-breaking news in local politics.
First, Rob Rohrbough announced that the petition for the EPIC Option has been approved and will soon circulate to gather signatures to eliminate property taxes in Nebraska.
Second, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse reported that petitions to recall the mayor of Valley and the city council president were picked up this morning. They have 30 days to gather approximately 200 signatures for the mayor and 400 for the council president. The organizers seem well-prepared, and with Valley Days approaching, this could get interesting. If successful, a special election could be held in November or December.
Third, County Commissioner P.J. Morgan discussed the county’s budget challenges, noting a shortfall of over $2 million. He emphasized evaluating non-mandated services to avoid a tax increase and firmly committed to not supporting a mill levy increase, while prioritizing essential services like the sheriff’s office.
Fourth, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, the guest speaker, discussed his role as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor and chair of the Pacific Threats Committee. He highlighted legislation restricting foreign nationals (e.g., from China, Iran, North Korea) from owning land near Nebraska’s military installations and agricultural areas. Kelly addressed concerns about Chinese-made components in drones and cell towers, efforts to diversify state investments away from Chinese entities, and the importance of protecting Nebraska’s agricultural industry. He also praised law enforcement’s collaboration in tackling threats like MS-13 and supporting border security.
Finally, guests had the chance to hear from District 2 congressional candidates Brett Lindstrom and Brinker Harding. Host John Sieler strives to keep the luncheon a neutral space for rival primary candidates, stating, “When we invite guests, we don’t invite them to play gotcha or be negative. We always ask our speakers to be positive about their own campaigns and not talk negatively.”
The Pachyderm Luncheon meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month (and occasionally a fifth Monday) at the German American Society on 120th Street. The next luncheon will be held July 28 with guest speaker Tom Brewer, who will give an update on the war in Ukraine.
